
Business investment scheme designed to fill empty city centre units is ‘resounding success'
Some £1m in grants was awarded to small and independent businesses by Belfast City Council through their Vacant to Vibrant scheme.
'As well as helping to revitalise and animate the city centre, the council's investment has generated over £3.5m in rates – a return of almost £4 for every £1 allocated in grants,' the Council said this week.
The scheme was launched in 2022 to incentivise business owners to take up empty units across the city.
Belfast City Council's Vacant to Vibrant scheme has been a 'resounding success'
Those who received grants under the scheme inlcide Another World, ArtsEkta, Bodega Bagels, Golden Thread Gallery, High Society, Michele International Hairdressing, Neighbourhood Café, Sloan's Gym, Vault Artist Studios and Verona Bridal.
Of 48 grants awarded, 23 have helped, or are helping to regenerate a historic building or building of interest in the city.
Round House Bakery is one of them.
The local bakers will use their funding to bring artisan sourdough breads, pastries, and pizza to a unit in Cathedral Buildings which was almost destroyed by fire three years ago.
The Vault Artist Studios received a £25k grant under the scheme, which will see them bring the city's iconic listed building Spencer House back to life.
"We're delighted to secure £25,000 Vacant to Vibrant funding for Spencer House as the first phase of our fundraising towards taking on this iconic and historic city centre building," General Manager Neal Campbell said.
'Vault is passionate about advocating for the importance of arts and culture within sustainable regeneration, and we're very excited to do this in the heart of the city centre on Royal Avenue, where we can facilitate new conversations about how we reimagine and reactivate Belfast's heritage buildings," he added.
'We thank Belfast City Council for its support and we're hopeful that we can now press on and secure the additional funding that will be needed to bring Spencer House back to life, as a new home for over 30 multidisciplinary artists."
The grants awarded have created 139 jobs and generated some £23m in sales over the lifespan of the scheme.
'Vacant to Vibrant has been such a success in the city centre, helping to strengthen Belfast's attractiveness as a place to visit, live and invest – boosting footfall, rates income, employment and business income,' Chair of Belfast City Council's City Growth and Regeneration Committee, Councillor Sam Nelson said.
'And I think that success is thanks to a combination of the applicants' energy, vision and hard work, along with the wraparound support we've provided to help them develop business plans, marketing, and of course linking them with suitable units.'
He added: 'We're now seeking additional investment to allow us to extend the Vacant to Vibrant city centre scheme.'
Applications for Belfast City Council's Vacant to Vibrant citywide scheme are welcome from business start-ups, independent retailers, social enterprises, cultural and voluntary organisations and property owners seeking to transform their vacant property.
Grants between £2.5k and £25k will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, until all funding is allocated.
See More: Belfast City Council, Funding, Vacant To Vibrant
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Tender due for design of long-awaited flood relief scheme in Wicklow
The scheme was first initiated in 2002 following major flooding in 1986, 1989 and 2002. The planning application was lodged in May 2021 and an oral hearing was held in January 2022. In 2023 Wicklow County Council, funded by the Office of Public Works signed contracts with consultants to progress a detailed design and construction review. The scheme is part of the government's €1.3bn investment in flood relief measures under the National Development Plan. The overall aim of the scheme is to provide flood relief measures along the Avoca River and estuary to combat flooding while protecting residential and non-residential properties from flooding and subsequent damage. Site investigation works took place towards the end of 2024, which included a geophysical survey of the Arklow Town Marsh and the excavation of slit trenches along South Quay, the Harbour area, Harbour Road, and Bridge Street. Following a query from Cllr Peir Leonard at the July meeting of Wicklow County Council, director of services Theresa O' Brien said the project is moving towards a tender process. 'The flood protection scheme has its permission, so it won't be coming back before the Council. Full permission has been received for that.' Cllr Leonard asked if it could come back before councillors to have a look at the plans before they go out to tender for the design stage. Her request comes after a planning application was submitted to build a new public boardwalk/bridge for pedestrians and cyclists across Arklow marsh and the Avoca River to the Arklow Riverwalk. It forms part of a wider application to build a new 666 housing development on a site in Kilbride that includes a local centre, crèche, and 999 car parking spaces. The bridge element across the river will be constructed atop the concrete columns permitted as part of the scheme. Cllr Leonard said the bridge will play an important part in connecting the northern part of the town to the heart of the Main Street. 'It will bring much needed footfall for local traders.' she added.


Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
Sligo Co Council urged to contact Uisce Éireann to find out why they were not at Storm Éowyn meeting
In a motion, Cllr Barry Gallagher has called on Sligo County Council to contact Uisce Éireann in relation to why they did not send representation on their behalf when invited to the Council's Storm Éowyn meeting on May 26. His motion also wants to get an update on what protocols Uisce Éireann have put in place following Storm Éowyn to future proof that the same issues do not happen again. Cllr Gallagher's motion also asked for an update on what Uisce Éireann is doing to reduce the connection offer wait time from 16 weeks and also the actual connection wait time which can be up to another 16 weeks. He said that this was 'totally unacceptable' from an Irish Utility Company, and the motion was adopted. Cllr Gallagher said the connection wait time was particularly 'serious'. He said a housing estate in Sligo town had been waiting nearly twelve months for a connection and there were over 50 houses built and the houses could not be sold because there was no water connection. He added that in South Sligo, funding was got for a toilet and an application to get a connection had been made last October and they were told that contact would be made within twelve weeks. Mr Gallagher said that the 13th week arrived and 12 weeks later the applicants were told that it should be a business application rather than a domestic application and they are still waiting to get a quotation for a connection.


Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Irish Independent
Concerns raised over accessibility and parking issues in Galway housing estate
Gort Mhaoilir Estate is currently in its second phase, with plans for a total of 43 homes. The development is located within an existing residential estate, just a 15-minute walk from most of Athenry's amenities, including the train station, schools, parks, and shops. The site also borders a primary care facility. Galway County Councillor Martin McNamara expressed concern about the council taking ownership of the site and noted the lack of accessibility. He echoed the submission made by neighbouring residents, stating that the council must seriously consider 'reasonable concerns from reasonable people'. The contents of the submission explained safety as a main consideration for the development, specifically dealing with parking and traffic congestion. The traffic assessment done focused on 'issues within the design relating to road safety'. This included exits of the estate and the junctions on either side with easy access to through roads. It concluded that the development was 'anticipated to generate a low volume of additional traffic'. Bordering this development is a primary care centre that has already caused concern about traffic congestion due to reduced parking spaces and illegal parking. The application for the medical centre called for 55 vehicle parking spots but approval was granted for only 50. The reduction was justified by the estate's proximity to local amenities, assuming it would lead to fewer vehicles. However, the reality of an already busy road poses a dangerous environment for pedestrians and will be unrealistic for disabled and older individuals. Cllr McNamara said it is important to 'openly acknowledge the short-term failings until we fix these problems' adding 'if you are a wheelchair user you will not be able to access town from that estate'. The addition of more than 40 homes to an already congested area of Athenry will only create a 'worse situation with parking' Cllr Peter Feeney added. 'If these houses are built, that area will have to be subject to bollards and yellow lines. The people that live here will have to be able to get in and safely.' Gort Mhaoilir and one other housing development in Athenry were the first to benefit from the Council's Design-Build Contractor Framework, the Irish Independent reported back in July 2024. The substantial delivery of this development is late 2026.