Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“Confirmation by the joint First Ministers that they have sold the vast Shackleton site – which was gifted to them – for a mere £1620 per acre is a shocking indictment of their protection of the public interest. Agricultural land is worth many times this amount, yet OFMDFM has sold this prime development land for a song.
“I can see no justification for enriching the MJM Group with 620 acres for only £1m. The public purse has been robbed.”
Assembly Q from Jim Allister and Answer:-
Q: To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the price obtained from MJM Group for the Shackleton site; and how much this represents per acre.
A: MJM Group has agreed to pay £1m for approximately 621.5 acres of the Shackleton site. We are keen to ensure that the future development of Shackleton delivers maximum benefits for the people of the North West, particularly in relation to the creation of employment opportunities. Proposals to purchase Shackleton were therefore assessed against four criteria – Job Creation, Financial Offer to Purchase the Site, Environmental Benefits and Community Benefits.