Attwood pledges commitment to his urban regeneration programme despite cuts

Social Development Minister Alex Attwood today pledged that his Department would work hard to meet its urban regeneration commitments, despite suffering a major cut in his budget in June.

The bulk of the regeneration capital budget this year (£110million) had been set aside for the Royal Exchange development in central Belfast. That project had slipped because of the economic recession, and the Minister had every reasonable expectation that money would be returned to his Department for both contractual and priority regeneration projects already underway or in the pipeline.

Alex Attwood said: “I got far from enough in the June budget for existing contractual commitments, never mind a list of other priorities in my urban regeneration programme. However, I am determined to ensure that our contractual obligations in respect of projects already underway are met. I am also committed to getting the remainder of my Department’s urban regeneration capital programme and I will be submitting an appropriate bid in the monitoring round next month.

“Pound for pound, government investment in urban regeneration is a key economic strategy out of recession. I have already presented that argument to my Executive colleagues and I will continue to present it both for the rest of this financial year and in the spending review for the next four years that is now underway. I hope people of influence across all sectors – political, business, voluntary and community – will join me in making the case and bringing their influence to bear.”

Notes to editors:

1. In the June public expenditure monitoring round the Minister asked for Executive agreement for around half of the £100million+ budget for Royal Exchange to be reallocated to other projects already contractually committed in 2010-11 or ready to start. In the event, only £10million of the £100million+ was reallocated.
2. Media enquiries to Philip Maguire DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9079 mobile 07788 108657. Out of office hours please contact Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.