Dungannon shop fronts looking 'altogether better'
Publish Date: Friday, 27 April 2007
Dungannon Regeneration Partnership (DRP) in conjunction with Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council has assisted a total of 24 shops in Dungannon town through grant aid under the town's first Shop Front Improvement Programme.
The Programme has proved to be a huge success, winning an award from the Northern Ireland Branch of the Association of Town Centre Management (NIATCM) and being included in the ATCM's Regional Good Practice Guide.
An evaluation of the programme carried out by Dungannon Regeneration Partnership (DRP) has highlighted the success of the initiative in terms of improving the overall physical appearance of the town centre and the level of investment made by property owners to enhance shop frontages in the town centre. Moreover, many business owners have reported benefits of increased accessibility, footfall and sales resulting from their improved shop frontages.
Cllr Walter Cuddy, Chairman of DRP said "The Shop Front Improvement Programme is a key project within the Dungannon Regeneration Strategy and DRP is delighted with the overall success of the programme. The programme has levered significant investment from the private sector by acting as a catalyst for businesses to invest further in their properties, for example it also stimulated internal refurbishment works at many of the premises. The total private sector investment was over half a million pounds, or for every £1 funded by the programme, an investment of £9 was made by property owners. We are indebted to the Department for Social Development for their financial support to enable the project to come to fruition."
Brendan Begley, proprietor of Begley's Gifts was one grant recipient to have completed works to enhance and improve the frontage of his premises on Irish Street.
The Programme was funded under Measure 2.11 of the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation through the Department for Social Development.
