The DUP has welcomed the news that the applicants behind Portstewart's Merrow Hotel and Spa development have indicated their intention to proceed.

The party's East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell attended a pre determination hearing in the Council Chamber to support the development.

As the North West 200 and the Open Golf Championship returns in less than two years, Mr Campbell said "the North Coast needs good quality hotel accommodation" therefore "new hotels, more tourists and additional jobs are a must".

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In a statement, Mr Campbell said:

"The last Open in 2019 was a resounding success, the one issue that was raised subsequently was this lack of top quality accommodation in the immediate area. Having secured the tournament for a second time in six years, if we were still to be in a similar position it would be exceptionally difficult to get Royal Portrush on the Open rota brought back on a regular basis beyond 2025.

"While any legitimate objections obviously have to be addressed, local people should be in no doubt whatever that as far as the political sphere is concerned, if a development such as this was being planned for Ballycastle or Ballymena bringing the same type of benefits of jobs and tourists to those areas, there would not be the same type of objections.

"Hopefully another step has been taken in the right direction and starting work on the ground has taken a step closer."