HL Deb 10 October 1988 vol 500 c711WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the joint proposals by the Lower Falls youth training project and the Grosvenor environmental project to acquire the J. E. Ball building in North Howard Street, Belfast, has been frustrated by government agencies since 1986; and why their application was frozen by the Department of Economic Development, although it was supported by the Belfast Development Agency.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Lyell)

The Department of the Environment had no direct involvement in this project. The Belfast Development Agency in 1987 carried out a theoretical study of possible developments in North Howard Street area for which it received grant-aid from DoE. The BDA proposals were not judged economically viable and DoE did not therefore accept the BDA's study as a suitable basis for commitment of DoE urban affairs funds for its implementation.

In March 1988, as the management committee's objectives for the J. E. Ball building appeared to be its conversion into small business units, it was suggested that an approach should be made to the local enterprise development unit, the body responsible for the local enterprise programme. To date, no approach has been made.

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the proposal of the Divis Joint Development Committee to redevelop Agnew Buildings in Northumberland Street was rejected by the Department of Economic Development.

Lord Lyell

To date the Department of Economic Development has received no proposal connected with redevelopment of Agnew Buildings.