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Grants and funding
Our Vacant to Vibrant scheme had two funding pots, city centre funding and citywide funding (beyond the city centre boundary). Both pots are now fully allocated.
Please email [email protected] to register an expression of interest in case future funding becomes available.
A matchmaker service is still available to support people interested in identifying a suitable property or tenant. If you would like more information about this service, email [email protected].
Our Vacant to Vibrant scheme aimed to reduce vacancy, address dereliction and support local independent businesses in Belfast. The city centre scheme and citywide scheme are currently closed to applications.
The schemes provided capital grants to incentivise and support property owners and potential occupiers in bringing vacant properties back into use in local neighbourhoods and the city centre.
All funding has now been allocated.
We approved 48 applicants for a Vacant to Vibrant grant in Belfast city centre. This has created 139 direct employment opportunities, with a further 34 indirect employment opportunities across the supply chain, and reanimated 23 historical buildings or buildings of interest.
There were successful applications by:
These applicants restored vacant properties and transformed the spaces into new premises for their businesses, bringing diversity and vibrancy to Belfast city centre.
We secured £300,000 in capital funding from the Department for Communities and £219,000 from the UK government through UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This extended our scheme to properties and businesses located in Belfast outside the city centre boundary, prioritising properties with significant frontage in urban centres and along arterial routes.
We approved 24 Vacant to Vibrant citywide applications which created approximately 83 direct employment opportunities.
Watch this one minute, 15-second video on how ArtsEkta benefitted from Vacant to Vibrant funding.
Watch this one minute, 10-second video on how Forward South Partnership benefitted from Vacant to Vibrant funding.
Watch this one-minute, 36-second video on how Another World benefitted from Vacant to Vibrant funding.
Watch this one-minute, six-second video on how Michele International Hair and Beauty benefitted from Vacant to Vibrant funding.
Watch this one-minute, 35-second video on how our Vacant to Vibrant capital grant scheme has supported Bodega Bagels to renovate a vacant city centre premises to grow their business.
Watch this two-minute, 22-second video on how the Vacant to Vibrant capital grant scheme supported Verona Bridal to relocate to property that was previously vacant in Belfast city centre.
Watch this one-minute, 16-second long video on how Vacant to Vibrant funding is helping to restore Tedford’s Sail Loft Warehouse.
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