National Stadium centrepiece of Maze proposals

Cross-party support has been given on the future redevelopment of the old Maze prison site in Co Antrim.

A report by the Maze Consultation Panel is proposing a new £55 million national sports stadium to be built along with a proposed Centre for Conflict Transformation: a centre for rural excellence featuring an equestrian centre; an office, hotel and leisure village; and an industrial development zone.

Unveiling the plans on Friday, Panel chairman David Campbell said: "We now have the real prospect, as the Prime Minister said on commissioning our work, of literally turning swords into ploughshares and providing a beacon of hope for Northern Ireland and beyond.

"We strongly recommend that the government gives a firm commitment to the early development of all of the elements of our agreed proposals through a coherent masterplan."

Welcoming today’s announcement, Reinvestment and Reform Minister, Ian Pearson, said today’s report “sets out a range of imaginative suggestions for development at this site”.

“I congratulate the Panel members on their hard work in producing this report,” the Minister said. “ In particular, I note that the text has been unanimously agreed by the Panel members. I will wish to consider the report carefully before decisions are made on the way ahead.”

The panel, which includes representatives from the DUP, Sinn Fein, SDLP and UUP, said that if the development went ahead it could lead to £1 billion of public and private investment.

(MB/SP)