Shocking 10% rise in empty business premises since last year
25 October 2012
Local TUV MLA Jim Allister has established through Assembly Questions that since September 2011 the number of vacant business premises in the Ballymena borough has risen from 445 to 490.
“This 10% rise in just one year, from an already high base, is shocking and indicative of an economy in continuing decline. To find almost 500 businesses premises in this once thriving hive of commercial activity lying empty speaks to both a deep recession and a failure by government to re-energise the economy. I believe high rates are a big contributor to this sorry state of affairs.
“Across the three council districts of North Antrim, Ballymena, Ballymoney and Moyle, the number of vacant business premises has risen from 746 to 786, with Ballymena by far the worst. In Ballymoney it is pretty much as we were with a rise from 192 to 194 and in Moyle there has been a marginal improvement, with a fall in vacant premises from 109 to 104.
“These are 786 businesses that used to offer employment and today lie shuttered. While Stormont boasts of its rates relief policies, the harsh reality on our high streets is of an unequal struggle between rising overheads and falling profits. Painting up empty shop windows may make things look better, but it is an inadequate response by government to a deepening crisis.”
Below is the latest Questions & Answers on this subject:-
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel how many business premises are currently vacant in (i) Ballymena; (ii) Ballymoney; and (iii) Ballycastle; and how many premises in each of these towns are occupied by charities with rates exemption.
Information on the number of business premises that are currently vacant in Ballymena, Ballymoney and Ballycastle is not available as data is collated at district council and ward level only. Also, the information available cannot easily or consistently identify those properties which are charities with rates exemption.
The number of vacant non-domestic properties in the Ballymena Borough Council; Ballymoney Borough Council and Moyle District Council areas, as at 30th September 2012, is given in the table.
District Council Area Number of Vacant Non-Domestic Properties as at 30th September 2012
Ballymena Borough Council 490
Ballymoney Borough Council 194
Moyle District Council 104
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel (i) how many business premises are currently vacant in (a) Ballymena; (b) Ballymoney; and (c) Ballycastle; (ii) how many premises in each of these towns are occupied by charities with rates exemption; and (iii) how do these figures compare with the figures from three years ago.
Information on the number of business premises that are currently vacant in the towns of Ballymena, Ballymoney and Ballycastle is not available as data is collated at District Council and Ward level only. The latest figures available, at 25th September 2011, indicate that there are 445, 192 and 109 business premises vacant in the District Councils of Ballymena, Ballymoney and Moyle respectively.
Information available cannot easily or consistently identify those properties which are charities with rates exemption.
The earliest comparable figures available for vacant premises are at 31st March 2010 and indicate that 441, 181 and 103 business premises were vacant in the District Councils of Ballymena, Ballymoney and Moyle respectively at that time.
Note: Statement released 24th October
