Skip the NI Direct Bar
Skip navigation

McCausland calls for focus on town centre regeneration

Having considered the Mary Portas review of UK high streets, Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland, has outlined his department’s focus on the future of our town centres.
~ Tuesday, 7 February 2012

Minister McCausland said: “I support any initiative which can benefit our town and city centres which are clearly facing a difficult time in the present economic climate. Having seen the Portas Review, I have taken a number of steps as my Department continues to consider how we can best deliver support and regeneration in urban areas. Our focus should be on putting the heart back into the centre of our high streets, re-imagined as exciting social hubs for shopping, learning and socialising.”

As an initial response the Department is taking the following steps:

  1. Setting up a taskforce of senior officials to respond to the difficult trading challenges facing Northern Ireland's High Streets. The taskforce will review the support which the Department already provides to regenerate town centres to see whether this might be further strengthened in light of the recommended actions identified by Portas, and also reflect Northern Ireland trading circumstances.
  2. The Minister will meet with representatives of business, local government and his DFP, DRD and DOE Ministerial colleagues to develop a NI Executive action plan to boost the performance of Northern Ireland's high streets.
  3. The Minister will invite Mary Portas to Northern Ireland to advise on the content of the Northern Ireland action plan.
  4. A Report and Action Plan will be presented to the NI Executive by April 2012 for endorsement.

Minister McCausland continued: “My Department already has an extensive programme of public realm works across the towns and cities of Northern Ireland. This has greatly improved the environment for local people, attracting shoppers and potential investors. A case in point is Newcastle, County Down where footfall in the town has increased dramatically following the completion of the public realm works there. I am keen to explore lessons from the Portas review to ensure we are doing all we can here to maximise the potential of our own town centres as vibrant places for people to live, work and play.”

Notes to editors:

  1. The Department is currently piloting a NI reStore programme involving six high streets in Belfast, Larne, Lurgan and Londonderry. ReStore provides funding and support to local traders to produce and implement an action plan tailored to the needs of their locality aimed at improving the appearance and marketing of high streets in order to boost trade.
  2. DSD provides funding for the production of masterplans or regeneration strategies for town centres. These take a long-term view of the future prospects of a town centre - typically over a 20 year period - and set the strategic direction for its development. Since January 2009, 18 masterplans have been published, another five are currently underway and three are planned to start this year.
  3. Media enquiries to DSD Communications Team on 028 9082 9078 or email press.office@dsdni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.