105 acres of Invest NI land for businesses

Mr Hamilton was responding to an April letter from Derry City Council that sought an explanation of Invest NI’s decision to support a £38million business park in Newry.

The enterprise boss explained the decision to purchase the new land in Newry was in response to market failure in the provision of serviced sites for industrial use in the area.

He wrote: “Indeed Invest NI has an equivalent project to acquire and develop land in the Strabane Council area.”

He added:

“It might interest you to know that Invest NI currently holds circa 414 acres of land in the Derry City Council area.

“While most of this land is being leased for economic development, 105 acres remain available for qualifying businesses with a supported business case and an immediate demonstrable property need.

“This is considered adequate to meet the needs of the Council area.”

He went on to suggest a meeting between Invest NI and Derry City Council to discuss economic development.

“With reference to our meeting in July last year, if you recall we agreed that a workshop be organised involving the key economic development stakeholders in the city.

“The objective of the workshop was to explore ways of closer engagement and partnership working to drive economic development in the region.

“I am aware that our North West Office has already ran a number of workshops since the meeting and I would welcome a follow up meeting to see what progress has been made,” he wrote.