Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed his department's commitment to a £171,050 project that will see an empty plot on Larne Main Street transformed into a vibrant pop-up park for community use.

The initiative, led by Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, will open up the former Cellars site, turning an overgrown, vacant area into a welcoming community garden.

The project, which has secured £154,000 in funding from the Department for Communities, will also include the creation of a new footpath connecting Main Street with Point Street, along with colourful street art and various animation activities. Mid & East Antrim Borough Council has secured a lease for the site for up to four years, pending future permanent development by the site owner. Minister Lyons commented: "I am pleased that my department has been able to provide £154,000 of funding towards this project. This initiative will transform an area that is currently inaccessible, unused and unattractive, bringing it into use to provide a welcoming area for people to sit, socialise and interact. It will bring a pleasant green space into the heart of the Main Street. Our traders face many challenges, and I am happy to support schemes, such as this, which bring forward fresh ideas for encouraging people to visit and spend time in our town centres."

To ensure the final design of the garden reflects local needs, stakeholder engagement, including with community groups, is planned for the summer. Construction is anticipated to commence in the Autumn, with completion targeted for Spring 2026.