Debate contribution: High Street and Town Centre Rejuvenation

Debate contribution by Ms Cheryl Brownlee on 4 November 2024.

MLA

Ms Cheryl Brownlee

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

4 November 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

High Street and Town Centre Rejuvenation

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4625936

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I am pleased to speak in support of the motion and the amendments, as my colleague so eloquently did in his speech. We want to highlight how critical our high streets and town centres are to the economy and to the vibrancy and social cohesion of our community. A comprehensive strategy is, of course, essential, and I would like to use my experience as an East Antrim representative to address several key issues that must be considered as part of that strategy. Dilapidation continues to be a pressing concern. A recent consultation in my constituency highlighted dereliction as the top concern of local residents. Abandoned and deteriorating buildings not only deter footfall but project a sense of neglect and discourage investment. To address that, we must see movement on the dilapidation Bill. That would hold property owners accountable for maintaining their premises, ensuring that our town centres remain attractive and welcoming, and it would provide real powers for our council to act. Investing in the upkeep of high streets will create an environment where businesses can thrive and where residents feel a sense of pride in and connection to their local community. In addition to those physical improvements, we must support businesses that are bringing life into areas. In my area, new businesses, such as Luna, that are trying to establish themselves have faced unexpected challenges. For example, Luna struggled when unforeseen work on the water infrastructure disrupted operations and added financial strain at a crucial time for that brand-new business. Other businesses in the same area have had to close while the work is ongoing. That example underscores the need for improved coordination and communication between councils, utility companies and businesses to minimise disruption. Small businesses are the backbone of our local economies, and we must ensure that they have the stability and support that they need to grow. One of the most common concerns that I hear about is the high VAT rate, which has created an uneven playing field. A VAT reduction could be a lifeline, helping businesses to stay competitive and encouraging more footfall in town centres. With the cost-of-living crisis impacting on consumer spending, reducing VAT would not only benefit businesses but make shopping and dining on our high streets much more affordable for residents. Moreover, we have a massive opportunity with city deals to transform town centres. The funding and projects in those frameworks should prioritise initiatives that rejuvenate our high streets and businesses, create jobs, improve the infrastructure and effect digital transformation. That is an opportunity that we must grasp. Recent NI Audit Office reports highlighted significant concerns around skills gaps and the planning system in Northern Ireland. Both are absolutely critical to our town centres. We must address the skills gap by investing in training programmes tailored to the needs of our high street businesses, particularly in areas such as retail, hospitality and digital skills, ensuring that our workforce is equipped with the right skills to be more dynamic and more responsive to changes in consumer trends. Our town centres and high streets need a planning system that is fit for purpose so that businesses can thrive and diversify without lengthy delays. In Carrickfergus, we operate in a conservation area, which brings additional restrictions and costs, but there is very little support for businesses to navigate that additional burden. We have also the transition to online banking, which also presents additional challenges. With more banks closing their physical branches, residents, particularly those who are less digitally confident, face difficulties in accessing those essential services, which increases the digital divide and inequality. Town centres have traditionally been hubs where people conduct their daily banking, so we must consider alternatives such as community banking hubs or financial support. By ensuring accessibility, we can maintain footfall in our town centres and support our local businesses. During my Adjournment debate a few months ago, I welcomed the Back in Business grant, but, to date, only four businesses in the Mid and East Antrim area are actually in receipt of this funding. Northern Ireland has a high rate of people with disabilities, and we must ensure that our town centres and streets are more accessible and, of course, accommodating. I agree with Mr Carroll. The Minister for Infrastructure must work with local councils and other partners to ensure that footpaths are fit for purpose and do not pose risks and that the whole town centre is, of course, welcoming and accessible. Primarily, people with disabilities must be at the heart of future planning. Finally, we should look at the townscape heritage initiative in my constituency as a model for repurposing the high street.

As a successful scheme that focused on —. Is that my time up?

Sorry about that. Thank you.

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

Assessment

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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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