A delegation from Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council have paid a visit to the Sunderland City Council area to view work on significant regeneration and economic development projects in the region.

During the trip, Councillors visited five key regeneration sites in the city centre and Mayor Uel Mackin said the delegation were impressed with how they had enhanced the cultural, retail, tourism and economy of Sunderland.

Alderman William Leathem, Chairman of the Council's Development Committee, said: "Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has significant plans to grow the local economy and improve the area's sustainability over the next ten years through its investment strategy.

"The Council is currently working with two development leads for major mixed use projects in our city centre that were secured at and resulted from recent Westminster events equating to a potential investment value in excess of £40 million.

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"One of these is for a city centre hotel and when we were in Sunderland we met with a prospective hotel developer and owner to progress negotiations for them to establish a hotel in Lisburn city centre. It was very beneficial to see first-hand the Keel Square Hotel regeneration site within Sunderland's city centre to see how advantageous such an offering can be for the night-time economy.

"As a council we are part of the Belfast Region City Deal project and with some of our proposed regeneration projects we plan enhance the leisure and tourism offering in the Council area. The redevelopment of Dundonald International Ice Bowl as a regionally significant modern facility to focus on leisure, recreation, health and well-being will benefit residents and visitors alike.

"The planned significant investment across a variety of projects in Hillsborough linked to the Forest, Courthouse and Fort, public realm works, a Magic Garden in the Castle and development of a social enterprise café in the Forest will enhance the current investment in Hillsborough Castle which expects to attract 200,000 visitors a year."

Alderman Jim Dillon MBE, Chairman of the Council's Capital Projects Committee, added: "The Council is invested in enhancing what the Lisburn Castlereagh area has to offer in terms of property, infrastructure, skilled workforce and locally manufactured products that are sold globally.

"Through a structured planning process the Council will be ensuring that all regeneration and development is sustainable in terms of the environment and economy."

(LM)