Cookstown District Council
Town Centre Regeneration
Cookstown Town Living Initative (LOTS) Scheme
The Town Centre Living Initiative (LOTS) Scheme is an integral part of Cookstown Town Centre Regeneration Strategy. The broad aim of the Cookstown Town Centre Living Initiative (LOTS) Scheme is to offer 75% grant assistance towards eligible costs up to a maximum of £30,000, to provide private rented residential accommodation within vacant or under utilised upper floors of shops and other commercial buildings within the town centre area of Cookstown. Properties suitable for conversion will be those that have the potential for creating good quality housing, have a commercial aspect on the ground floor and can provide separate access to the upper floors.
The Scheme offers significant physical, economic and social regeneration benefits to Cookstown, including:
-Improved housing choice
-Increased vitality in Town Centre
-Conservation of heritage / townscape
-Improved security and build on the neutrality of the Town Centre
-Income stream & capital appreciation for property owners
-Complementary to other town centre initiatives as outlined in Cookstown's Town Centre Regeneration Strategy.
Since the official launch of the scheme in excess of 50 enquires have been received to date, of which 7 properties have been renovated creating multiple units per property. 2 further schemes are under construction and a number of other schemes are currently awaiting statutory approvals.
Click here to download the Town Centre Living Initiative (LOTS) Scheme Brochure
Cookstown Marketing & Promotion
The Cookstown brand illustrates everything that makes Cookstown a special place, the strength of the rural aspect of the town, the urban component offering great shopping and infrastructure and the sights to visit which bring many tourists to the area.
Our strapline Looking Good, Looking Great refers to Cookstown's future prospects, a town growing in stature with a very positive outlook for the future and warm welcoming people full of dynamism and enthusiasm.
Cookstown's Town Centre Marketing and Promotion initiative focuses on promoting Cookstown as the 'Retail Capital of Mid Ulster' and to help create a family friendly town for visitors, businesses and investors alike, incorporating the following multi media solutions:
-Television
-Radio
-Press
-Outdoor Campaign
-Transport Campaign
For further information on the Christmas 2008 Marketing Scheme please click the following link:
Cookstown Urban Design Strategy
Cookstown has recently developed an Urban Design Strategy which outlines a clear physical framework for new development, investment and environmental improvement in the town centre following a period of consultation during 2005/06.
The strategy outlines a range of inspirational and strategic urban design interventions for Cookstown in the short, medium and long term to assist with ongoing town centre regeneration through the following proposals:
Network Place Strategy, Arrival Strategy, Streetscape Strategy, Design Guidance, Outdoor Cultural Strategy, Land and Buildings Strategy, Building Facelift Strategy.
Click here to download Urban Design Executive Summary Brochure
Cookstown Baseline and Healthcheck
A comprehensive healthcheck of Cookstown was undertaken in 2007 and the key facts and figures emanating from the healthcheck will be helpful for future strategic planning.The healthcheck considers key performance indicators assessing the town's vitality such as traffic flow, retail mix, rental values, vacancy levels, employment, commercial investment, etc.
-There are currently 356 businesses identified in the town centre,
-Approximately 66% of businesses in the town are independents,
-Over 100 different types of business were recorded, the most common were clothing/footwear retailers, hairdressers/barbers and fast food take aways,
-Over 26% of businesses in the town centre were established since 2001,
-During the same period, 25% of businesses have relocated within the town centre, with many moving to larger premises; Since 2001, 634 additional employees have been employed in the town,
-This consists of 400 in established businesses and 234 in new businesses, Employment in businesses that were operating in 2001 and 2007 has increased by 20% and the overall level of employment has increased by 31%,
-Approximately 42% of businesses in the town own their own premises,
-The number of vacant/derelict business properties in the town centre has decreases from 47 to 30, equating to a reduction of 36% since 2001
-Commercial space has increased by approximate 110,000 sq ft since 2001, while retail space has increased by approximate 178,000 sq ft in the same period, equating to a combined investment of approximate £35 million,
-Approximately 200 new residential dwellings have been built within or close to the town centre between 2001 and 2007, with an approximate value of £40 million.
Cookstown Public Realm Scheme - Burn Road
The Burn Road Environmental Improvement Scheme has been designed to create a new civic focus for the Burn Road area and will complement existing civic buildings, creating a more useable space to facilitate hosting outdoor events.
The scheme has its origins in the Cookstown Urban Design Stratgey (2006) which identified areas where improvements could be made to the Burn Road as a nucleus of the town's commercial activity.
The main improvements will take place on Burn Road, between the William Street and Park Avenue junctions. Improvements will include new street furniture and some new tree planting. Existing footpaths will be re-kerbed and resurfaced, while a section of the carriageway will benefit from surface improvements. Street lighting will be enhanced and new lanterns installed on all existing and new lighting columns along the entire length of the road.
Construction on the Public Realms Scheme is expected to commence in February 2009 and will be completed by May or June 2009. Please click on the below link for a picture of the design.
Burn Road Image- Please click here
For more information on any of the above projects email terry.scullion@cookstown.gov.uk