Additional £700k funding secured to bring more jobs and vibrancy to Belfast’s arterial routes

‘Vacant to Vibrant Citywide’ has proved to be another resounding success for Belfast City Council – and applications are now being invited to a new round of the grant programme which will breathe another wave of creative and business life into the city’s arterial routes.

£700k in capital funding is now available (£500k from the Department for Communities and £200k from Belfast City Council) to incentivise and support property owners and potential occupiers to bring vacant properties back into use in local neighbourhoods. 

Successfully piloted in Belfast city centre, the citywide funding is already transforming vacant properties into new homes for businesses and organisations on arterial routes, thanks to £300,000 from the Department for Communities and £219,000 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

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The first round of 24 Vacant to Vibrant Citywide grants are resulting in approximately 83 direct employment opportunities being created, and for every £1 invested through Vacant to Vibrant Citywide, at least £1.79 is estimated to be returned in rates income over the term of the leases.

It’s anticipated that a further 35 businesses and organisations will now be supported to revitalise the city’s arterial routes with this new round of Vacant to Vibrant Citywide funding. 

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Tracy Kelly, said: “I’m delighted that the Department for Communities is co-investing again in what has proven to be a really effective regeneration initiative. Not only is Vacant to Vibrant Citywide bringing unused properties along our arterial routes back into use, the businesses and organisations we’ve funded are creating employment opportunities, they’re bringing a more diverse offer to neighbourhoods and, together, we’re making Belfast a more attractive place to visit, live and invest in.

“Both Vacant to Vibrant City Centre and Citywide have been a resounding success for council – and for the city’s regeneration. Together, they’ve resulted in 72 properties being refurbished so far, and 25 of those are historic buildings. The funding has generated an estimated £4.4m rates income and created 220 direct employment opportunities to date. We’ve demonstrated that this kind of incentive really delivers results in both social and economic terms, bringing vibrancy and driving footfall, and I encourage businesses, property owners, arts organisations, charities and social economy businesses to apply now for support to establish themselves on our arterial routes.”

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said: “I am proud that my department has been able to make a significant investment that has enabled the extension of this highly successful Vacant to Vibrant citywide programme. This initiative will continue to breathe new life into vacant properties across Belfast, support local businesses, create jobs, and make a lasting positive impact on neighbourhoods across the city.

“This initiative is a powerful example of what can be achieved through effective collaboration, working together to regenerate neighbourhoods and make a lasting, positive impact on people’s lives. My department remains firmly committed to working in partnership with councils to revitalise our urban spaces and ensure they thrive for generations to come.”

Organisations which have received Vacant to Vibrant Citywide funding to date include:

• Array Arts Collective – this Turner Prize winning collective is relocating to Loopland Drive, east Belfast. Array Studios will host six individual artist studios, a shared workshop space (including a flexible screening area, reception/library/photo suite) and a street facing gallery, with a programme of exhibitions, talks, screenings, creative workshops and health and wellbeing workshops.
• Belfast Makerspace is transforming a vacant former church on Annsboro Street to establish a community hub for creativity
• Bread and Banjo Bakery is setting up production premises for their Ormeau Road shop on Templemore Avenue.
• Brilliant Minds Tutoring is refurbishing a vacant upper floor on Suffolk Avenue to create workshop space.
• Charlie’s Pizza has established a restaurant on the Ormeau Road.
• The Orange Hall on Clifton Street is being restored as a tourism destination.
• Pancake Studios will transform a former Limestone Road warehouse to provide a creative hub for independent film creatives and companies, giving access to space for productions, podcasts and hotdesking.  
• Riot Cycle is bringing Belfast’s first boutique spin cycle studio to King’s Square, along with a café selling matcha tea.
• West Belfast Partnership Board (WBPB) is creating new Glen Road premises to house its Health Team, creating additional employment and increasing health services across west Belfast.
• Wrapped Up Belfast is restoring Unit B 397 Ormeau Road to provide a retail outlet for locally based artists to sell a range of products distinctive to the region.

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Vacant to Vibrant Citywide combines capital grant support of between £2,500 and £25,000 to businesses and property owners with a matchmaking service from an estate agent to help pair vacant properties with suitable tenants. Those funded are also offered wraparound advice from council’s dedicated business support officers to ensure they have all the tools they need to make their new home a success.

To find out more about making a Vacant to Vibrant Citywide application and for details of funding information sessions, go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/vacanttovibrant

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