Firms to bid for Shackleton site

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson said he was considering making the site available for bids by private sector firms and reiterated earlier claims that thousands of jobs could be created.

UUP Councillor Aaron Callan said that thousands of jobs was indeed a realistic prospect for Ballykelly but called for greater local involvement if the site is to prosper.

“I think the First Minister, when he said that five to six thousand jobs could be created, was correct”, he said

“It is double the size of the Maze and the potential for the site to become a jewel in the crown of the North West and become a real wealth creator is there. It was a few months ago now that we first heard of the expressions of interest and I hope that as it is to be opened up to firm bids from the private sector that we could see at least some of that potential turn into actual delivery.”

Mr Callan added, though, that there is a “missing element” of local involvement and leadership and contrasted the development of former military sites in Londonderry with the development of the former Shackleton base in Ballykelly.

He said: “If you look at the development of the One Plan in Londonderry or the Laganside site, for instance, there has been a key role to play in the development of a strategy at the local level.

“In Ballykelly, that has not happened. There has been no sense of local ownership or leadership. Limavady Borough Council should have been working with Derry City Council during the development of the One Plan. OFMDFM can’t do it all on their own.”

Speaking at Stormont, Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson said he and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness were looking at making the site available for bids by private firms after over 40 ‘expressions of interest’ were received earlier this year.

The Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Michelle O’Neill, meanwhile, also pointed this week to the economic benefits of moving her departmental headquarters to the Ballykelly site.

The army base had been handed to the Northern Ireland Executive free of charge by the Ministry of Defence in 2011, three years after the army had vacated the huge military base.

First Minister Peter Robinson had been asked by Mid Ulster MLA Ian Milne during a recent Minister’s Question Time session at Stormont about the “current position on the Shackleton Barracks site at Ballykelly.”

Mr Robinson replied: “The deputy First Minister and I rescued it from a use that would not have maximised its funding centrally to the Assembly and Executive or the level of jobs that could be brought into the area.

“We have put it out for expressions of interest, and we received over 40, principally from the private sector, although there are some partnerships and public sector interests.

“I have seen expressions of interest that indicate that 1,000 or 2,000 jobs could be created in the area. Indeed, there would be a significant income for the Executive. However, we decided that it is best that we look at dividing the site into lots because there is an interest in the site from, for instance, the Department of Agriculture and DRD.

“There are also different private sector interests that do not conflict with each other. The deputy First Minister and I will look at actioning that proposal, which is to put it out for public interest and see what bids come in.”

Further cause for optimism about the Ballykelly site came from Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill this week. Mrs O’Neill said: “The relocation of my department will help stimulate the local economy.”