Belfast City Council has announced that 15 businesses have been successful Vacant to Vibrant applicants to date.

The project in Belfast City Council's Future City Centre Programme is aimed at creating

a vibrant, unique and thriving place where people spend time, live, work, study, visit and invest.

The £1 million pilot capital grant scheme was opened in July 2022 and aims to encourage property owners and potential occupies to bring empty spaces in Belfast city centre back into use, whilst support revitalisation and sustainable rates growth.

As part of the council's wider programme to tackle vacancy, and to support the Vacant to Vibrant scheme, council also provides a matchmaking service to link businesses with potential units.

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Grants of up to £2500 are available for pop-up ground floor use (minimum four months), up to £15k for active floor usage up to 150m², and up to £25k for active floor usage over 151m².

Councillor Clíodhna Nic Bhranair, Chair of Belfast City Council’s City Growth and Regeneration Committee explains: "Vacant to Vibrant is supporting small businesses, independent retailers, social enterprises, and cultural and voluntary organisations to transform vacant spaces and make Belfast a more attractive, diverse and inclusive place to visit, socialise, study, work, live, and invest in. This funding is also helping to sustain jobs, create new employment opportunities, improve individual properties and the quality of our streetscapes and helping to protect heritage buildings.

"I'm so impressed at the level of ambition and creativity being displayed by the organisations we’re funding, and I’m looking forward to seeing many more applications coming through so we can help people get established in the city centre. These local businesses and organisations are providing employment, helping to deliver an authentic Belfast experience and fostering a greater sense of pride in the city."