With several regeneration projects adding significant housing stock to Dublin suburbs, Councillor Vincent Jackson is calling for corresponding funding to ensure these area’s retail centres are not forgotten about
Increased funding is needed to address the deterioration of shopping districts across Dublin suburbs that have been characterised by “hair, nails and takeaways”.
At the most recent South Central Area Committee, Cllr Vincent Jackson highlighted how the retail centres of areas like Ballyfermot, Crumlin, Drimnagh and Inchicore have been “almost forgotten about.” With thousands of new social and affordable housing units planned across southwest Dublin suburbs, he questioned why there isn’t corresponding funding to provide infrastructure for their areas.
“We’re being asked to take thousands of housing units all the time in every green open space and every industrial estate,” Cllr Jackson stated. However, he said the “essential component” of providing for the influx of new populations is not being prioritised.
“The response I got back before is that it’s the city council’s priority to re-invigorate and sustain retail in the heart of the city. Are they saying by virtue of the fact that everything else is expendable?” he asked.
“That we’ve put the white flag up and everyone is just going to go to Liffey Valley, Blanchardstown or Dundrum. If we’re saying that then it’s the lowest common denominator that prevails. Hair, nails and takeaways are the prominent retail offering for people into the future.”
Cllr Jackson’s motion stated that “all too often our communities become traffic destinations” and “nothing is provided to enhance these areas as retail destinations.” He cited South Dublin County Council as an example of a local authority that has got things right, and has found funding to invest in suburban areas.
He called on Dublin City Council to do the same, and ensure that suburban areas outside the city centre aren’t an afterthought when it comes to funding streams for infrastructure.
The motion received widespread support with the council with Cllr Michael Pidgeon citing recent investment in Rialto as a prime example of the path they should follow. “Inchicore would be a prime candidate as there is a lot of commercial life and lots of people there, but it still feels like a junction,” he said.
Other initiatives like the Shopfront Improvement Scheme, which offers businesses a grant to refurbish their shopfronts, has gone a long way toward uplifting different areas across the city, Cllr Pidgeon said, “Shop fronts looking fancy can be dismissed as minor, but it helps boost an area for relatively low cost.”
It’s not just retail that needs to be prioritised as suburban populations grow due to area redevelopment schemes, as Cllr Philip Sutcliffe highlighted the need for sporting facilities to receive more support. He highlighted boxing and GAA clubs as examples of facilities that are already at capacity in many areas and will struggle to deal with the needs of incoming residents and families.
This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
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