C O N T E X T 1 1 4 : M A Y 2 0 1 0 35 turbine to create commercial amounts of electricity from tidal energy operates at the mouth of the Lough, producing electricity for about 1,000 homes. There is a very strong, close-knit community in Portaferry, and most of the town’s community groups are represented on the Portaferry Community Collective (PCC). The town won the category for Building Community Life, at the Calor Village of the Year Competition 2009, recognising its strong sense of community and tradition, and the Portaferry Gala is a highly popular annual event. The Prince’s Regeneration Trust (PRT) was initially invited by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to meet Will Brown, the project manager of the local community regeneration company, Portaferry Regeneration Limited (PRL), and some of its directors, to discuss the possibility of assisting the group with the preparation of an HLF Stage 1 application for townscape heritage initiative (THI) funding. Local representatives from the HLF had recognised the potential of Portaferry and had held meetings with the PRL some 18 months earlier but little progress had been made during the intervening period. It was immediately apparent to the PRT from this first meeting that PRL had a proven track record of delivering and managing successful regeneration projects and that it was keen to take on the challenge of a heritage-focused regeneration project. But it did not have the capacity, confidence or heritage skills to take it forward. Previous PRL projects, which it continues to successfully manage, include Portaferry Marina, Barholm self-catering accommodation, the Stables tourist office and the BreweryYard Business Park. The potential regeneration project met the dual charitable objectives of the trust: to promote the conservation of heritage buildings, monuments, structures or sites in the UK and to promote regeneration in areas of social and economic deprivation.The Prince’s Regeneration Trust consequently agreed to assist PRL to develop proposals for the THI application. It would also examine the scope for other complementary initiatives to promote the repair and sustainable re-use of historic buildings in Portaferry.These would include establishing a building preservation trust and developing a potential ‘green’ demonstration project on a redundant building in Portaferry in association with the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment. The support of the local community is critical if the full potential of heritage-led regeneration is to be achieved. PRL in association with the PRT hosted a stakeholder meeting to gauge the level of interest and support for the initiative. The meeting was well attended by approximately 40 people, including local business and property owners, councillors, representatives from community groups and local people. There was a clear consensus that the quality of the historic built environment and its vibrancy was being severely compromised by the large number of derelict and vacant buildings in the centre of the town. Attendees were unanimously supportive of progressing the THI Round 1 application and examining other means by which the heritage-led regeneration of Portaferry could be achieved. Support of the local authority is also critical for the long-term success of the proposed regeneration programme. Meetings with Ards Borough Council secured council support for the THI, including a financial contribution towards the cost of the Stage 1 application and agreement in principle to provide match funding for the project development costs and Stage 2 submission. Until the review of public administration (RPA) is implemented, devolving certain responsibilities to local councils, planning, conservation and listed building issues remain the responsibility of central government in Northern Ireland. Further rounds of meetings were held with representatives of the Department of Environment Planning Service and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to secure their written support, which in Northern Ireland is an HLF requirement. The local conservation officer and NIEA conservation architect were subsequently invited to attend an event in Portaferry, hosted jointly by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation Northern Ireland branch and PRL to further strengthen their support. The project has also received the support of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society and Hearth. The overall vision for the scheme is to help reestablish Portaferry as a vibrant, attractive and prosperous town. This will be achieved by promoting the sustainable economic regeneration and invigoration of the Portaferry Conservation Area, by financially supporting and encouraging the repair and refurbishment of historic buildings that contribute to the Left:The Sailing Club, Shore Road Right:The Old Brewery, The Strand
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