Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has put forward the case for the Business Rates Incentive Scheme which is overseen by Wicklow County Council to be updated and expanded as part of a drive to regenerate Bray Town Centre, in which new business to be situated in what are existing vacant premisses would be offered a reduced rent and rates package over a three-year period to set up in the Main Street, as opposed to the current two-year period of the current scheme. Such a move would be a much-needed incentive to re-establish businesses among the current boarded up and vacant premises in the seaside town.
Brady said:
“The crowds of shoppers witnessed in Bray following last week’s opening of the new Penneys retail outlet in the town clearly illustrate the potential the sector has to revitalise an urban centre.
Not only did Bray experience thousands of shoppers flocking to the outlet over the weekend, but the retail giant has also brought over 100 jobs to the town.
The significance of this goes beyond the well-rehearsed popularity of Penneys but speaks to the potential for the town if the vacant and boarded up retail outlets along the main street can be brought back into service with new business tenants.
I strongly believe that there is an opportunity here for Wicklow County Council, local landlords, and the chamber of commerce to come together to further develop the existing Council scheme into a bespoke regeneration scheme which would make the main street an attractive site for new retail outlets in the town, where existing vacant, and boarded up premises, some of which are almost derelict can receive a new injection of life.
A scheme running over a three-year period, which would offer incentivisation through reduced rates, and reduced rent, to allow new outlets – which would have to be determined not to be in direct competition with existing retailers in the town, would offer an opportunity to establish Bray as a retail destination.
Retail has proven to be a major contributor to the growing vibrancy of many towns and regions across the country. And I believe that it can make a major contribution to the economic health of Bray.
We are all aware of the extent to which Bray has suffered from the relentless saga around the Bray Central shopping centre for twenty years.
Working in tandem, the council and landlords can take full advantage of the added footfall that the attraction of the new Penneys store brings, by creating the conditions for a dynamic expansion of the retail portfolio of the town.
I am hoping to be afforded the opportunity to sit down and engage with the Council and the Chamber of Commerce over the next while to discuss the potential of putting in place a scheme that benefits everyone in Bray