Environmentalist granted leave to seek a judicial review of A6 Derry-Belfast multi-million pound upgrade

Infrasructure Minister Chris Hazzard has said he is “absolutely committed” to the upgrade of the A6 Derry to Belfast road upgrade.

He was speaking after the High Court granted permission for an environmentalist to bring a legal challenge against the proposed scheme.

Chris Murphy has been granted leave to seek a judicial review of the £160 million project which will pass close to the childhood home of the late Poet Laureate Seamus Heaney.

Commenting on the ruling, Mr Hazzard said: “The judgement today has ruled out five of the six grounds for judicial review and means that the substantive case will be heard on the one issue relating to the habitats directive.

“While I had hoped that we would be able to proceed with this strategically important project, we will play our part to ensure that as Justice Maguire said, there will be a speedy date for a full hearing and I remain confident that we will be ultimately successful.”

He concluded: “I am absolutely committed to the construction of the A6, and will now explore our options for commencing construction on the unchallenged section of this project.”