Hilary Benn joins O'Neill and Little-Pengelly for £129m growth deal signing

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly signed a £129m growth deal for the Causeway Coast and Glens area on 29 April 2026.

By Rachel Graham1 min read

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Hilary Benn, Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly attended the formal signing of a growth deal in Limavady on 29 April 2026. The deal allocates £129m for projects across the Causeway Coast and Glens area over the next decade.

The UK government contributed £36m, matched by £36m from the Northern Ireland Executive. Additional funding will come from the council and private sector sources. The investment will focus on tourism, regeneration, infrastructure and innovation.

Projects include a food and drug discovery centre at Ulster University in Coleraine and a business innovation hub in Limavady. Regeneration plans cover Bushmills, Dungiven, Cushendall and Portrush-to-Bushmills greenway. The deal forms part of four city and growth deals for Northern Ireland.