A £2 million European Union package, to help town and city centres in Northern Ireland that have suffered seriously from the violence of the past 30 years, was announced today by Minister for Social Development, Nigel Dodds.

The funding is part of an allocation for area-based regeneration that includes the recently announced £12m for Neighbourhood Renewal.

Announcing the package, Mr Dodds said: “Town and city centre reinvigoration is an essential element of urban regeneration. This package will provide the basis for Government, local councils and local communities to work together to renew, improve and reinvigorate some of our town and city centres which have suffered during the violence of the past thirty years.

“This investment, which in each case has broad public support, will lever further private sector town centre investment and will ultimately lead to the creation of new employment opportunities. It also represents a further opportunity to reinforce progress towards a peaceful and stable society.”

The Minister confirmed that as part of his Department’s review of urban regeneration strategy in Northern Ireland, a Town Centre Reinvigoration Strategy would be published soon. The Strategy will map out the way for councils, statutory agencies and the private sector to work in partnership to develop town centres.

He also stressed that his Department will be actively seeking funding opportunities for other town centre projects, particularly those that did not qualify for PEACE II funding, through the Executive Programme Funds and the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative.

The package will also support projects in Belfast, Londonderry, Antrim, Dungannon, Omagh, Strabane, Newry, Warrenpoint, Kilkeel, Crossmaglen, Enniskillen, Armagh, Lurgan, Limavady, Dungiven, Ballykelly and Coleraine.

(MB)