Council hold celebratory event following the success of £3.58m investment project in Carrickfergus
Tuesday 3 December 2024
An event to celebrate the success of a multi-million pound investment in the historic fabric of Carrickfergus town centre took place recently in the Dobbins Inn Hotel.
The £3,583,276 Carrickfergus Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) supported the restoration of 10 buildings in the town’s conservation area and was made possible thanks to investment totalling £1,788,700 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund which was match funded by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (MEABC) with funding of £654,576 plus a contribution from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive of £140,000.
The programme also levered in private investment of over £1million to support the regeneration of the town centre - addressing dereliction and supporting the creation of 12 new apartments to support town centre living.
Launched in October 2016, the buildings have since been restored to the highest conservation standards, supporting the development of traditional building skills and crafts. This included the repair of roofs using traditional Welsh slate, the use of iron rainwater goods replacing plastic and the retention - where possible - of historic internal features such as fireplaces, doors and staircases.
The programme included the restoration of the front façade of the Dobbins Inn, its roof and major restoration works to both 10 High Street and 3-5 Market Place. A key objective of the scheme was addressing dereliction in the town centre which saw the rebuilding of what was formally the Kellys Coal Offices at 4 Governors Place - opposite the Castle - and the restoration of a building at 33 North Street that had been fire damaged.
The final projects included restoration works to buildings in West Street, Cheston Street and the Warrant Officers House – plus the Guard Room beside Carrickfergus Museum and Civic Centre.
The project also supported a complementary education and skills development programme, engaging with over 4,000 people, supporting events in schools, colleges and to the local community.
Carrickfergus Townscape Heritage Initiative Board Chairperson Councillor Lauren Gray, said the regeneration scheme had been a great success: “The Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) showcased just what can be achieved through collaborative working. This project took on the challenge of restoring some of our most historic buildings, driving forward town centre living and protecting our built heritage for future generations.
“It was fantastic to bring together everyone who made the project such a success. Carrickfergus’s place as one of our most historic towns is an amazing selling point and THI has not only kick-started a period of regeneration for the town but has also built a solid foundation for everything we want to do in the future, delivering for the people of Carrickfergus."
Dr Jim McGreevy, a NI Committee member at The National Lottery Heritage Fund reflected on the scheme’s impact and said: “Investing in heritage means investing in the community it belongs to, which is why we're proud to have supported Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to restore and regenerate historic buildings in Carrickfergus thanks to National Lottery players.
“These works, and the accompanying heritage engagement activities, not only preserve this important heritage to be enjoyed by locals and visitors from further afield, but also play a significant role in boosting the local economy and aiding the wider regeneration of the town”
The programme was instrumental in attracting the £42million region City deal programme, focusing on the heritage led regeneration of Carrickfergus and development of heritage tourism in the town.
At the event there were contributions from Dr Paul Logue from the Historic Environment Division which advised the THI Board throughout the duration of the programme.
There was also a presentation from one of the project owners, Mike McNeill, proprietor of 3-5 Market Place, who discussed his experience of the programme and the impact it has had on supporting local investment.
A number of research studies and publication have been created and all are available online at the Carrickfergus Townscape Heritage Initiative section of this website.