§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount of factory space available for letting from the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland and the Local Enterprise Development Unit at 30 September 1989 analysed by parliamentary constituency.
§ Mr. NeedhamInformation on the amount of factory space available from the Industrial Development Board is set out at table A.
While the Local Enterprise Development Unit does not normally provide factory space for letting, it assists local enterprise agencies to provide workspace accommodation for small firms. In addition, its private developers scheme encourages the private sector to provide industrial property for letting to small businesses. Figures are not available by parliamentary constituency for LEDU-related property and are therefore provided by district council area in table B.
Table A Industrial Development Board Parliamentary constituency Factories square metres Small units square metres Total North Belfast — 1,020 1,020 East Antrim 1,580 200 1,780 East Londonderry 3,070 300 3,370 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 1,508 — 1,508 Foyle 7,853 — 7,853 Lagan Valley — — — Mid Ulster 3,799 944 4,743 Newry and Armagh 1,500 401 1,901 North Antrim 4,990 — 4,990 North Down 3,842 — 3,842 South Armagh 700 307 1,007 South Down 1,580 — 1,580 Strangford — 483 483 Upper Bann 3,000 — 3,000 Total 33,422 3,655 37,077 Supplementary Note—Table A
- 1. The figures shown are an aggregate of factory space and include small units held primarily for LEDU clients (under 700 sq metres).
- 2. The analysis includes factories and small units which are ready
284 for immediate occupation, together with those which require some refurbishment, and those which are surplus to requirements, pending disposal on the open market.
Table B Local enterprise development unit Factory available for letting at 30 September 1989 District council area Lettable factory space (square meters) Armagh District Council 202 Ballymena District Council 108 Belfast City Council 4,407 Carrickfergus Borough Council 740 Coleraine Borough Council 645 Craigavon Borough Council 63 Derry City Council 1,189 Down District Council 753 Dungannon District Council 1,035 Fermanagh District Council 334 Larne Borough Council 257 Magherafelt District Council 550 Newry & Mourne District Council 2,120 North Down Borough Council 198 Omagh District Council 1,484 Strabane District Council 100 Total 14,184 Notes:
1. LEDU's local enterprise programme assists local community based groups to play an active role in economic regeneration and local industrial development by providing assistance to these groups to establish local enterprise agencies. These agencies provide workspace accommodation for small businesses in addition to business advisory services and administrative support.
2. The private developers scheme is aimed at encouraging private sector developers to provide new industrial premises for letting to small businesses. A shortfall grant, representing the difference between the local cost of providing the premises and their commercial value on completion, is available to developers from LEDU.
3. In one particular case in County Fermanagh, LEDU has purchased an industrial estate which is let directly to small businesses. This unique situation arose in order to ensure that eleven LEDU client companies could continue operating at the Necarne estate which had been in danger of closure. LEDU is currently negotiating the sale of the property.