Debate contribution: Dilapidation Bill: Final Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Stewart Dickson on 8 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Stewart Dickson
Party at the time: Alliance Party
Date: 8 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Executive Committee Business
Heading: Dilapidation Bill: Final Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5674229

Text

I welcome the Final Stage of the Bill. As many Members have said in the debate, we face an unprecedented high street crisis across Northern Ireland with a quarter of non-domestic units lying vacant, leading to what some have termed "industrial levels" of dereliction, so I particularly welcome the Minister's Bill now that it has reached its Final Stage. It will come as no surprise to anyone in the Chamber that we have the highest levels of dereliction in the United Kingdom; therefore, it is very welcome that the Minister is taking meaningful action in that area. If we are to tackle the problem fully, however, other Departments need to play their part in creating a multi-year and multi-departmental reconstruction plan. What has happened to the Executive Office's high street task force? I recently asked a question about that in the House and got a very poor answer, if not indeed a blank answer, about that work — work that was lauded by that Department but seems to have dropped into a large black hole. I am really pleased to see my Alliance colleague Minister Andrew Muir leading on these important issues for towns and their high streets and for rural communities. Sadly, my constituency office is located in a part of Carrickfergus where there is a great deal of dilapidation in many buildings, so it is a story that I see and live with every day. I want to place on record my thanks to you, Minister, for coming to Carrickfergus and seeing the dilapidation with buildings that have really fallen to the ground and buildings that landlords and the local authority have to spend money to prop up rather than taking action to deal with them. The town of Carrickfergus has an 800-year-old Norman castle, which is steeped in history and is one of east Antrim's most famous attractions, drawing visitors from around the world every week. I park where the tour buses arrive. When visitors leave the castle and the harbour area, they are, sadly, met with empty shops, deteriorating buildings and struggling businesses. Not all our businesses are struggling, and it is for those that are trying to be vibrant and to hold our high streets together that I make my plea that we take action to deal with the dilapidated buildings around them.
The former Bell's Corner building in Carrickfergus is one of the most recent examples. The tenant of that building had to leave the century-old historic location for newer premises in order to keep their business alive after the older structure in which they were located required significant restoration but no action was taken. The recent news of the closure of Dobbins Inn, a hotel and bar dating back to the 1500s, after it was unable to find a new owner has sent shock waves through the town. That will become another building at risk if no action is taken. No one wants to see important buildings in the heart of a town left vacant, fall into disrepair or become part of a blighted town centre. As the Minister has outlined in his Bill, there is an important role for landlords and tenants and for local authorities and those who want to redevelop such buildings to play. There are plenty of people with excellent ideas, but, unfortunately, many of their plans are frustrated because they cannot get access to the buildings or sites. There are reasons to be positive. Recently, a planning application was submitted for a £42·2 million regeneration project in Carrickfergus, to be funded in part by the Belfast region city deal. It will have an impact on businesses, but, sadly, even that project will be insufficient to deal with areas of dereliction outside the core town-centre area. The Bill has the potential to give councils a clearer and more effective tool to use to step in where property owners have neglected their responsibilities, where a building becomes dangerous or where a prominent vacant property is holding back the wider regeneration of an area.
I thank the Member for that intervention. I wholeheartedly agree. There needs to be an urgent review of the estates of all Departments in Northern Ireland, not least Health. I drive past the Whiteabbey Hospital site, for example. A large wall surrounds a vast site. Yes, the buildings, with modern facilities, are being used, but acres of land simply lie empty. None of that is acceptable. I particularly welcome the Minister's comments about how the legislation will support councils to act more quickly and effectively in cases in which they have to take action. It will help protect the historic character of town centres and encourage the restoration and return to use of significant buildings. People across Northern Ireland want to see their town centres thrive, with vacant high streets brought back to life, investment translated into visible change and communities able to take pride in the spaces in which they live, work and socialise. I welcome the Bill and, particularly given that it is at its Final Stage, commend the Minister for bringing it forward. Finally, I congratulate the Minister for taking action on behalf of all of us who have great concern about our high streets and communities.

873 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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