Minister Ritchie launches regeneration initiative to ‘reStore Castle Street’

Margaret Ritchie MLA, Social Development Minister, today launched a pilot initiative to attract more shoppers and visitors to the Greater Castle Street Area of Belfast.

The ‘reStore Castle Street’ action plan is based on the ‘reStore DC programme” which currently operates to support small businesses and commercial districts in Washington DC, USA.

Margaret Ritchie said: “I am pleased to launch the ‘reStore Castle Street’ action plan today. This pilot scheme aims to boost business performance in this rundown area of Belfast by creating a more attractive environment for shoppers and visitors.

“This is a partnership initiative involving my Department, the business community and Belfast City Centre Management. DSD is providing £150,000 funding for this initiative and the business community in Castle Street has provided their time and know-how to develop the action plan.

“When I visited Washington DC in 2007 for the Smithsonian Northern Ireland exhibition I was impressed by the success of the ‘reStore DC’ programme. It was used to boost the performance of mainstreet businesses in Washington DC. I tasked my officials to work with the local business community to develop pilots of this programme tailored to the needs of Northern Ireland’s mainstreets. The Greater Castle Street programme is the first of these pilots to be launched.”

The associated action plan includes the provision of festive features on Castle Street during the Christmas shopping period, with a business promotion/fun day being planned for Saturday 13 December.

Further initiatives will develop a unique brand for the Castle Street area, building on the character of the street. Improving the attractiveness of shop frontages and providing tourist leaflets, heritage guides, directional signage, and artistic hoardings, to temporarily cover some of the derelict buildings in the area, are also key elements of the initiative.

Notes to Editors:

1. The ‘reStore’ pilot broadly mirrors the ‘reStore DC’ programme, which Ms Ritchie viewed during her visit to Washington DC in June 07. The reStore DC programme supports the revitalisation of Washington DC’s neighbourhood commercial districts and small businesses by:

• providing technical and funding assistance in targeted neighbourhoods to retain DC businesses, design and improve storefronts and streetscapes, and promote DC’s business neighbourhood districts; and
• building the capacity of neighbourhood non-profit organisations to assist businesses and coordinate sustainable community-driven revitalisation efforts.

2. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9496. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned