Dr Conor Patterson the chief executive of Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency has been appointed to the Board of the Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation. The ten-member board which will be chaired by Terrence Brannigan will according to First Minister, “Be asked to maximize the economic development potential of this valuable regeneration site.” The redevelopment of the former prison site which is located near Lisburn has seldom been out of the news with the proposals for a major stadium and conflict resolution centre among the divisive ideas. Indeed, whilst proposals for the Stadium project were scrapped in 2009 it was confirmed that the conflict resolution centre would go ahead. Most recently it was confirmed that the Balmoral Show would take place at the site from 2013 onwards. After this announcement it was rumoured that the Department of Agriculture (DARD) would also move to the site from Stormont – however it was later confirmed that DARD would be moving to Ballykelly. It is understood that around £300m will be spent developing the site.
Newry Reporter
12th September 2012
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