A YEAR-long regeneration scheme in Portaferry town centre has been completed.
The £2m public realm scheme has helped reinvigorate the town and includes a revitalised Market Square that is now available for community use and events.
Andrew Muir, the Minister for Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs, visited the town on Wednesday to view the scheme along with officials from the Departments for Communities and Infrastructure, and meet representatives of the Portaferry Steering Group.
The scheme encompassed Market Square, Castle Street, Ferry Street, High Street and Meeting House Street, and included the resurfacing and widening of footpaths, offering better pedestrian connectivity, as well as improved street lighting, additional street furniture, planting and signage.
It was funded under the Covid Recovery Small Settlements Regeneration Programme (CRSSRP) with a contribution from Ards and North Down Council. The CRSSRP is a collaborative approach, with contributions from the three government departments.
Mr Muir said the transformational work undertaken will have many positive health and wellbeing impacts for local rural residents and visitors as well as economic benefits for businesses in the village.
“This completed scheme in Portaferry will go a long way to building strong, sustainable and diverse rural communities which is a key priority for my Department,” he said.
The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Alistair Cathcart, said the Portaferry Public Realm Scheme successfully established collaborative working between the council, central government departments and local community stakeholders.
“The Covid Recovery Small Settlements Regeneration Programme, combined with a contribution from the council, provided the funding for this £2m scheme,” he said.
“It is a fabulous upgrade for Portaferry that will help regenerate the village and will benefit residents, businesses and visitors to the area.”
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, said the scheme has ‘genuinely transformed’ the centre of Portaferry and shows what fantastic results can be gained through collaborative working, both across the executive Departments and with our colleagues in the council.
“I am aware of the considerable work that has gone into delivering these results for the people of Portaferry and the wider peninsula, and I would also like to thank the design team, Aecom, and the contractor, Northstone for working so well in partnership with my department to see this project delivered so successfully,” he said.
The Scheme also helped to support the local community throughout the construction phase with the donation of wood to Portaferry Men’s Shed and through educational visits for school children. The Men’s Shed were grateful recipients of the wooden crates that were used to transport materials to Portaferry, with the group creating a variety of useful products using the donated crates.
