The Department of the Environment (DOE) has put forward an opinion to approve a new 62 bed hotel in William Street, Derry, as part of a mixed used development at Prince Arthur Street / William Street.

DOE Planning officials will seek the views of Derry City Council at a meeting on Tuesday 6 March 2012. If the proposal gets the go ahead, it will provide a range of jobs in hotel, catering and in retail units as well as those involved in the construction of the development.

In a separate application, approval has now issued for the development of an extension to the Tower Hotel located at Butcher Street within the historic core of the Walled City. The Tower Hotel is already a popular venue with tourists and this extension will increase the available bed space by 52.

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Environment Minister Alex Attwood said: "New hotel developments in the run up to the City of Culture year in 2013 would be a real boost to the tourist industry here, while creating work for the construction sector. It will also provide new jobs, which is especially welcome in the present economic downturn. Stimulating the economy is a key ingredient in programme for government as indeed is Executive support for delivery on the City of Culture project.

"What I and the DOE are about is making Northern Ireland a better place to live, work and invest and this would certainly contribute to that. I am hopeful Derry City Council will back the proposal for the William Street development."

(CD/GK)