BALLYMENA shopping complex Tower Centre is to undergo a £10 million refurbishment under new owner Sam Morrison.
The property developer bought the centre - which had been on the market for £6m - last month.
Mr Morrison, whose company Corbo formerly owned the Fairhill Shopping Centre in the town, said he wanted to return the Tower Centre "to its former glory by investing in the layout and shopping experience".
The complex was the first shopping centre in Ballymena when it opened in 1981.
It now has more than 30 retailers including Primark, Boots, B&M and Dunnes Stores.
Mr Morrison said he wanted to attract "a selection of new retailers and build on the current offering of high street names and independent retailers".
"We are looking forward to the challenge of returning the centre back to its best following our acquisition earlier this year," he said.
"We have allocated a further £10m of capital expenditure to support the reconfiguration of the shopping centre and we are targeting a raft of new retailers to take shops in the centre.
“It's our intention that a new and improved Tower Centre will add to Ballymena's reputation as a vibrant shopping destination with impressive centres, retail and leisure parks which include a mix of independent and multinational retailers.”
It is the latest major acquisition by Mr Morrison who also bought the Carlton Hotel in Belleek earlier this year.
The Tower Centre was formerly owned by boxing promoter and bookmaker Barney Eastwood
It formed part of his property portfolio which had been financed by failed Irish lender Anglo Irish Bank, before the loans were sold to US investment fund Lone Star in 2014.
Meanwhile, Lambert Smith Hampton, which dealt with the sale of the centre has been appointed as managing agent for the complex.
