Zoning to protect Beamish site

The call comes just days after Tánaiste Simon Coveney confirmed that a ‘new proposal’ will aim to bring certainty to the project in the coming weeks.
Concerns have been raised that developer BAM is pressing ahead with apartments and offices on sections of the old Beamish & Crawford site while the events centre is left in limbo.
It is now 23 months since the sod was turned on the events centre. Delays and changes to the planning have prompted fears it may never be fully realised.
Independent councillor Mick Finn, who is expected to be the next Lord Mayor, said he will look for zoning guarantees to protect a project of critical importance for the city.
Mr Finn said: “We are frustrated, but a lot of work is going on behind the scenes to rescue a process that we must remember is giving private developers the guts of €30m in state funding. If the developers feel that this is not enough and suggest that other cities pay for these projects in full, well I would say they knew the process they were getting into, and it’s time to deliver or surrender.”