MLAs must step in as footfall figures plummet

Northern Ireland’s politicians need to put aside their differences and push for economic improvements after the latest figures showed a drop in shopping centre footfall.

In May, NI shopper numbers were 0.4 per cent lower than a year ago and reversed the 1.2 per cent rise in April.

The drop was driven by shopping centres, where footfall fell by 4.8 per cent while increasing by 1.2 per cent in high streets.

Footfall on Northern Ireland’s high streets had been on the increase over the last four consecutive months, averaging 2.1 per cent, compared with a drop in high street footfall in the rest of the UK over the same period.

In contrast, footfall in shopping centres in Northern Ireland over the last four months dropped by an average of 2.6 per cent.

Aodhán Connolly, director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, said ongoing political uncertainty could not only be damaging consumer confidence but also long-term investment decisions.

“For the second time in less than a year we have seen the political process hit the pause button and this isn’t good for business,” he said.

“Many retailers have a choice over where to invest, often elsewhere in the UK or indeed internationally.

“Anything that makes retailers’ second guess whether they should be investing in Northern Ireland is not welcome.”

The Springboard survey also shows Northern Ireland’s shop vacancy rate is the highest in the UK at 17.3 per cent.

The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) chief executive Glyn Roberts said the figures made “grim reading”, and should be a “wakeup call” to Stormont and NI councils.

“Major changes to planning policy, rates, infrastructure and regeneration are all needed to address this serious situation,” he said. “A comprehensive shop vacancy strategy should be a top priority of local government.

“This survey shows clearly that Northern Ireland has still some way to go in reaching a sustainable economic recovery.”