LCC Economic Report 2003




					Area Regeneration


					The regeneration of Lisburn Historic Quarter has gained considerable momentum. A number of flagship schemes are now underway, coupled with key events to highlight the area’s distinctive identity and drive forward the message that this part of Lisburn City Centre is on the up. Key stakeholders from the public, private and voluntary sectors working together as the Lisburn Historic Quarter Partnership have been instrumental in devising and beginning to implement an integrated strategy to secure the restoration and protection of the rich heritage and culture of the area, as well as providing the right physical infrastructure to attract new investment and boost business confidence. Chaired by Councillor Trevor Lunn, Lisburn Historic Quarter Partnership is sub divided into two key groups of activity:Physical Environment Sub Group with responsibility for overseeing and co -ordinating the programme of work relating to the sensitive refurbishment of property in the area, and public realm issues. Highlights to date include: > A comprehensive built environment evaluation of all of the properties within Lisburn Historic Quarter carried out in May 2002. > Production of a Design Guide with a focus on the appropriate enhancement and restoration of properties within the area. > Working to develop a quality public realm action plan. > A LOTS (Living Over The Shop) initiative driven by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, with a scheme now focusing on properties in Bridge Street. > A Lisburn Buildings Preservation Trust (LBPT) has been established to protect properties throughout Lisburn with high heritage or architectural merit.

Members of the Colin Neighbourhood Regeneration Initiative host a tour of the area for Councillor Betty Campbell (then Mayor of Lisburn), other key Stakeholders and Statutory Agencies.


		1. Lisburn Historic Quarter logo 2. Lenny Lisburn, the Lisburn Historic Quarter mascot, teams up with the Ulster Jazz Band as part of the Lisburn Historic Quarter Festival. 3. No. 19 Bridge Street with it’s historic lion feature above the doorway, now fully restored as part of the Bridge Street Townscape Heritage Initiative.


Economic Investment Sub Group with responsibility for implementing projects which address social and economic issues in the area. Key achievements include: > Marketing and branding initiatives which have included a summer Jazz Festival, Historic Guided Tours, a Christmas Fayre in Lisburn Cathedral and the development of an Historic Guided Trail. > An ‘Investment Incentive Package’ and a range of bespoke business development and vocational training programmes are currently being developed to provide a range of assistance which will attract new businesses, jobs and investment. > A Baseline Study of current businesses located within the area. > Lisburn City Council funded a Feasibility Study to make the case for a City Centre hotel as part of the development of an evening and weekend economy. > Invest Lisburn, a web based investment promotion tool, will feature opportunity sites located within Lisburn Historic Quarter. > Several community safety initiatives have been successfully implemented including 18 businesses in Lisburn Historic Quarter who are participating in a Radiolink scheme. > A number of community based projects aimed at ensuring accessibility for everyone in Lisburn Historic Quarter. CITY CENTRE MANAGEMENT Lisburn City Centre Management (LCCM) continues to deliver a comprehensive programme of initiatives on behalf of the Council. Programmes such as Invest Lisburn, Lisburn Strategic Investment Framework, Lisburn Historic Quarter Partnership, Lisburn Building Preservation Trust, Bridge Street Townscape Heritage Initiative, Lisburn Commerce Against Crime and City Centre Events programme, aim to promote sustainable urban regeneration in Lisburn City Centre, maximising appropriate City Centre developments and generating additional employment opportunities. Providing the Lisburn City Centre management function, LCCM aims to attract new investment and increased footfall to the City Centre, as well as promoting Lisburn City Centre as a vibrant and exciting location to both visit and shop. The retail sector in Lisburn City Centre is experiencing upward growth with several key retail developments and shop refurbishments ensuring Lisburn maintains its premier retailing position. A £15m extension to Bow Street Mall has provided an additional 51,000 sq ft of new retail space and attracted 13 new retailers to the City Centre. A further 40,000 sq ft extension to the Mall is due for completion in September 2003. The private CUSP development at Lisburn Square is a valuable addition to the retail offering in the City Centre. The new 230,000 sq ft retail development at Sprucefield is well underway with construction work started on the units for anchor tenants Sainsbury’s and B&Q, as well as the new road system directly adjacent to the development.

	COLIN Neighbourhood INITIATIVE With assistance from Belfast Regeneration Office, representatives from the Colin Neighbourhood Initiative are putting the finishing touches to a comprehensive integrated Strategy for the regeneration of the Colin Area. A Consultation Day, which included a tour of the area, was held in February 2003. This was well attended by key representatives from the public sector, the local community and business sector and provided valuable input into the strategy which aims to improve the economic and social conditions of the area. BRIDGE STREET TOWNSCAPE HERITAGE INITIATIVE Now in its second year, the physical regeneration of Bridge Street is well underway with five schemes now completed as part of a Townscape Heritage Initiative. This important restoration scheme is breathing new life into derelict and vacant properties right in the commercial heart of Lisburn Historic Quarter. Funded in 2002-2003 by the Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, and with a total overall programme budget of £1.5 million, this refurbishment scheme is making a significant impact on the physical regeneration of the area and is a model of best practice for such schemes throughout Northern Ireland. With a further fourteen properties scheduled for refurbishment, the restoration of this historic streetscape will result in an increase in City Centre living and business activity in the area, as well as providing improved linkages through to Castle Gardens, Lisburn City Centre and the River Lagan. Complementary to the scheme is the creation of a one way traffic system in Bridge Street to improve traffic flow and parking.