By CONOR SHARKEY
INVEST NI announced this week they have no intention of trying to back the Adria site, despite the huge shortage in industrial zoned land in the town.
At present, there is only around 40 acres of industrial zoned land in Strabane town, much of which is in and around industrial estates such as the Ballycolman or Orchard Road. Less than 10 acres of this land remains undeveloped at present.
Other industrial zoned areas include recently vacated factory sites such as Adria and Porters. While these properties have now been sold off to private investors, planning permission for residential housing has been turned down.
Since planning permission for private housing has been rejected, both Adria and Porters have remained largely dormant, prompting calls for Invest NI to try and purchase the sites back. If in the hands of the development body, the sites could greatly enhance Strabane's chances of attracting another major investor to the area.
Responsibility for the zoning of land for industrial use falls with the Department of the Environment Planning Service. And it is hoped the draft publication next year of the West Tyrone Area Plan 2019 will go some way to alleviating Strabane's zoned land predicament.
Worryingly however, Invest NI have already indicated that in the region of 30 acres will already be required to meet the needs of its client companies in Strabane over the next decade.
Yet, despite the shortfall, the development body said this week they would not be looking into repurchasing the Adria and Porters sites.
"Where industrial land - such as the Adria and Porter's factories - is in private ownership, Invest NI does not normally intervene and has no plans to acquire these sites.
"Strabane is one of the locations being actively targeted as part of Invest NI acquisition strategy. The acquisition project will proceed subject to an affordable and deliverable solution being found which is in line with the draft Area Plan," they said.
Following their admission that the former factory sites will stay in the hands of private investors, former chairman of Strabane 2000, councillor Eugene McMenamin accused Invest NI of jeopardising growth in Strabane's economy.
"Strabane is crying out for land which could be made available to investors. A company approached me some time ago after they had submitted plans to set up in the town to Invest NI, only to be told the land wasn't available.
"Strabane's chances of enhancing its economy are being jeopardised and something needs to be done sooner rather than later. It is of major importance that we have industrial zoned land available," he said.
"If Invest NI aren't prepared to buy back the Adria site, from which they made £4m when they sold it, then they need to find an alternative. The land has to be there, or we will continue to lose out on major business," Mr McMenamin added.
