AQW 55369/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 09/03/2016
Answered On Date: 21/03/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Social Development to detail (i) how; and (ii) when the £27m funding from his Department will be spent on the regeneration of Portrush.

Answer:

The proposed programme of regeneration activities is broken into two categories and is still subject to funding being approved. The plan sets out the £17 million of regeneration activities that could be completed prior to the Open Championship arriving in 2019 and the £10 million of works relating to the redevelopment of the harbour area in 2020/21. The projects set out in the Portrush regeneration programme include:

The redevelopment of the Train Station

A major public realm scheme for the town centre

The redevelopment of the harbour

Implementation of key regeneration initiatives in the Portrush regeneration strategy

Improvements to parking and transportation

Urban Development Grant and Revitalisation programmes.

DSD has agreed to commit funding of £0.5 million from its 2016/17 capital budget to take forward some design work on the new train station and public realm projects. These projects are time critical and this work is essential if the capital build elements are to be completed before the Open Championship in 2019.