There has been a call to transform Belfast city centre as it can be revealed one in three non-domestic buildings are empty.
In recent months there has been a spotlight on the city centre which has come under criticism for a lack of cleanliness, anti-social behaviour and entire streets being "forgotten about" as many of the properties are boarded up and abandoned.
It can now be revealed that recent figures from the Department of Fianance that 33.7% or 1,858, of non-domestic buildings in the town are currently empty, with this including shops, offices, bars and restaurants, churches and public sector buildings.
Read more: Calls for more investment into prominent Belfast city centre street as shops empty
A department spokesperson said: "There are 5,518 non-domestic properties within Belfast City Centre of which 3,660 (66.3%) are currently occupied. 1,858 are unoccupied (33.7%). This includes all kinds of non-residential properties such as shops, offices, bars and restaurants, churches and public sector buildings."
Green Party leader and North Belfast councillor Mal O'Hara said that the council needs more powers in order to vest land in order to transform the area and boost regeneration.
He said: "There is a real appetite to transform the city of Belfast. People, business and local councillors want to see the city change at a quicker pace. We need city centre living of mixed communities. We need less car dominance particularly when almost 40% of households don’t have a car. We need better public transport, more green and open space and proper cycling infrastructure.
"The city is not as clean or as safe as it should be but as councillors we are working hard to turn that around. We also need to recognise that retail has totally changed and we should instead have arts, culture and events to attract people to the city rather than just shopping.
"Unfortunately, Belfast is hamstring because some of these key powers lie with the Departments. Regeneration and housing lie with the Department of Communities. Local transport powers lie with the Department for Infrastructure. Last week at Council SF / DUP supported by the UUP blocked our proposal to start the conversation about devolving these powers. No other city our size across these islands does not have these powers.
"We have seen how those Departments and Ministers squandered the opportunities provided during the pandemic. Other areas across the word totally transformed. Our city didn’t because we don’t have the power and those with the power failed to act in any serious or urgent way.
"We also have a problem in that a number of significant developments that got planning approval before COVID and yet no real development has started. I have asked council officers to provide legal clarity on our powers to vest land. If others will not act on transforming the City then Council must use it’s powers to do it."
Simon Hamilton from the Belfast Chamber said it was "shocking" learn about the rate of vacant non-domestic properties in Belfast and shows the need to accelerate major regeneration in the city.
"Belfast – like cities everywhere – has been experiencing a number of challenges and especially so as a result of the pandemic. It is, however, shocking to learn that, according to the Department of Finance, 1 in 3 non-domestic properties in Belfast city centre are vacant. Whilst there have been a number of high profile lettings in recent weeks and, even though there will be a number of factors contributing to this figure, it is nonetheless very worrying.
"This highlights the timeliness of Belfast City Council ’s ‘Vacant to Vibrant’ scheme and further underscores the need to accelerate major regeneration projects across the city which have the potential to stimulate growth and, hopefully, assist in lowering the rate of vacancies in Belfast city centre”.
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