ONE year on from the devastating fire which destroyed Primark, Belfast city centre "is experiencing difficult economic trading conditions".
Belfast City Council has revealed that retailers are "facing ongoing challenges, particularly those in Royal Avenue and Castle Street" where footfall has fallen by 30 per cent.
Twelve months after the city centre was brought to a standstill by the blaze at Bank Buildings, which left some traders fearing for their futures while others have since closed their businesses, the council said "work is ongoing to support and develop the city centre".
A total of 22 businesses, including 14 retailers, were directly affected by the blaze on August 28, due to their location within the cordon zone.
In some cases it was several months before they were allowed access again to the buildings.
In the aftermath of the fire, city leaders, including the council and Chamber of Commerce, came together to try and manage the crisis, but some traders claimed there was a lack of action and a slow response.
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Looking back, Belfast City Council said "there are always lessons to be learned".
"This was an unprecedented event in a number of ways - the scale and nature of the fire, the age and history of Bank Buildings, the location at the very heart of our main shopping and public transport routes, the time of year during the summer holidays and directly before a crucial retail trading period - but the council adopted a proactive role in leading recovery efforts," a spokesman said.
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"Like any organisation, the council is subject to operational and financial pressures, but our staff demonstrated their commitment and passion for our city, pulling together to support those affected by the fire. This commitment to building a better Belfast continues today in our ongoing work to regenerate the wider city centre.
"In any developing and fast-moving situation, decisions are often taken which can prove unpopular, but council has a legal duty to ensure public safety and compel owners to keep people safe, as seen in the introduction of a temporary cordon until the building was secured.
"The work of council and our partners following the fire was wide-ranging and, as with any major incident, there are always lessons to be learned".
The council said initial assessments at the site, revealed "there was no quick fix, and whatever solution was determined would require a complex engineering solution given the building’s age and its central location. This included both the possibility of demolition, as well as the preservation of the remaining structure".
A City Recovery Planning Group was set up "to look at immediate actions around safety, support to businesses and driving footfall" and initiatives including the Belfast Alive with Christmas marketing campaign were implemented to attract more families into the city centre.
"Council are now engaging with key representatives from this group to progress governance arrangements around all aspects of regeneration, right across the city centre, with the aim of making our city a great place to live, work, visit and invest.
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Almost a year later, the council, which described the fire as "an important turning point in Belfast’s development", said work is ongoing to "support and develop the city centre".
"Like every city, Belfast is experiencing difficult economic trading conditions," a spokesman said.
"A planning application has also been received to restore Bank Buildings and bring this historic building back into use.
"A positive outcome from the Bank Buildings fire has been the ability to `test drive' ideas, like the temporary pop-up park at Castle Place, and we acknowledge the positive feedback received in relation to this project.
"In July 2019, councillors agreed to jointly commission a study with the Department for Infrastructure and the Department for Communities to examine how the city centre should be developed in a way that is accessible and welcoming for all.
"This will include an examination of models of pedestrianisation and other initiatives which enable both pedestrian enjoyment and sustainable transport access."
