Ulster Unionist MLA for Lagan Valley, Basil McCrea, has labelled as "deplorable" the delay around the proposed John Lewis development at Sprucefield, Co Antrim.

He said: "This is totally unacceptable, particularly in the current climate. We should be facilitating investment, but instead it seems there is a determination to drive it away."

Mr McCrea’s comments came after it was revealed that a public inquiry into proposals for a flagship John Lewis store in Northern Ireland adjourned on its first day without hearing any of the evidence.

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"I am staggered that this has been dragged out for so long, when we are in such desperate need of opportunities to bring Northern Ireland to the fore as an investment hub," he said.

"We need to give the Northern Ireland economy all the help we can, and driving away an investor who is likely to provide 700 jobs - not to mention a substantial boost to the construction industry - is utter madness."

Mr McCrea concluded: "John Lewis is handing Northern Ireland investment of over £200 million, and we are making them jump through hoops over a period of years?

"Northern Ireland cannot afford to subject investors to the bureaucratic nightmare that the good people of John Lewis have endured to date."

(NS/GK)