Through the development of the Lisburn City Centre Masterplan, one of the main priorities identified and agreed was the need for innovative regeneration of the public realm, primarily focussed on the main City Centre streets.
Lisburn City Council secured £3.2 million funding support from the Department for Social Development to deliver a high quality public realm improvement scheme in areas of Lisburn City Centre. The overall value of the scheme is £4.7 million and will transform Lisburn & Castlereagh main city centre streets and public spaces through high contemporary design, raising both the standard and quality of the City Centre.
The Public Realm project was appointed to local company TAL Civil Engineering in February 2013 and works began in June 2013. The aim of the project was to provide high quality Public Realm Works in two identified priority areas of Lisburn City Centre, namely, Market Square and Bow Street. The scheme completed in October 2015 and the much anticipated light floor has provided a focal point for many City Centre events.
Complementary work in adjoining streets which include Haslem's Lane, Market Street and Graham Gardens is due to commence in the early part of 2017.
Work completed include new paving, kerbing, resurfacing, signage and planting, bespoke elements include street furniture, street lighting and water features will complete the project works. The overall project has significantly raised the quality of the environment helping Lisburn City Centre diversify, creating modern office accommodation which will in turn attract business and leisure activities that will help to sustain activity in the City Centre outside traditional business hours.