Businesses and residents in Bangor have been praised for their tireless campaigning on a long awaited multi-million pound regeneration plan.
The £50 million investment for the Queen's Parade area has finally been given the green light after being approved by the local council but held up by Stormont for 14 months over flooding concerns.
It aims to transform the Co Down town's seafront area and those living there have been waiting more than 20 years for the site to be redeveloped.
Read more: Bangor regeneration plan delays sparks demand for audience with Infrastructure Minister
It was confirmed on Wednesday that the investment plan, approved by Ards and North Down Council in January 2021, would not be “called in” by the Infrastructure Minister Nicola Mallon, and instead be returned to the local authority to finish the application process.
Elected council members as well as local residents in the area had become increasingly incensed at the hold up by the Rivers Agency.
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said it had been carrying out an assessment on the planning application in relation to it falling within the flood inundation zone of Clandeboye Lake.
The lake is over two miles away, and land between the lake and the seafront had continued to see planning applications approved without intervention.
Alliance North Down MLA Andrew Muir said it should not have taken such sustained lobbying to get to this point.
"After 13 months of dither and delay I'm glad the Infrastructure Minister has finally acted giving Queen's Parade project in Bangor the green light.
"With approval now given the project must proceed apace and see delivery on the ground. The time to finally kick start very long overdue regeneration of Bangor town centre is now," he added.
Green Party MLA Rachel Woods said: "Bangor been waiting for decade for the development and regeneration of Queen's Parade. Further delay on decision making was unacceptable. Bangor has waited long enough.
“It's been over a year since Ards and North Down Borough Council approved the current plans, and £10m of public money has already been spent in preparation, but I am glad that this decision has been taken and that regeneration of our town and seafront can progress.”
DUP MLA Stephen Dunne MLA added: "I am pleased the Minister has finally seen sense and allowed this important planning application to proceed.
"It was ridiculous that it was ever held up in the first instance by this Minister and the Department, causing yet more delays and uncertainty. It is imperative that the scheme can now proceed as planned."
Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Mark Brooks said: “I know there will be a collective cheer across the town as so many have been eagerly awaiting this positive news.
“I would like to thank all the residents and businesses that have taken time over recent weeks to write to the Minister to lobby for this decision – community action has paid fantastic dividends.”
He added: “There is every reason to look forward with hope and excitement.”
The proposed scheme, developed by Bangor Marine Ltd, will see extensive work to a run-down area of the town.
It will involve the building of new homes, a 66 bedroom hotel, a cinema and leisure facility, a public realm scheme, new streets, an events space and new cafes and restaurants.
An online petition calling for an end to the Stormont delay had gathered over 1,000 signatures, and a rally in support of the project had been planned in Bangor for this Saturday, but has since been cancelled.
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