12/11/2018

More Funding For Belfast City Centre In Wake Of Primark Fire

A further £1.1million has been awarded to Belfast city centre to help with the recovery from the Primark fire.

The money will form part of the ongoing effort to bring shoppers and tourists back to the city centre.

The cash injection follows the council's announcement in October of a £1.7m contribution, Chancellor Philip Hammond's Budget pledge of £2m and a £500,000 payment awarded by Primark itself to support businesses in the area.

The most recent funding announcement will come from Northern Ireland departments, as announced by David Sterling, Head of the Civil Service today, Monday 12 November.

It brings the overall recovery package to nearly £6m.

"This will help address some of the difficulties shoppers and visitors have faced as they try and move around the city centre. This funding package is part of our ongoing efforts to do everything we possibly can within our available resources," he said in a statement.

Details of the £1.1m initiative include:

• The Department for Communities provision of a further £200,000, bringing their total to £580,000. This will contribute to significant investment in environmental improvements in open spaces in the city centre, providing places for people to relax, eat and enjoy the city, with outdoor seating and tables, enhanced street lighting and street art, alongside a programme of main events and smaller activities.

• The Department for the Economy will provide £400,000 to be spent on a range of initiatives to boost tourism and increase visitor numbers to the city centre.

• The Department for Infrastructure's £500,000 contribution will allow Translink to deliver a high impact festive travel campaign, offering major discounts on fares to encourage more people to travel into the heart of Belfast. This will include day travel across Belfast for just £2 (£1 for a child) and additional services, including midnight departures. There will also be an extensive range of offers on Metro/Glider, Ulsterbus, Goldline and NI Railways.



(JG)


Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

05 April 2004
Business membership figures show 'massive' increase
Figures released today by Belfast City Centre Management and the Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce show a massive increase in the number of businesses joining their joint membership scheme.
19 September 2018
Primark Donates £500,000 To Support Businesses Affected By Fire
Retailer Primark is donating £500,000 to Belfast City Council's City Recovery Investment Fund. The fund is being set up after a number of businesses have been severely affected by the fire at the Bank Buildings which happened over three weeks ago. A cordon remains in place and 14 firms have been closed for up to four months.
15 March 2004
St Patrick's Day event has support of BCC says councillor
The Chairman of Belfast City Council’s Good Relations Steering Panel has challenged claims that the Council is not supporting St Patrick’s Day in Belfast. It follows a protest outside Belfast City Hall last week by the St Patrick's Carnival Committee who claim the Council isn't funding this year's event at the City Hall.
20 June 2014
Belfast 'Heart Of Economy' - Robinson
"Belfast is the heart of the local economy," Peter Robinson has said. The First Minister made the comments as he launched a blueprint that sets out "bold and aspirational plans" for Belfast City Centre.
21 September 2018
Belfast City Council Awards £1.25m To Boost City Centre
Belfast City Council has approved plans to award £1.25 million of funding for Belfast City Centre in the aftermath of the Primark fire. The move follows Primark's announcement earlier this week that it is to donate £500,000 to Council's wider city recovery investment programme to help businesses affected by the fire.