‘Drastic drop’ in shoppers after Primark fire

The former bank buildings after the fire in Primark in August. Credit: PA

  • Paul Reilly was at the cordon:

The impact of the devastating fire at Bank Buildings in the heart of Belfast has led to a drop in footfall of 30%.

The figure has been revealed in research by The Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC) and Springboard.

The historic building, which housed Primark, was left a charred shell after the blaze which started on 28th August and took several days to extinguish.

A cordon has been extended around the perimeter leaving 14 businesses unable to trade. Belfast City Council say restrictions are expected to be in place until after Christmas.

Credit: UTV

Footfall drop

Footfall fell by 4.6% across Northern Ireland in the five weeks from August 26 - September 29 according to the latest figures.

Diane Wehrle, marketing and insights director for Springboard, said:

"The fire at the Primark store in Belfast which occurred in the first week ofthe month will have impacted on the monthly result to some degree as Belfast generates the greatest volume of footfall of any destination in Northern Ireland."

Credit: PA

Call on government

Belfast City Council announced a fund to help the businesses worst affected, with Primark donating £500,000 to the pot.

NIRC director Aodhan Connolly has called on Chancellor Philip Hammond to act to help the retail sector.

"Both Primark and Belfast City Council have shown leadership and concern with support for traders and the area, but now we need the Chancellor in hisforthcoming budget to make a tangible difference not only to Belfast but to the whole retail industry in this current time of structural change," he said.

Mr Connolly said the effect of the fire has been to split Belfast city centrein two. He also reiterated the message that Belfast city centre is open forbusiness.

Clarity on the cordon

Rajesh Rana, President of Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce said: “We need clarity on when the cordon will be lifted to allow the free flow of people through the city.

"There is an urgency for this as the Christmas trading period is when the majority of businesses take most of their year’s revenue and they rely on that for the creation and sustainability of jobs.

“We call on the City Council and Primark to look at every option with an open mind to get the cordon reduced by the end of November at the very latest."