Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has successfully secured funding through the Department for Communities, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and the Department for Infrastructure to deliver its 'COVID Recovery Small Settlements Regeneration Programme'.
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey commented: "This programme will help local government deliver regeneration projects, making our small towns and villages more appealing, accessible, vibrant and welcoming. The programme will complement efforts to help rural communities and settlements recover from the impact of the COVID pandemic, providing facilities, infrastructure and quality places that people want to live, work, play and learn in."
Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd added: "This programme is a good example of inter Departmental working to deliver real change in how people live and work. I am delighted that my Department has contributed to the small settlements regeneration programme Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is delivering to their local citizens to support initiatives on the ground to aid recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will help regenerate small communities within the Council area through strategic interventions such as regenerating shop fronts to enhance the aesthetic of local communities and supporting the growth of local businesses along with targeted environmental schemes. It's through these types of interventions that this programme will support small communities as they emerge from the after effects of the pandemic."
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The programme will address the regeneration needs of small settlements, with a population of less than 5,000 people, such as long standing issues such as rural poverty, isolation and access to services in small. Interventions will include environmental improvements, shop front schemes and the introduction of a rural investment fund that will help attract new businesses into currently vacant properties.
Welcoming the launch of the first regeneration project, Alderman Amanda Grehan, Development Committee Chair, said: "A Heritage Shop Front Scheme will be delivered in the villages of Moira and Royal Hillsborough. It follows the success of the Heritage Shop Front Scheme delivered in Lisburn City Centre.
“We recognise the importance of retaining conservation status for Moira and Royal Hillsborough. This new Heritage Shop Front Scheme will focus on enhancing the conservation area. It will help businesses create shop frontages that complement the character and appearance of their village. I look forward to seeing the regenerational impact of the scheme in these villages."
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is seeking expressions of interest from businesses located within the Moira and Royal Hillsborough Conservation Areas for funding to replace their shop front façade and signage. The scheme will provide funding at 80% of total works costs up to a maximum grant of £12,500.
The funding will be used to enhance the appearance and condition of their shop fronts and signage, making the Conservation Area a more attractive place for both occupiers and visitors. Applicants must demonstrate a contribution of a minimum 20% of the overall costs.
Following the Expression of Interest stage, the council will evaluate the submissions and invite successful applicants to submit an application.
The deadline to submit an Expression of Interest is 27 June 2022 at 12 noon.
