Attwood launches regeneration masterplan for Strabane town centre

Social Development Minister Alex Attwood visited Strabane today to launch the Strabane Town Centre Regeneration Masterplan.

The plan commissioned by DSD and Strabane District Council, addressed the retail, leisure, employment, transport and public space development opportunities for Strabane Town Centre.

The Masterplan is based on a number of focused workshops, analysis of local economic factors and urban development opportunities in the area. This has been complemented with extensive consultation across the key sectors in the town, including business, local government, youth groups, schools and representatives of the local political parties.

The plan has identified:

• the main sites for the town which have the capacity to support development with the potential to assist regeneration of Strabane town centre;
• the potential for new leisure/retail offering at the existing SCORE site;
• the creation of a new public space to provide a civic focus for the cultural core of Strabane;
• potential development for mixed used retail to complement the existing retail core.

This Masterplan was developed through a partnership approach involving the Department for Social Development, Strabane District Council and its Urban Regeneration arm, Strabane 2000, in close association with Planning Service and Roads Service.

Launching the Masterplan Social Development Minister Alex Attwood said: "Urban regeneration is a complex and multi-faceted process that cannot be delivered by any one organisation acting alone. The most effective way to strengthen the economic competitiveness of an urban area and build social cohesion while safeguarding its distinctive character is through partnership.

"It is critical, therefore, that we act both strategically and locally. At the strategic level organisations must work collectively to address the economic, social, demographic and environmental issues that drive urban change. At local level we must engage with local communities to ensure they both shape and benefit from the regeneration process.

"This is the approach which has produced the Strabane Town Centre Masterplan and this is the approach my Department will continue to adopt as we move forward to the implementation phase.

"Central Government cannot deliver all the actions contained within the plan. Rather central and local government, the community and private sectors must act together to deliver real and sustainable change. I believe we have the commitment and the structures within Strabane to meet this challenge and I have no doubt that the town will build on the excellent achievements that have been made in recent years.

"I want to be explicit and clearly understood. I want to avoid Strabane and all the other Strabanes, who are producing masterplans and attempting to move town centres forward, becoming frustrated by any decisions that slow down the potential to protect jobs and build new employment opportunities. If urban regeneration is not properly funded, town centres will not properly grow and prosper. I will be doing everything I can in the next few months to try and convince my Executive colleagues that investing in Strabane and its footbridge makes economic sense."

Strabane Council Chairperson, Michaela Boyle, added: "As Chairperson of Strabane District Council, I welcome this valuable document which will help drive the regeneration of Strabane for the next 20-25 years. There are great development opportunities in the town centre so hopefully funding will be made available to bring the plan to fruition with a new town centre emerging."

Councillor Eugene McMenamin Chairman of Strabane 2000 said: "As chairman of Strabane 2000, I welcome Minister Attwood on his first ministerial visit to Strabane. Strabane 2000 committee will be meeting with the Minister to express our concerns regarding the funding for the pedestrian bridge. The next trance of funding from the Executive is due next month for the Minister's department and I sincerely hope that our bridge project will be top of the financial list."

During his visit to Strabane, Minister Attwood also took the opportunity to visit two projects funded through the Department for Social Development’s Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. At Melvin Hall Sports and Leisure Centre he had a chance to see the facilities available, meet staff and participants and hear personal accounts of how the centre has improved their quality of life. He also paid a visit to Springhill Park Community Development Association where he was able to talk to staff and young people who had completed training programmes and hear how participation has had a positive impact on them.

Notes to editors:

1. The total cost of the development of the Masterplan is £65,000 (plus VAT.) Strabane District Council is contributing £15,000 and DSD is providing the balance.
2. Strabane 2000 is the regeneration vehicle of Strabane District Council and has community and business representation.
3. Tribal is a major consultancy organisation employing over 2000 staff in 40 offices across the UK. Its key areas of work are education and skills, health, central and local government and housing and regeneration.
4. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9496. Out of hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.