The first phase of the long awaited comeback of a major shopping outlet in the centre of Bangor has been revealed.
Last August, it was announced that the Flagship Centre in the Co Down town was set for a major reboot after being sold in a multi-million-pound deal, more than three years since its closure.
Local man Ricky McLarnon and his company Brookland Property took possession of both the 157,000sq ft centre on Main Street and the 430 space car park.
Read more: Iconic Co Down shopping centre 'making a comeback'
Mr McLarnon plans to reopen the centre in phases and has announced that phase one will be the Flagship Arcade.
The aim, he says, is to "fill this area with local businesses".
In recent weeks, the Flagship's social media account announced that the "new and improved" centre is "coming soon".
More details have since appeared, announcing plans for eleven units as part of phase one.
A spokesperson said: "A total of 18,000 square foot will house a range of local high street businesses. With unit sizes of around 1,000 sq ft - 3,500 sq ft, this will provide a fantastic opportunity for local traders to scale up their business and move into a bigger space in a prime location.
"Our aim is to fill this area with local businesses . . . We already have four of the eleven units reserved!"
At the time of the sale last summer, Mr McLarnon said that with its prime location, extensive indoor space and generously sized car park, the Flagship Centre was just crying out for regeneration investment.
He said his first priority would be to get the carpark back into use as soon as possible.
The centre has been closed for more than three years after concerns for the site following numerous shop closures.
During the 1990s, Flagship was key in the town and a hive of activity, spread over two floors and anchored by Dunnes Stores.
It was also home to Argos, Iceland, Co-op, Stewart Miller, PoundWorld, Peacocks and a thriving food court including Burger King and Subway.
But weeks before its closure in January 2019, it was mainly home to a community hub, charity shop and discount sportswear store.
While the centre itself has been empty since early 2019, North Down Community Network occupied the adjacent unit on Main Street, which was also part of the sale.
Brookland extended the charity’s licence and more than doubled its footprint to 9,000sq ft.
It's hoped that the Flagship Arcade could open before the end of 2022 with further details of more phases in the centre's revamp planned over the coming months.
Read more: Bangor’s Flagship Centre car park reopening stalled after proposal 'turned down' by council
Read more: 'All systems go' for Bangor's long-awaited Queen’s Parade redevelopment plan
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