Council and community link together to cultivate vibrant city centre

November 8, 2021

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is working in partnership with other public, private and third sector groups to share ideas and develop initiatives to ensure Lisburn has a thriving city centre.

The City Centre Partnership is made up of Lisburn Chamber of Commerce, DfC, PSNI, NIFRS, SERC, voluntary groups, Lisburn residents and local businesses.

In an approach to revitalise the city centre, members will focus on encouraging new business, working together on seasonal programmes and developing a culture of positivity for visitors to experience and enjoy.

Alderman Amanda Grehan, Chair of LCCC’s Development Committee, said: “This partnership is exactly what our city needs and I am excited about what we can achieve together. Each member brings with them expertise on a variety of city centre issues, and these skills and experiences will drive us in developing a positive agenda for a prosperous city centre.

Garry MacDonald, President of Lisburn Chamber of Commerce, said: “The city centre is the beating heart of our community and much, much more than just a collection of shops and hotels. We all have different needs regarding the city centre, so it makes sense to try and connect and see if there are common initiatives we can support each other on. There is an abundance of good work going on in our city centre and I firmly believe that we are stronger when we work together.”

David Burns, Chief Executive of LCCC, said: “As a council, we’re aware of the impact a thriving city centre has on aiding recovery, creating jobs and bringing economic benefits to the wider region. The changing face of the high street across the UK and Ireland means that we are having to think differently about our city centre and what it will mean to people in the future.

“It is vital that we work with our key city centre partners to ensure a joined up and collective approach is adopted. This will allow us to respond quickly to opportunities and challenges when they arise and help us create an attractive, vibrant and accessible city centre where people want to work, visit and invest.”