The council premises are currently split between Newtownards and Bangor
Ards and North Down Borough Council has announced its decision to progress with the Queen’s Parade site in Bangor as the “preferred” location for its new civic offices.
The council says it has earmarked the site of B&M Bargains on Main Street, adding the project would bring around 400 administrative employees together into one central hub. It would be the new home for council meetings, civic functions and events.
While no final decision has been made or specific planning application yet heard, the council states by taking an anchor tenancy on Queen’s Parade, it is “signalling confidence in Bangor to private investors and helping bolster wider city-centre renewal.”
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It states: “Bringing office workers into Bangor City Centre will help drive footfall, with research showing that every office worker generates additional indirect jobs in the area, supporting the local city centre economy.”
The council’s meetings are currently split between Bangor and Newtownards, with committee meetings and other administration being dealt with at Church Street, Newtownards, and the full monthly council meetings being held at Bangor Castle.
In January the council announced the future use of Bangor Castle would go open for consultation and it would move out of the Victorian landmark, after 73 years in attendance. The council said it had started “a significant rationalisation” of its office estate, and promised it will relocate around 420 employees to a single, modern, fit-for-purpose office building in Bangor centre.
The long delayed Bangor Queen’s Parade scheme, approved by the council in January 2021, was developed by Bangor Marine Ltd, and plans extensive work to a run-down area of the town. It will involve the building of new homes, a 66 bedroom hotel, a cinema and leisure facility, a public realm scheme, new streets, an events space and new cafes and restaurants.
The applicant said the project will create approximately 100 jobs per annum during construction, and 700 further jobs once it is “operational.” The former B&M Bargains, Oxfam and Hospice shops on Main Street will be demolished, as well as other buildings on King Street, Southwell Road and Queen’s Parade. Work has just begun, five and a half years after the plan was approved.
Ards and North Down Council says full consent for office space “is in place” for Queen’s Parade. The office accommodation will front onto Main Street in Bangor, in the former B&M building.
The council states: “The planning approval matches the council and partners’ accommodation requirements for a shared campus. The opportunity exists to bring other public sector partners into the building, including the Department of Education, NIHE and Job and Benefits Office, to create a unique public service hub able to provide a range of benefits to residents under one roof.
“Queen’s Parade links Bangor Main Street with the council’s Waterfront Development, creating a seamless public realm and strengthening pedestrian flows, as well as providing much needed regeneration along Bangor’s Main Street.”
Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum, said: “Choosing Queen’s Parade underlines our vision for a vibrant, resilient city centre. A new headquarters for the council in Bangor City Centre shows that we’re investing in Bangor’s future, creating jobs, footfall and strengthening our city centre.
“I would stress that this decision, whilst outlining a clear direction of travel, is just the start of a process – we will now be developing a full business case before a final decision is made.”
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