Belfast City Council has opened applications for a new round of its Vacant to Vibrant Citywide grant programme, following what it described as another highly successful phase of the initiative aimed at regenerating the city's arterial routes.

A total of £700,000 in capital funding is now available, made up of £500,000 from the Department for Communities and £200,000 from Belfast City Council. The funding is designed to incentivise and support property owners and prospective occupiers to bring vacant buildings back into use in neighbourhoods across the city.

Originally piloted in Belfast city centre, the citywide programme is already transforming vacant properties into homes for new businesses and organisations along arterial routes. To date, £300,000 from the Department for Communities and £219,000 from the UK government, delivered through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, have supported the initiative.

The first round of 24 Vacant to Vibrant Citywide grants is expected to create around 83 direct employment opportunities. Belfast City Council estimates that for every £1 invested through the programme, at least £1.79 will be returned in rates income over the duration of the leases.

With the new funding round now open, it is anticipated that a further 35 businesses and organisations will be supported, helping to revitalise key routes across the city.

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Tracy Kelly, said: "I'm delighted that the Department for Communities is co-investing again in what has proven to be a really effective regeneration initiative. Not only is Vacant to Vibrant Citywide bringing unused properties along our arterial routes back into use, the businesses and organisations we've funded are creating employment opportunities, they’re bringing a more diverse offer to neighbourhoods and, together, we're making Belfast a more attractive place to visit, live and invest in.

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"Both Vacant to Vibrant City Centre and Citywide have been a resounding success for council – and for the city’s regeneration. Together, they've resulted in 72 properties being refurbished so far, and 25 of those are historic buildings. The funding has generated an estimated £4.4m rates income and created 220 direct employment opportunities to date. We’ve demonstrated that this kind of incentive really delivers results in both social and economic terms, bringing vibrancy and driving footfall, and I encourage businesses, property owners, arts organisations, charities and social economy businesses to apply now for support to establish themselves on our arterial routes."

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said the programme demonstrated the impact of partnership working between central and local government. He said: "I am proud that my department has been able to make a significant investment that has enabled the extension of this highly successful Vacant to Vibrant citywide programme. This initiative will continue to breathe new life into vacant properties across Belfast, support local businesses, create jobs, and make a lasting positive impact on neighbourhoods across the city.

"This initiative is a powerful example of what can be achieved through effective collaboration, working together to regenerate neighbourhoods and make a lasting, positive impact on people’s lives. My department remains firmly committed to working in partnership with councils to revitalise our urban spaces and ensure they thrive for generations to come."

A wide range of organisations have already benefited from Vacant to Vibrant Citywide funding. These include Array Arts Collective, which is relocating to Loopland Drive in east Belfast to establish artist studios, a workshop space and a street-facing gallery; Belfast Makerspace, which is transforming a vacant former church on Annsboro Street into a community creativity hub; and Bread and Banjo Bakery, which is setting up new production premises on Templemore Avenue.

Other funded projects include Brilliant Minds Tutoring, Charlie's Pizza on the Ormeau Road, the restoration of the Orange Hall on Clifton Street as a tourism destination, and Pancake Studios’ plans to create a creative hub for film makers in a former Limestone Road warehouse. Additional projects range from Belfast’s first boutique spin cycle studio and café, to new health service premises in west Belfast and a retail outlet for locally based artists on the Ormeau Road.

Vacant to Vibrant Citywide offers capital grants of between £2,500 and £25,000 to businesses and property owners. This financial support is complemented by a matchmaking service provided by an estate agent to help pair vacant properties with suitable tenants, alongside wraparound advice from the council’s dedicated business support officers to help ensure long-term success.