Minister welcomes regeneration plan for Portadown

Social Development Minister, Des Browne has welcomed the publication of a major Development Framework for Portadown, which aims to assist the social and economic regeneration of the town over the next 10-15 years.

Commenting on today’s public launch of the document, organised by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and the Portadown Development Framework Steering Group, the Minister said: “This is a highly significant occasion which allows the prospects for revitalising the town to be taken a further step forward. Everyone living and working in the town, surrounding areas and indeed further afield, will have the opportunity to study it in detail and offer comments during the consultation phase which will commence after Easter.

“Imaginative, conceptual proposals contained within the Framework require the fullest consideration by all interested parties. While I would wish to commend the professionalism of the consultants from Building Design Partnership for developing this Framework Document, it should also be stressed that these are only proposals. No decisions have been taken on any of them."

Mr Browne added that the Framework was about "generating a brighter and better future for the town and surrounding area through public and private sector investment".

"It is also about people working and living in the area being prepared to work together at local and other levels to help develop better economic prospects, better infrastructure, better amenities and facilities so that Portadown can be better equipped to handle the requirements of a modern society," he concluded.

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