Art deco Larne building to be restored to former glory

The former Bank of Ireland building on Larne’s Main Street is to be restored to its former glory, thanks to funding from the Department for Social Development (DSD).

DSD has awarded the project a grant of £256,000 under its pilot Urban Development Grant programme. The programme is aimed at schemes at landmark locations and of historic interest in selected regional towns which can be restored and redeveloped by the private sector for new uses.

The funding will be used by developers Hebron Properties to help refurbish the art deco building to provide retail units on the ground floor with office suites above for rent. When complete, the project is expected to provide six new full-time and eight part-time jobs, as well as lead to further private sector investment in Larne town centre.

Welcoming the news that work on the project will start soon, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said: "I am pleased to be able to support the transformation of this landmark building and look forward to the commencement of work. Due to its prominent location on Main Street, the restoration has the potential to create a very positive impact on the appearance of the commercial core of the town. This in turn will encourage investment in Larne and further increase the confidence of people living and working in the town.”

Urban Development Grants have previously only been available in parts of Belfast and Londonderry. This pilot scheme extends this programme to five other towns in Northern Ireland – Ballymoney, Dungannon, Larne, Lurgan and Strabane. The project in Larne is the first to receive funding, and it is expected that grants worth around £1million will be allocated during this financial year.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Project criteria was:

• must be situated in the commercial core of the town;
• must be vacant, derelict and/or hazardous or underused;
• development could not proceed without public sector assistance; and
• must offer a prominent and distinguishable feature to benefit the appearance of the commercial core of the town.

2. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.