DSD Announces First Funding Under New Government North West Initiative

29 December 2004
DSD ANNOUNCES FIRST FUNDING UNDER NEW GOVERNMENT NORTH WEST INITIATIVE
The Department for Social Development, through its North West Development Office, is to provide Ł434,000 towards a new Arts and Cultural Centre in Strabane.

The centre, to be developed by Strabane District Council, will be one of the first projects to be funded under the Government’s Integrated Development Fund, which is intended to support a more integrated approach to local development in a small number of pilot areas including the North West.

John Spellar MP, the Minister for Social Development, congratulated Strabane District Council on bringing forward the project. He said:
"This new Arts and Cultural Centre will complement the delivery of the Strabane Town Centre Reinvigoration Strategy, which Strabane Council is spearheading through the Strabane 2000 partnership initiative. As part of that partnership, my Department welcomes the commitment which the Council and the local Chamber of Commerce have given to this initiative.

"The regeneration of a prominent town centre site through this project will help present an attractive and positive image of Strabane to the local community and visitors alike."

The Integrated Development Fund was announced by the Minister for Finance, Ian Pearson MP, last year and the initial bids for the North West were prepared by ILEX, the new Urban Regeneration Company for Derry.

Mr Pearson said: "I am delighted that we are now beginning to see the delivery on the ground in the North West of regeneration projects which the Integrated Development Fund has helped bring about. I want to acknowledge the valuable work which ILEX has carried out, working in partnership with Government Departments and local Councils to bring forward the IDF proposals for the North West."

Welcoming the announcement of the funding, the Chairman of Strabane District Council, Councillor Jarlath McNulty, said the IDF money would enable the Council to proceed with the Ł2.75 million centre.

"This is a great Christmas good news story for Strabane. We are delighted that the funding package has now been completed and construction work can commence shortly. The arts and cultural exhibition centre has been designed to complement the community library and will provide a 260 seat performance and exhibition space for arts, community and business use, exhibition gallery and restaurant facility. The centre, which will be linked to the library, will provide a focus for the cultural and economic regeneration of Strabane."

The development of the arts and cultural exhibition centre is a further step in the regeneration of the old Market Yard site. The ambitious scheme has been developed through a Council led partnership with the North West Development Office. Philip Faithfull, Chief Executive of the Council, added his support for the project, acknowledging the role of the design team, led by Glenn Howells architects and Alan Jones architects. He commented:

"A building of architectural distinction has been designed drawing together the needs expressed by the community during the various consultation processes held over the last two years. This multi purpose centre will further add to the integration of arts and culture within community life and I hope become a hub for the creative industries."

The funding package for the Strabane Arts Centre involves support from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, The Department of Trade and Investment, The Foundation for Sport and the Art and the Department for Social Development.

Rick T Reinhard, Chief Executive of ILEX, said: "I am delighted that the Strabane project is moving ahead. ILEX is working hard with sponsor agencies on the remaining bids to the Integrated Development Fund. These include improvements to the Walled City, industrial and office park development and creative industries.

"We look forward to continuing to develop these early boosts to the North West economy, whilst doing the necessary work to ensure that our major redevelopment sites - Ebrington Barracks and Fort George - bring lasting economic prosperity to the region."
NOTES TO EDITORS:

The purpose of the Integrated Development Fund is to provide additional support to strong wide-ranging partnerships, initially in a small number of areas, to enable the production and implementation of agreed comprehensive strategies to develop and regenerate those areas in an integrated way.

The IDF is intended to be additional and generate new activity. As such, it is specifically intended to be used to remove blockages where there is evidence that this will facilitate / accelerate the implementation of plans. Where possible, IDF funding should also help lever in private investment.

A total of Ł50 million has been earmarked for the IDF over the period 2003-04 to 2004-05.

The Minister for Finance, in consultation with Ministerial colleagues, will make the final decision on all IDF bids.

The Strabane Arts & Cultural Centre will be delivered by Strabane District Council as part of the Strabane 2000 Town Centre Regeneration Strategy. The Centre is a component of the recently constructed Library /Cultural Centre being developed in Abercorn Square. A third phase to the development will involve a private sector commercial development, providing office and retail accommodation.

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