PLANS to extend Sunday trading hours in Belfast have passed their first stage in the city council.
Belfast City Council’s Strategic Policy and Resource Committee discussed the plans yesterday and have agreed to pass them on for a consultation period with traders and workers.
If the motion goes ahead, Belfast will be designated a ‘holiday resort’, which, under legislation, allows ‘large shops’ to open any time on up to 18 Sundays between March 1 and September 30.
Such designations are already in place in several towns across the north, including Portrush, Ballycastle and Newry.
Currently, shops in Belfast are only allowed to be open between 1pm and 6pm on Sundays.
Deputy Chairman of the Strategic Policy and Resource Committee, SDLP councillor Tim Atwood, said the plans have his full support.
"We are trying, as a council, to animate the city and deliver a good range of offerings for both residents and tourists alike," he said.
"We have very ambitious plans to regenerate the city, we want to give people the best possible offerings to showcase Belfast in the best possible way."
The move to extend these hours has also been strongly encouraged by the Belfast Chamber of Commerce, who has lauded its potential economic benefits.
Chamber member Paul McMahon also said the plans made practical sense.
"There are already industries that have people in work at that time of the day anyway and it’s a very small change to the current standard practice," he said.
"Now we just need the council to pass the motion."
