COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 21, 2015

QUESTION NO.16

QUESTION: Councillor R. McMahon

To ask the Chief Executive as to what role the Council can play to ensure that there is a redevelopment or upgrading of shopping centres in the County 

REPLY:

The Council plays a range of rolls in supporting the redevelopment or upgrading of shopping centres;

A shop front grant scheme has been put in place by the council. This gives financial support to physical improvement of shop fronts. In this regard the Council particularly welcomes applications from parades of shops which allow for their coherent upgrading and consequent improvement to the vibrancy of our towns and villages. Further supports include the rollout of village wi-fi which will encourage further footfall within our shopping areas and physical improvements within our towns and villages which enhance the public realm.

Meetings in relation to establishing retail fora in the County scheduled during 2015 have been purely attended and a new approach perhaps centring on a a particular retail type and/or location will be rolled out in 2016.

With respect to supporting redevelopment of shopping centres, the County Development plan sets out a range of polices which actively guide and support their redevelopment or upgrading. These polices have been further developed, where appropriate, in local area plans allowing for a coherent and sustainable framework to guide development.

The Council is committed to supporting and encouraging the appropriate redevelopment or upgrading of our shopping centres within South Dublin County.