Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Delegation meet Minister McIlveen on Lisburn Roads
February 9, 2016
A delegation from Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has met with the Minister for Regional Development, Michelle McIlveen, to discuss the roads infrastructure in and around Lisburn.
The meeting was hosted at the Minister’s Offices with the Council delegation requesting support for, and setting out the significance, of a long-awaited Link Road to run from the M1 to Knockmore, West Lisburn.
The M1/Knockmore Link Road is a missing link in the road network around Lisburn and the Council is looking to future growth in the City in line with its Planning powers. It is of the view the new road would provide major development opportunities and new jobs for new commercial and residential areas in West Lisburn.
The West Lisburn Development Framework sets out the overarching development direction for the West Lisburn area and includes lands at Maze Long Kesh, Blaris, Knockmore, Lissue and Sprucefield.
The Council’s delegation discussed the problems of heavy traffic at present, opportunities for industrial growth and new inward investment projects, as well as opportunities for improved traffic management, as outlined in the West Lisburn Area Framework.
The Council delegation included the Vice-Chairmen from the Council’s Development Committee, Alderman Jim Dillon MBE, Councillor Uel Mackin and the Council’s Chief Executive, Dr Theresa Donaldson.
Alderman Jim Dillon, Vice-Chairman of the Development Committee, said: “We welcome the meeting and we would like to thank the Minister for her warm welcome.
“The new road is critical to regeneration of the West Lisburn area, which is full of potential and there is a real need for the opportunities to be progressed.
“Our independent economic forecasts suggest that within four years the Blaris, Knockmore and Maze Long Kesh plan zonings will create or sustain upwards of 4,000 jobs involving 101 acres of development land. Therefore this new road is critical to economic progress. ”
Councillor Uel Mackin said: “The Council wishes to shape its new area to include investment need and suitability and to look to the future growth of the Council area.
The M1/Knockmore Road will provide the last piece of the framework, required for planning opportunities. Forecasts predict that employment figures would rise significantly over a ten year period by 4371 new jobs, and, by 6,350 jobs over a twenty year period, assisting in the Government jobs targets.”
A number of areas on public/private sector investment and possible partnership approaches were also discussed. Whilst the Road’s development has been categorized as being developed through private investment, the Council’s view is that this is not realistic without up-front public funding that can be recovered potentially under planning agreement from the private sector as the area is developed going forward as its non-progression could see other private investment being stifled.
The delegation included:
Alderman Jim Dillon MBE Vice-Chairman, Development Committee
Councillor Uel Mackin Council Member, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council
Dr Theresa Donaldson Chief Executive, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council
Mr Paul McCormick Lead Head of Service: Economic Development
Mr Colin McClintock Former Director Development and Planning