News Release Page Title

16 April 2003

MINISTER WELCOMES LAUNCH OF DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK FOR PORTADOWN

Des Browne MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for social development, today welcomed the publication of a major Development Framework for Portadown, which aims to assist the social and economic regeneration of the town over the next 10-15 years.

Commenting on today’s public launch of the document, organised by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and the Portadown Development Framework Steering Group, the Minister said:

"This is a highly significant occasion which allows the prospects for revitalising the town to be taken a further step forward. Everyone living and working in the town, surrounding areas and indeed further afield, will have the opportunity to study it in detail and offer comments during the consultation phase which will commence after Easter.

"Imaginative, conceptual proposals contained within the Framework require the fullest consideration by all interested parties. While I would wish to commend the professionalism of the consultants from Building Design Partnership for developing this Framework Document, it should also be stressed that these are only proposals. No decisions have been taken on any of them.

"That’s why it is important for views to be made known during the consultation phase which will run until the end of August. It is your town, your say. Following the consultation process a final document will be drawn up, taking into account the views received.

"I very much hope that people in the Portadown area will take advantage of this important opportunity. The Framework is about generating a brighter and better future for the town and surrounding area through public and private sector investment. It is also about people working and living in the area being prepared to work together at local and other levels to help develop better economic prospects, better infrastructure, better amenities and facilities so that Portadown can be better equipped to handle the requirements of a modern society.

"The Portadown Development Framework Steering Group has provided a positive example of its determination to help achieve these goals. Now it is the turn of the wider Portadown community to add to that work and help build a brighter picture for the benefit of all."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The period of consultation initiated today will run from 1 May until the end of August.

  2. A public office will be located within the Millennium Court, Portadown where details of the proposals can be viewed and inspected. From 1 May 2003 members of the public will also be able to give their comments on line at www.portadownframework.org where regular updates and key messages will be posted throughout the period of consultation.

  3. The Portadown Development Framework was produced by BDP Planning in association with MVA Ltd. The consultants were engaged by the Department for Social Development in late 2001, following a decision by an interdepartmental group established by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to consider how the social, economic and community relations problems in Portadown could best be addressed.

  4. The Framework’s proposals address many of the problems facing the town by recommending a process of radical and innovative measures to assist with the physical and economic regeneration of the town and the wider area. The proposals identify 16 development zones covering some 250 acres, including Meadow Lane, the Peoples’ Park, the River Bann frontage and Edenderry. The Framework, which is viewed by the consultants as a 10-15 year concept, suggests that up to £25m of pump-priming public sector finance will be required over the first five years as a stimulus for potential private sector development.

  5. The formal launch of the Portadown Development Framework today is the initial phase of a process of consultation. The public consultation process will be managed by a Steering Group comprising locally elected representatives, officials from Craigavon Borough Council, the Department for Social Development, the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and representatives from the business and commercial sectors in Portadown.

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