Following funding from the Town Centre Property Repurposing Pilot Grant Scheme, a vacant unit in Fairhill Shopping Centre in Ballymena has undergone refurbishment works.

The scheme, a collaborative effort between Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and the Department for Communities (DfC), aims to revitalise town centres and increase footfall in Ballymena, Carrickfergus, and Larne.

The funding was available through the DfC Covid-19 Recovery Revitalisation Programme, in addition to co-investment from Council.

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Ballymena-based Magmel (Ballymena) Limited applied for the grant in 2022 having purchased Fairhill Shopping Centre in 2021. The owners saw an opportunity through the funding scheme to regenerate a unit within the centre. Their application under Tranche 2 was successful and they received grant funding of £12,750 from total project costs of £25,500 to upgrade the unit which was previously occupied by Easons.

Ryan Walker, Director of Magmel (Ballymena) Limited commented: "The grant was used to assist in the refurbishment project and included electrical works and fit out which helped us to modernise the previously vacant unit in one of the main retail areas of Ballymena's town centre."