THE SDLP’s Sinead McLaughlin has welcomed progress at Fort George, with infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon notifying MLAs of her intention to approve a major new development.
The approval will be of a four storey science and IT business development on the strategically important Derry riverfront site.
Said the Foyle MLA: “I am delighted that we are now making progress at Fort George. I have been engaged in extensive discussions to enable planning approval to be given for new developments at the site.
“These discussions have involved the council, government departments, Catalyst and others.
“The Fort George location is one of the most important in Derry, with a commanding and beautiful view of the River Foyle.
“It has long been intended to be one of the transformative development sites in the city, but has been held back by a series of difficulties over the last two decades.
“We are now on the journey to realising important regeneration schemes on the site.
“As well as the construction of a second Catalyst business innovation centre, there is to be a major health facility at Fort George.
“Additional private sector proposals will be considered for other parts of the site.
“These developments will be supported by new road infrastructure. I hope and expect we will see significant job creation flow from the projects.
“Getting approval across the line has been very challenging, and I would like to thank minister Mallon, other parts of government and the council for working together and with myself to resolve difficulties.”
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