Retail Ireland has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a €30 million fund to aid the regeneration of towns and villages.
As part of the Capital Spending Plan, the funding will be used to revitalise the “attractiveness and sustainability’ of regional towns and villages nationwide.
In its submission for Budget 2015, Retail Ireland proposed a competitive tendering process, which would be open to towns around the country, to access regeneration funding. This funding has the potential to support the appointment of Town Centre Managers, who would take responsibility for the development of commercial centres.
The initiative could be run alongside the roll out of a Town Centre Strategic Development Plan, as proposed by a sub-group of the Retail Consultation Forum, Chaired by Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Ged Nash.
Retail Ireland Director Thomas Burke welcomed the news, saying, “While the recovery is gaining momentum in major urban centres, many regional towns and villages are still struggling with a lack of consumer spending and empty retail units on the main street.”
He warned that, “Urgent investment is needed to make them more attractive places for consumers and businesses alike, and ensure they are not left behind by the recovery.”
[Photo courtesy of William Murphy, 2008]
© 2015 - Checkout Magazine by Jenny Whelan.
