Communities Minister has announced his
department's support for a £171,050 project to bring an empty gap
site on Larne Main Street into community use as a pop-up park.
The initiative, led by Mid & East Antrim Borough Council,
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.
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.
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.
“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.”
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Councillor 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.
"This is one of many projects Council has planned for Larne over
the next 12 to 18 months, aiming to regenerate the area, address
the changing nature of our High Streets and tackle the issue of
vacancy and dereliction.”
Notes to Editors
- The Department for Communities will provide £154,000 towards
this scheme. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council will
contribute £17,050.
