An empty gap site located on Larne Main Street in County Antrim is set to transform into a pop-up park for the local community following the announcement of a sizeable investment to support the £171,050 project.

Northern Ireland Communities Minister Gordon Lyons publicly voiced his Department's support for the initiative, led by Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, which will open up the former Cellars site, transforming it from an overgrown, vacant patch of ground to a temporary community garden.

In addition, the project will deliver a new footpath connecting Main Street with Point Street, colourful street art and animation activities.

Minister Lyons commented: "I am pleased that my department has been able to provide £154,000 of funding towards this project. This initiative will transform an area that is currently inaccessible, unused and unattractive, bringing it into use to provide a welcoming area for people to sit, socialise and interact.

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"It will bring a pleasant green space into the heart of the Main Street. Our traders face many challenges, and I am happy to support schemes, such as this, which bring forward fresh ideas for encouraging people to visit and spend time in our town centres."

Mid & East Antrim Borough Council has secured a lease for the site for up to four years, pending development of a permanent use by the site owner. To help shape the final design of the garden, there will be stakeholder engagement in the summer, including with local community groups. It is anticipated that construction will start in the Autumn and be completed in Spring 2026. 

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Councillor Jackson Minford added: "This exciting project aligns with the current Larne Town Centre Investment Plan by replacing a vacant overgrown site with a fresh-looking pop-up park, that everyone can enjoy.  This is quite a large site which connects Main Street to Point Street and I’m looking forward to seeing the final design, as there are so many possibilities."