A £4m boost has been announced for Lisburn with the hope that it will transform the city centre.

The Stormont Minister for Social Development, Nelson McCausland has announced that main city centre streets and public spaces will be regenerated to high quality contemporary design standards: in a project called the Lisburn Public Realm scheme.

The development will create a high quality public realm in two priority areas of Lisburn city centre – Market Square and Bow Street.

In addition to these streets, consideration is also given to other key areas in the city centre that could benefit substantially from public realm improvements, including Haslem's Lane, Market Street and Graham Gardens.



-- Advertisement --

The total cost is estimated at approximately £4m. This will be funded by contributions of up to £2,750,000 from the Department for Social Development and £1,250,000 from Lisburn City Council.

Minister McCausland said: "This is an ambitious scheme which will significantly raise the quality of the environment in Lisburn city centre and help it to attract new business and leisure activities that will help to diversify the city centre's economy and sustain activity outside traditional business hours."

Alderman Jim Dillon, Chairman of Lisburn City Council's Economic Development Committee said: "This is great news for Lisburn and encouraging to see the Department investing in our city centre to enable us to deliver one of the key regeneration projects identified in the City Centre Masterplan."

Alderman Allan Ewart, Chairman of Lisburn City Centre Management, said: "Improvements to the public realm will not only enhance the environment for visitors to Lisburn but will attract much needed investment into Market Square and the surrounding area that will see Lisburn become an even stronger city able to compete economically now and in the future with towns and cities across Northern Ireland and farther afield."

(LB/BMcC)