Archive for January, 2009

Ulster Bank & Northern Bank react quickly to rate cut.

Posted: January 8th, 2009

With the lowest interest rate by the Bank of England in its 315-year history, the Northern Bank and the Ulster Bank have reacted quickly.

The Ulster Bank is to pass on the cut to customers with mortgages linked to the standard variable rate and borrowings linked to to the base rate.  The bank is defering a decision on its saving rates at the moment.

The Northern Bank has agreed to math the 0.5% cut on all its standard variable rate and base rate products.

First Trust Bank and the Bank of Ireland have yet to announce what they are doing.

£2.4million business park project by Invest NI in Dungannon.

Posted: January 5th, 2009

Arlene Foster the Enterprise Minister for Northern Ireland announced a £2.4million infrastructure project in Dungannon for a new Invest Northern Ireland business park.

The project will focus on developing the road and utilities infrastructure of a new business park on the Killyliss Road. This will release an additional 26 acres of useable land that will accommodate the future growth and investment plans of Invest NI client companies.

Announcing the investment, the Minister said: “Whilst the global slowdown continues to impact on our local economy, it is important that we plan for the longer term by ensuring that sufficient land, with the necessary infrastructure, is in place to support new investment opportunities as they arise.

“Invest NI has a limited portfolio of land and property options available across Northern Ireland. With all of its industrial land at Granville in Dungannon already allocated, this investment will support and encourage new investment projects by providing the type of flexible property solutions which can be fundamental to investor decisions.

“This major investment further demonstrates Invest NI’s commitment to its wider land acquisition strategy which aims to acquire and safeguard industrial land in priority areas across Northern Ireland.”

Work is expected to be completed in December 2010, with land available for sale from early 2011.