§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the specification for a national stadium requires a site of 60 acres. [186018]
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§ Angela SmithIn setting the minimum acreage specification for a possible multi-sports stadium in Northern Ireland at 60 acres, the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) is seeking to satisfy both the design requirements of the three sports concerned (soccer, rugby and Gaelic games) and defray costs to the public purse as much as possible through the acquisition of additional land space for mixed-use business development in and around the stadium itself. However, as this is not yet a formal procurement process, the SIB has been willing to consider notifications of interest from landowners of sites below 60 acres provided they satisfied the key criteria of acceptability to the three sports, deliverability and potential economic benefits.
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the reason was for a deadline of 30 June for submissions on a new national stadium. [186019]
§ Angela SmithThe deadline of 30 June for submissions on a possible multi-sports stadium in Northern Ireland was set because I have asked the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) to complete its evaluation of potential sites for a multi-sports stadium and report back to me with an appropriate location by the autumn. However, as this is not yet a formal procurement process, the SIB has been willing to consider notifications of interest from landowners submitted after 30 June provided they satisfied the key criteria of acceptability to the three sports concerned (soccer, rugby and Gaelic games), deliverability and potential economic benefits.