Nadine will be 40 by Fort George finish

LONDONDERRY pop sensation Nadine Coyle will be nearly 40 years of age and the landmark mixed-use development at Fort george still won’t be completed, the Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has admitted.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Nov 2012, 16:51 BST

Mr McCausland revealed that although a Development Framework was submitted to the Planning Service in July 2012 as an application for outline planning permission for the entire Fort George site, once approved, its implementation will take at least ten years.

He stated: “The implementation of the Development Framework will involve infrastructure works and the engagement of private sector partners to construct the planned development.

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“The timescale for implementation will be over a longer period of a minimum of 10 years.”

In April, Mr McCausland revealed the proposed science park element at Fort George may still be unfinished by 2015.

He also revealed that he was budgeting for expenditure on the ILEX flagship project up until 2015.

Now a spokesperson for the Department of Social Development (DSD) has stated: “The consideration of the application is ongoing and my Department and ILEX hold regular meetings with the Planning Service to address emerging issues.” But the implementation will not be completed for at least ten years.

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The major mixed use development is envisaged at Fort George will include residential, office, leisure, light industrial, educational, community facilities, convenience retail, cafes and restaurants.

It will also include associated multi-storey and surface car parking, landscaping and environmental roads infrastructure.

Once outline planning is granted, all future draft proposals on Fort George must dovetail into the Development Framework and conditions as approved by DOE Planning and Local Government.

The Executive did hope at one point that 1175 jobs would be created by ILEX and key partners in the public, community and private sectors in 2012/13.

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The Programme for Government (PfG) 2011-2015 also expected ILEX to create 4,045 jobs, decontaminate Fort George and build its Ebrington Clock Tower and 200-space car park by 2015.

Meanwhile, an outline planning application will be submitted for the Ebrington Barracks site in Londonderry at the end of April 2013, according to the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM).

OFMDFM stated: “A Business Case for appointment of the design Team to develop a Framework for Ebrington has been prepared by Ilex and is currently being assessed by the Department.

“An Outline Planning Application with Environmental Statement will be based on the completed Framework and will be submitted at the end of April 2013 which is in line with the target set in the ‘One; Regeneration Plan.”