Debate contribution: High Street and Town Centre Rejuvenation

Debate contribution by Mr Philip McGuigan on 4 November 2024.

MLA

Mr Philip McGuigan

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

4 November 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

High Street and Town Centre Rejuvenation

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4625924

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I thank the proposer for providing the opportunity to speak on the issue today. I absolutely agree that thriving high streets and town centres are vital to the economic vibrancy and social fabric of our communities. They are also the spaces where we live, work, shop, socialise and access public services, so they need to be welcoming, safe and sustainable locations for businesses. Unfortunately, as the motion states, high streets and town centres face many challenges that have a visible impact on small and independent retailers. Many of the challenges existed before the pandemic, but they have undoubtedly increased since then because of the changing ways in which we access goods and services, including online and mobile services, shopping centres and out-of-town retail parks; the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and the legacy of the COVID pandemic on how people spend their time and their decreased disposable income; and more working from home and less lunchtime spending. Rising overhead costs and inflationary pressures for businesses are also having an impact. The motion and amendments mention the Economy and Finance Departments, but addressing the issues will require a partnership approach across a number of Departments, as well as councils. Public realm and environmental improvements, revitalisation schemes, planning and infrastructure, development schemes, urban development grants, licensing laws and many other connected issues impact on the success of our high streets and town centres and touch on numerous Departments. The high street task force was established by the Executive. Its membership is drawn from retail, hospitality, academia, central and local government and the community and voluntary sector. As has been mentioned, it has already put forward its recommendations following extensive engagement. It should be the template for moving forward. We need to focus on how the recommendations from the task force can be progressed with the current budgetary challenges that we face. As others have said, we also need to look at locally based solutions and initiatives. While many of the issues will be similar across the North, every area, town centre and high street will have its particular strengths and challenges. In the three major towns in my constituency — Ballymena, Ballymoney and Ballycastle — the issue of derelict buildings is continually raised by businesses. Obviously, an increasing number of vacant and derelict buildings will reduce footfall in a town, impacting on existing businesses. I welcome the work of the Finance Minister on that subject. She has restored the Back in Business scheme that was introduced previously by her colleague Conor Murphy, which offers businesses a 50% rate discount for up to two years if they move into vacant premises that have been unoccupied for 12 months or more and were previously used for retail purposes. Rejuvenating town centres and buildings while protecting their heritage is also important in many areas to ensure that the high streets, town centres and buildings remain attractive to potential new businesses. Ballycastle is one of the most unique towns in the North because of its retail offering, but we recently witnessed a road closure for a number of days and scaffolding right in its heart, because the Antrim Arms has been allowed to dangerously degrade into disrepair. We should look at expanding townscape heritage initiatives that have borne fruit elsewhere. The impact of car-parking charges, again, is something that needs local consultation. That is important, because every situation can be different. The increased use of pedestrian zones will benefit many of our town centres. Before I conclude, I welcome the recent announcement that the pause on the city and growth deals, particularly the Causeway Coast and Glens growth deal, which relates to my area, and the Mid South West growth deal, has been lifted and that all deals across the North are now progressing. In my constituency of North Antrim, which sits in two council areas — Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council — the growth deals are, as they have been described numerous times in the Chamber, a "game changer". The investment and outworking of the projects in Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council areas will certainly be seen positively across our high streets and town centres.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:28 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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