Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has refused to say which parcels of land in the Omagh area are being considered for industrial development, telling Fermanagh and Omagh District Council that Invest NI does not disclose specific locations it might target for future purchases.
Council request met with written response
The minister’s position was set out in a six-page written reply provided in lieu of attending a meeting of the council’s Rural Affairs sub-committee. The reply covered a range of rural and economic concerns raised by councillors, including the council’s request for an update on planned interventions to develop serviced industrial land in and around Omagh.
“Invest NI does not disclose specific locations or sites it may consider for future land acquisitions,”
Dr Archibald said that withholding such details is intended to secure the best value for the public purse and to reduce the risk of speculative behaviour that could affect the cost or feasibility of projects. She also referred to Invest NI’s Regional Property Strategy as setting out the agency’s approach to addressing shortfalls in industrial and economic land supply across Northern Ireland.
Partnership working and funding concerns
The minister emphasised that Invest NI is working closely with local councils, enterprise agencies and other partners to co-design property solutions tailored to the needs of individual council areas.
In the written response Dr Archibald acknowledged the council’s wider concerns about rural policy and the impact of funding changes. She said she understood that Fermanagh and Omagh, along with other rural areas, had been affected by the removal of EU structural funds and that the absence of adequate replacement funding remains an issue she continues to raise with British Government ministers.
Local investment figure
The reply also highlighted recent investment figures, with Invest NI reporting that the amount of investment in the local area reached £41 million in the past year.
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Invest NI policy | Regional Property Strategy guiding land supply interventions |
| Disclosure stance | Specific sites are not revealed to avoid speculation |
| Local investment | £41 million reported investment in the area (past year) |
What this means locally
For councillors and businesses in Omagh the decision not to name potential sites limits clarity on where serviced industrial land might be created, and on the likely timescales and locations for development. That lack of detail can complicate local planning and efforts by businesses seeking grow-on sites or new premises.
At the same time, the minister’s written comments point to continued engagement between Invest NI and local partners. The council will now consider the written response and decide whether to press for further information or alternative assurances on timescales and priorities for site development.
- Invest NI will not disclose potential site locations to avoid speculative impacts.
- The Department cites the Regional Property Strategy as the framework for addressing land supply gaps.
- Invest NI reports £41 million invested in the local area over the past year.
Councillors concerned about industrial land supply and the effect of lost EU structural funding continue to call for clarity on how replacement funding and targeted property solutions will be delivered for rural districts such as Fermanagh and Omagh.
