Delays to seafront project 'holding back city's potential'
Plans to overhaul the Queen's Parade area of the city in County Down have been discussed for decades, but in 2019 the initiative gained renewed momentum when Bangor Marine was appointed by the Department for Communities (DfC) and Ards and North Down District Council to lead the project.
Six years on, construction work has still not begun on the first phase of the project and the area remains largely derelict.
BBC News NI understands construction firm Farrans is now exploring stepping away from the project altogether.
As first reported in the County Down Spectator, a new firm is reportedly being lined up to take over and join the major project.
Ivan Carruthers, who is from Bangor, said the Queen's Parade area was "pretty desperate".
He said redeveloping Queen's Parade was being discussed when he moved to the city about 25 years ago and would be transformational.
"People we know who have been in Bangor all their lives say this has been going on for 40 years," he said.
"Last year we were told the money was there, it was all ready to go, but every month it's put back and put back and you get quite cynical about it."
"Bangor should be to Belfast what Brighton is to London.
"You've fabulous walks from here round to Belfast and Donaghadee and two lovely parks.
"The place has got huge potential but it's just falling apart."
The development site focuses on lands at Queen's Parade and the area currently used as Marine Gardens' car park.
The first phase of the development envisions a 5.25-acre public space featuring a play park, pavilions, food kiosks, and an events area.
The full project would include a new hotel, a mix of new homes, office spaces, retail and hospitality units and a cinema.
Steve Geddis, who is from Millisle but often comes to Bangor, said Queen's Parade was "an absolute sight".
"It's a disgrace. It's been like this for 20 years or more and the council just won't do anything about it," he said.
He said the redevelopment "would bring a lot more people in" and give Bangor a boost.
Margaret Duffy and Rita Quinn, who often visit Bangor from Belfast to walk, have happy memories of the city from when they were children, but Ms Duffy said the area at Queen's Parade was "a total eyesore".
"There's so much potential," she said.
"That's what annoys me.
"People would come from everywhere - there's trains and buses."
Evie Reynolds, who owns cafe Ginger & Berry in High Street, said there was "so much potential" in Bangor.
"It's a great place and there's a beautiful view [at the redevelopment site] and it could be really lovely," she said.
"I think it's going to be really good once we get there."
Ginger & Berry is already in a busy area of Bangor, but Ms Reynolds said the redevelopment would bring more people, with businesses benefitting from the increased footfall and "a bit more buzz".
"Business owners are excited because we know what it's going to do for the town," she said.
"We're looking forward to it."
In May 2019, Bangor Marine, a joint venture partnership between Karl Group and Farrans, signed a development agreement with the DfC and council to deliver the scheme.
Developers submitted a planning application for the £50m development in January 2020, but in 2021 the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) issued a holding direction on the proposal over concerns about potential flooding at the site linked to a reservoir in Clandeboye.
In March 2022, the then Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon confirmed the DfI would not review the application, returning it to the council for further action, allowing the project to move forward.
Full planning permission was then granted in September 2022.
The project got a £9.8m boost from the UK government's Levelling Up Fund in January 2023 and in February 2024, pre-construction clearance work began in preparation for what was billed as construction work beginning later that summer.
But in November, it was announced that work was now expected to commence in January 2025.
Despite hopes to begin building work in January, Bangor Marine's Aran Blackbourne said in February that "outstanding legal issues" meant the expected start date for construction work was mid-April.
As of May 2025, that deadline has also passed, with Bangor Marine telling BBC News NI legal documentation is still being finalised before any ground work can begin.
In a statement to BBC News NI, Bangor Marine said that it, the council and the DfC remained fully committed to the project and were working hard to start work on the "very complex project".
"We are at the final stages of finalising the legal documents needed to allow works to commence, and we expect these documents to be completed soon," a spokesperson said.
The DfC said major proposals like Queen's Parade were very complex, challenging and took time.
It said that before the department's involvement, the various properties that were now part of the development footprint were in multiple ownership "with no prospects of the area ever being developed".
A spokesperson added that "outstanding legal matters" had almost been sorted after "several months of work".
The department said it continued to work closely with the developer and council and hoped to provide an update on timelines soon.
Crown Estates declined to comment.
North Down Alliance assembly member Connie Egan said Queen's Parade was in a terrible state, and said the delays were unacceptable.
"Local residents and businesses want action," she said .
Egan said she had asked Communities Minister Gordon Lyons a number of questions to determine when work will begin.
Ulster Unionist assembly member Alan Chambers also expressed frustration over the delays.
Chambers criticised the DfC for taking a "back seat" and called for urgent ministerial intervention.
"The blight of an empty building site seafront has gone on far too long," he said.
"My message to the minister is, 'make this happen'.
"Words are fine… but real action is needed now."
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