Opposition is mounting to Belfast City Council’s plans to extend Sunday trading hours, with retail groups warning the move could harm workers and independent businesses
Several organisations have voiced strong opposition to Belfast City Council’s latest public consultation on extending Sunday trading hours during periods of high tourist and visitor numbers.
The council launched the consultation on Monday, March 23, inviting feedback from residents, visitors and business representatives on plans to introduce a ‘holiday resort’ designation across the city.
If approved, the designation would allow larger stores — those with a floor space exceeding 280 square metres — to open for extended hours during certain periods. This would be for up to 18 Sundays between March 1 and September 30 each year, excluding Easter Sunday.
Elected members previously agreed in principle to explore the move in July last year. The outcome of the consultation, which runs on the Your Say Belfast platform until May 14, will help inform a final decision. However, retail trade union Usdaw said it is disappointed the issue has been revisited.
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Usdaw General Secretary Joanne Thomas said similar proposals had been considered multiple times in recent years including in 2024, 2020 and 2017 — with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.
She said: “Usdaw is disappointed that the issue of extended Sunday trading hours in Belfast is yet again being discussed by the City Council. Repeatedly considering extending Sunday trading hours is a distraction from tackling the real issues that impact the retail sector.
“Usdaw has repeatedly fully committed to working with Belfast City Council and others to support and improve the retail experience at the weekend and for tourists. Our members remain opposed to extending Sunday trading hours.
Allowing large stores to open for longer on Sundays would have a negative impact on retail workers, their families and our communities. Longer Sunday trading would take a heavy toll on staff who would come under even more pressure to work, when they would rather be spending time with family and engaging in community, sports and leisure activities or attending church.
“There would also be a detrimental impact on smaller retailers who can already open longer hours on Sundays. These traders rely on the boost in trade they get on Sunday morning, with St George’s Market being a prime example. Even supporters of extended Sunday opening hours have not been able to show it will lead to economic benefits or job creation. Put simply, opening shops for longer does not mean people have more money to spend.
“We all want to see a strong and diverse retail sector in Belfast and across the nation, but that means striking the right balance. We urge City Councillors to listen to the majority of shop workers and retailers who do not want extended Sunday trading.”
Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said: “To completely deregulate Sunday trading and create another normal shopping day shows a poverty of ambition and ideas for the city. It is an idea that belongs to the past and not to a modern progressive 21st century City.
“We need new thinking to animate Sunday mornings and offer shoppers and visitors something different. This proposal will provide large multinationals with even more trading time, directly at the expense of small independent retailers who use trading time on Sunday mornings to sustain their business.”
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