SDLP leader Colum said Derry’s modest house prices will not be enough to keep young people in the city.
He was commenting on the annual Halifax Bank Affordable Cities Review, which listed Derry as the most affordable city to buy a home in the North of Ireland or Britain.
Said the Foyle MP: “Derry is a great place to live, work and put down roots.
“The Northwest produces an incredible amount of talented people, renowned in their fields of expertise worldwide.
“But modest house prices alone will not keep our young people here.
“Due to historical discrimination, underinvestment and the failure to expand higher education provision, we export more and more of our young people each year to Belfast and Britain for better opportunities and careers unavailable to them at home.
“Addressing that inequality must start with a full-sized university in our city to meet the higher educational needs of our young people, attract investment and grow our city region.
“It’s crucial that as the way we work changes and working from home is recognised, we entice people back to Derry to continue their careers.
“Derry is a very attractive place to live and work remotely in a fast-changing global economy – but the investment is needed urgently to stem the flow of our young talent.”
