Developer gets green light to lead £50m waterfront regeneration project

A development company has been appointed to take forward a £50 million regeneration project along the waterfront in Bangor, Co Down.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th May 2019, 16:47 BST
Bangor Marine has been appointed as the developer to take forward a major £50million regeneration project at Queens Parade, Bangor. Pictured at the announcement today are Aran Blackbourne, MD of the Karl Group, Tracy Meharg, Permanent Secretary for Department of Communities, Mayor of Ards and North Down, Richard Smart and John Wilson, MD Farrans. Photo by Simon Graham PhotographyBangor Marine has been appointed as the developer to take forward a major £50million regeneration project at Queens Parade, Bangor. Pictured at the announcement today are Aran Blackbourne, MD of the Karl Group, Tracy Meharg, Permanent Secretary for Department of Communities, Mayor of Ards and North Down, Richard Smart and John Wilson, MD Farrans. Photo by Simon Graham Photography
Bangor Marine has been appointed as the developer to take forward a major £50million regeneration project at Queens Parade, Bangor. Pictured at the announcement today are Aran Blackbourne, MD of the Karl Group, Tracy Meharg, Permanent Secretary for Department of Communities, Mayor of Ards and North Down, Richard Smart and John Wilson, MD Farrans. Photo by Simon Graham Photography

Bangor Marine – a consortium made up of a number of leading companies including the Karl Group and Farrans – will lead the proposed scheme at Queen’s Parade, which includes plans for a hotel, a family entertainment complex, residential units, commercial and office space, car parking, a children’s play area and other aspects.

The project will also involve the refurbishment of existing commercial properties in the area.

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Making the announcement, Department for Communities permanent secretary Tracy Meharg said: “This development and the £50 million investment in Bangor will generate new jobs, new shops, new offices, new homes and make this area of Bangor a place to see and visit.

An artist's impression of how the redeveloped Queen's Parade might look.An artist's impression of how the redeveloped Queen's Parade might look.
An artist's impression of how the redeveloped Queen's Parade might look.

“It will help to support a number of areas that we know are important to the vitality of our town centres, especially employment and tourism. This development will help to create new employment opportunities and breathe new life back into Bangor.”

Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Richard Smart, said: “The regeneration of Queen’s Parade is critical to the future of Bangor and to maximising the economic growth potential of the wider borough of Ards and North Down. With the appointment of Bangor Marine we are taking a very significant and exciting step forward.

He added: “Public interest in the plan is high and moving forward there will be a 12-week period of community engagement prior to any formal planning submission being made. This will give the public an opportunity to comment on what is being proposed.

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“We look forward to working with Bangor Marine, alongside colleagues from the Department for Communities, to progress the plan and help make Bangor a vibrant, attractive and cohesive place for everyone to enjoy.”

Aran Blackbourne, Managing Director of the Karl Group, said: “The Bangor Marine team are delighted to have signed the Development Agreement to deliver this prestigious and life changing development for the people of Bangor and beyond. This joint venture, between Farrans and Karl, has worked hard with the design team, DfC and the council to bring the project to this stage, and we are very excited that we can now up the momentum and engage with the public and all stakeholders to help make Bangor reach its full potential.

“Bangor Marine has been given the unique opportunity to create Northern Ireland’s premier public waterfront space at Queen’s Parade. Bangor is ideally located to be the coastal day out of choice for the growing capital city of Belfast.”

Related topics:Department for Communities