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BBCDelays to a multi-million pound seafront redevelopment challenge in Bangor are retaining again the possibility of the town, native folks have stated.
Plans to overtake the Queen’s Parade house of the town in County Down were mentioned for many years, however in 2019 the initiative won renewed momentum when Bangor Marine was once appointed through the Department for Communities (DfC) and Ards and North Down District Council to guide the challenge.
Six years on, structure paintings has nonetheless no longer begun at the first section of the challenge and the realm stays in large part derelict.
BBC News NI understands structure company Farrans is now exploring stepping clear of the challenge altogether.
‘You get reasonably cynical’
As first reported within the County Down Spectator, a brand new company is reportedly being coated as much as take over and sign up for the foremost challenge.
Ivan Carruthers, who’s from Bangor, stated the Queen’s Parade house was once “pretty desperate”.
He stated redeveloping Queen’s Parade was once being mentioned when he moved to the town about 25 years in the past and could be transformational.
“People we know who have been in Bangor all their lives say this has been going on for 40 years,” he stated.
“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 right here spherical to Belfast and Donaghadee and two beautiful parks.
“The place has got huge potential but it’s just falling apart.”
The construction website online specializes in lands at Queen’s Parade and the realm these days used as Marine Gardens’ automobile park.
The first section of the advance envisions a 5.25-acre public house that includes a play park, pavilions, meals kiosks, and an occasions house.
The complete challenge would come with a brand new resort, a mixture of new houses, place of job areas, retail and hospitality gadgets and a cinema.
Steve Geddis, who’s from Millisle however frequently involves Bangor, stated Queen’s Parade was once “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 stated.
He stated the redevelopment “would bring a lot more people in” and provides Bangor a spice up.
Margaret Duffy and Rita Quinn, who frequently discuss with Bangor from Belfast to stroll, have glad recollections of the town from after they have been youngsters, however Ms Duffy stated the realm at Queen’s Parade was once “a total eyesore”.
“There’s so much potential,” she stated.
“That’s what annoys me.
“People would come from all over – there is trains and buses.”
Evie Reynolds, who owns cafe Ginger & Berry in High Street, said there was “such a lot possible” in Bangor.
“It’s a great spot and there is a stunning view [at the redevelopment site] and it might be in reality beautiful,” she stated.
“I believe it’ll be in reality excellent when 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 of extra buzz”.
“Business house owners are excited as a result of we all know what it’ll do for the city,” she stated.
“We’re taking a look ahead to it.”
GettyWhat progress has been made with the Queen’s Parade redevelopment?
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 challenge were given a £9.8m spice up from the United Kingdom govt’s Levelling Up Fund in January 2023 and in February 2024, pre-construction clearance paintings started in preparation for what was once billed as structure paintings starting later that summer time.
But in November, it was once introduced that paintings was once now anticipated to start in January 2025.
Despite hopes to begin building work in January, Bangor Marine’s Aran Blackbourne said in February that “exceptional criminal problems” meant the expected start date for construction work was mid-April.
‘Very complicated challenge’
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 complicated challenge”.
“We are on the ultimate phases of finalising the criminal paperwork had to permit works to start, and we think those paperwork to be finished quickly,” a spokesperson stated.
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 “and not using a potentialities of the realm ever being evolved”.
A spokesperson added that “exceptional criminal issues” had almost been sorted after “a number of months of labor”.
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.
‘Unacceptable delays’
AllianceNorth Down Alliance assembly member Connie Egan said Queen’s Parade was in a terrible state, and said the delays were unacceptable.
“Local citizens and companies need motion,” 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 “again seat” and called for urgent ministerial intervention.
“The blight of an empty construction website online seafront has long gone on a long way too lengthy,” he stated.
“My message to the minister is, ‘make this occur’.
“Words are fine… but real action is needed now.”
