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

Doherty welcomes planning permission for 11.5 hectre Strabane Business Park

Published: 3 September, 2010

Sinn Féin West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty has welcomed confirmation that Planning Permission has been granted for an 11.5 hectares site on lands at Melmount Road in Strabane for the development of a major Invest NI business park. The local MP is now looking forward to the speedy acquisition and development of the site.

He said,

"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 engaged in a long term lobbying battle with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to rectify this structural problem.

"This culminated in announcement by Minister Arlene Foster that under a priority acquisition Policy Invest NI would be seeking to acquire an 11.5 hectares site on lands at Melmount Road for a major Business Park

"Planning Service had issued Notices of Opinion to Invest NI indicating its opinion to approve the proposals for the development of a business park albeit with attached with a number of conditions and informatives During the summer I wrote to DETI Minister Arlene Foster seeking a timescale for the delivery of this much needed project for Strabane District. She was unable to provide this in her response of 2nd August-citing the need for the outstanding planning conditions and informatives to be achieved.

"Confirmation that full planning permission has now been granted provides the green light for the DETI/Invest NI to proceed with the acquisition of the site and to ensure its speedy development.

"I now trust that the Minister will ensure that this significant investment in the economic infrastructure of Strabane District is now delivered in the shortest possible timeframe.