CITY of Derry Airport officials have finally confirmed that runway modification proposals have been accepted with a sum of £10 million to be poured into the airport improvement project.

The European Commission has approved plans which have been the subject of a heated debate between the Airport, local Government officials and nearby residents for the past few years.

The money will be used to buy, for demolition, houses at Donneybrewer Road so that a 300 metre grass over-run can be created at one end of the runway.

Restricted

In its ruling, the EC noted the current runway restricted the types of aircraft that can use the airport and the payloads that can be carried, "consequently hindering future development".

Airport Manager Seamus Devine said: "What we are planning to do is prepare grass over-runs at the end of the existing runway - we're not planning a runway extension," he said.

Mr Devine added that there would be an issue for residents in the Donnybrewer Road area, whose properties are in the middle of the 300 metre emergency over-run.

He said that the money would also be used to purchase and remove up to 17 of those properties.

The investment fund will cover numerous projects including runway additions, safety work and demolition.

Derry City Council welcomed the news saying it would bring economic benefit to the north west region of the Province and in addition create jobs and boost the tourism industry.

It's thought that the project will be completed in 2009 increasing terminal capacity to 800,000.