Queen’s University Planning Students Visit Carrickfergus as £42.2m Regeneration Plans Progress

Planning students from Queen’s University Belfast have visited Carrickfergus to study the town and its £42.2 million regeneration programme. The students explored the town centre, harbour and Carrickfergus Castle as they prepare their own design strategies for the historic town.

Planning students from Queen’s University Belfast have visited Carrickfergus to learn more about the major Carrickfergus regeneration programme planned for the historic seaside town.

The visit gave first-year undergraduate students an opportunity to examine how heritage, urban design and community needs can be brought together as part of a major regeneration project.

The £42.2 million programme forms part of the Belfast Region City Deal and aims to reposition Carrickfergus as a heritage-led visitor destination and the gateway to the Causeway Coastal Route.

Students explore Carrickfergus regeneration plans

During their field trip, the Queen’s University students explored several key areas of Carrickfergus.

These included:

• Carrickfergus town centre
• The harbour area
• Public spaces around the town
• Carrickfergus Castle
• Areas expected to benefit from future regeneration

Council representatives also spoke to the students about the challenges involved in planning and delivering large-scale regeneration.

The visit will help students complete an assignment in which they must develop their own design strategy for Carrickfergus.

The field trip forms part of Queen’s University’s Design Principles of the Built Environment module. The university says the module introduces students to urban design, public realm improvements and the physical development of towns and cities.

More information about the course is available from Queen’s University Belfast.

£42.2 million investment planned for Carrickfergus

The Carrickfergus regeneration programme represents one of the largest investments in the town for many years.

Plans include improvements designed to strengthen the town’s heritage and tourism offering while improving public spaces, visitor facilities and connections between Carrickfergus Castle and the town centre.

The project is supported through the Belfast Region City Deal, with £26.4 million coming from City Deal funding.

The wider ambition is to establish Carrickfergus as a major heritage destination and encourage more visitors travelling along the Causeway Coastal Route to begin their journey in the town.

You can find the latest local news, events, businesses, fuel prices and travel information on the Northern Ireland Online Carrickfergus page.

Mayor welcomes Queen’s University students

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, said the council was delighted to welcome the students and allow them to examine the regeneration plans.

He said the university project gave students an opportunity to engage directly with the ambition and potential of Carrickfergus.

The Mayor highlighted the town’s history as the former capital of Anglo-Norman Ulster, alongside its coastal location, proximity to Belfast and position near the beginning of the Causeway Coastal Route.

He said:

“Through our regeneration programme, we are investing in Carrickfergus’ future, enhancing the town’s public spaces, celebrating its rich heritage and creating new opportunities for investment, tourism and economic growth.”

He added that the plans aim to help Carrickfergus continue to develop as a place to live, work and visit.

More information about the council’s involvement in the programme is available from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

Bringing university learning into the real world

Dr Rachael Black from Queen’s University said the first-year Planning students thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Carrickfergus.

She said:

“It was a fantastic opportunity to take their learning beyond the classroom and explore the opportunities and challenges of urban design in a real-world setting.”

Dr Black said the visit encouraged students to consider how heritage, regeneration and the needs of local communities can influence the future development of a place.

She also thanked Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for sharing its knowledge and expertise with the students.

The experience will now help the group develop its own design strategies for Carrickfergus.

Carrickfergus regeneration moves forward

The £42.2 million scheme has continued to progress during 2026.

Four detailed planning applications covering public realm improvements, a new visitor centre, civic and cultural infrastructure and heritage works at Carrickfergus Castle were submitted during the summer.

The project is intended to provide long-term benefits for residents, businesses and visitors while making more of Carrickfergus’ historic assets.

Further information and updates can be found on the official Carrickfergus Regeneration project page.

Keep up with Carrickfergus news

For the latest developments from the town, including regeneration projects, events, traffic, fuel prices and local news, visit the Northern Ireland Online Carrickfergus Local Guide.