West Tyrone Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Doherty heralds Ministerial Planning Approval for massive Business Park in Strabane.

Published: 26 February, 2010

Sinn Féin West Tyrone MP MLA Pat Doherty says that confirmation from Environment Minister Edwin Poots that he is to grant planning approval for the development of an 11.5 hectre Business Park in Strabane as the removal of the last major obstacle in the way of delivering this much needed economic development project for the District.

The local MP who has been engaged in a long term lobby with DETI to ensure that the issue of the lack of available industrial land in Strabane is addressed, said

"This planning approval confirmation follows on from a Ministerial response he received last week from DETI Minister Arlene Foster which indicated that once planning approval was sorted it would enable and early decision to be provided and that Invest NI would continuing to work with key stakeholders to achieve a successful outcome.

"Therefore news that Planning Approval has now been granted for the two application submitted by Invest NI last August removes the last major obstacle in the way of acquisition of this 11.5 hectre site and the development of this site for business start ups, business expansions and inward investment.

"The lack of industrial zoned land in Strabane has been a long term barrier to the economic regeneration and development in the District and indeed I have highlighted how in recent years economic investment, both inward and indigenous has been lost to the District because of the lack of industrial land.

"I have been engaging in an extensive lobby on this issue for the last four years and hopefully now with planning approval having been granted, the DETI Minister and Invest NI will now move speedily to bring this major initiative to fruition.

Note to editors:

Detail of the two planning applications that have now been granted Ministerial approval are:

Ref No: J/2009/0388/0

Description: Strategic Business Park

Location: lands opposite and east of No 81 Melmount Road, Strabane, Co Tyrone

Ref No: J/2009/0389/F

Description: New junction into Melmount Road , bulk earthworks, internal site roads with associated drainage and services to provide for potential future development lands.

Location: lands opposite and East of No 81 Melmount Road, Strabane, Co Tyrone