£200 million regeneration for town centre
Thursday, 21 August 2008
A draft masterplan which proposes £200 million worth of regeneration for Ballymena town centre has been launched.
The masterplan, unveiled at a recent meeting of the town's Business Improvement District Board, contains a range of proposals which could see a complete transformation of the area.
Among the plans are a new riverfront development along the banks of the River Braid and the regeneration of the derelict area around Alexander Street.
Within the Ballymena Town Centre Masterplan, funded by the Department for Social Development (DSD), is also a proposal for the re-development of the area on Bridge Street opposite The Braid.
Ian Snowden, Regional Development Office Manager, Northern Division of DSD, said Braidwater Retail Park was one of the areas earmarked for major change.
He explained: "It is proposed to relocate retail units to an area elsewhere in the town which would provide a good opportunity to do some kind of riverside development including cafes, restaurants and apartments.
“It would be similar to the harbour development in Carrickfergus. Birmingham and Manchester are also examples where this type of scheme has been done and has proved successful.
“The river runs through the middle of the town yet there is no relationship between the town and river. We would like to do something that would make better use of that relationship.
“It will have to be fed into the town centre someway. Bridge Street is going to be a key area for the implementation of the masterplan."
Mr Snowden added that there are also significant plans proposed for the Alexander Street area of the town.
He said: "Developers have had plans for that area for quite sometime, however, there have been problems of various sorts.
“A new plan has been proposed which is slightly different. It will aim to create good strong frontages and have all car parking and services within that area.
“There are still a couple of problems to be sorted out, however, it is a big, fairly derelict area within the town centre which needs to be addressed."
Mr Snowden said the majority of the cost of the major regeneration scheme would be met by private developers.
“We are taking around £200 million of investment which would be provided mainly by private developers. Any public investment would relate to schemes such as street improvements and would be jointly funded by DSD and Ballymena Borough Council.
“Planning permission has to be dealt with and there are always going to be legal issues around any site. It could be two years before we see the start of any work," he concluded.
Meanwhile, Chair of Ballymena Business Improvement District (BID), Alderman PJ McAvoy, said the masterplan marked the future for the town centre.
He added: "We are delighted at the publication of this masterplan draft. Ballymena BID has been heavily involved in contributing to this document and I know the importance that this will have on shaping the future of our town centre.
“This draft plan has to be welcomed because is it the future of our whole town centre. Those people who are going to see the exhibition in The Braid will witness accordingly what the futuristic plans are for this whole town.
“The area surrounding and in close proximity to the new Braid is to be developed. The outcome of this will be very welcome and one will compliment the other," he said.
