29/10/2018

£2m Lifeline For Belfast City Centre After Primark Blaze

Belfast city centre will be granted £2 million in the budget that is to be announced today, Monday 29 October.

The cash injection is part of Chancellor Philip Hammond's budget and is aimed at regenerating the area around the historic Bank Buildings on Royal Avenue, which were destroyed in a major blaze in August.

It will more than double the amount already allocated by Belfast City Council for recovery work, that includes the building of a temporary walkway between Royal Avenue and Donegall Place.

The Primark fire raged for three days and had a severe impact on the city's economy, with a safety cordon in place that forced 14 businesses to close.

The financial boost will help businesses recover in the run-up to Christmas, following a slump in footfall by almost a third.

Glyn Roberts from Retail NI welcomed the Chancellor's intervention. He said: "This is great news for Belfast and it follows pressure from our own organisation who have been talking to MPs and pushing the case at Westminster for additional funding from the Treasury."

He added that the money will be a "great basis for the rejuvenation of the city centre".



(JG/MH)

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