Funding boosted for Derry and Strabane city deals
Several major projects are proposed within the multi-million-pound city deal, which was announced in 2019
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Funding for a series of city deal projects aimed at regenerating Londonderry and Strabane has been increased to £300m, following a cash injection by several public bodies.
The city deal was originally worth £250m, to be invested over 15 years.
But earlier this year councillors were told that some projects may have to be "modified" or "combined" due to the impact of inflation.
On Monday, council officials confirmed that the budget has increased to £300m.
Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) chief executive John Kelpie told councillors that following "discussions with project partners... we have increased the budget and we are certainly in the region of £280m to £300m of investment".
"So a lot of those budgetary challenges have now been overcome," he added.
City deal status gives local areas specific powers to help support economic growth and job creation.
The Derry and Strabane district area city deal was announced back in 2019.
The projects proposed within it are designed to create jobs in a region with some of the highest unemployment rates in Northern Ireland.
What is in the city deal?
Projects which will be funded as part of the £300m budget include:
Redevelopment of Strabane town centre
A centre for innovation in data analytics, advanced manufacturing and robotics
A digital programme to tackle connectivity issues across the region
Establishment of a 'DNA Museum' in Derry's Ebrington site
Regeneration projects for Derry's riverfront, Strand Road and Walled City areas
The establishment of a School of Medicine and Personalised Medicine Innovation Centre at a new site opposite the city's Council buildings
Monday's council meeting focused on a strand of the city deal which will see an injection of £65m to regenerate Derry's central riverfront, Strand Road and Walled City area.
It will include the development of a new one-way route through part of Derry's Strand Road and Queen's Quay.
Two city centre roundabouts at Harbour Square and Queen's Quay will also be removed under the plans, to create more space for pedestrians and civic areas - while new bus lanes will be developed.
Londonderry's Guildhall - an area referred to as 'Guildhall Gardens', with more trees and public space, is envisaged in the plans
It is hoped that the removal of the roundabouts will eventually create an area the council has referred to as 'Guildhall Gardens', with more trees and public space.
A 'landing point' at the Peace Bridge is also envisaged, with a wide crossing point into the city centre and a new 'peace square' near the Guildhall.
Meanwhile, the city centre Tower Museum will be redeveloped to become a linkway to the Craft Village - while the city's Diamond area will become more pedestrianised.
Construction on a new 'DNA Museum' at the city's riverside Ebrington site is due to start at the end of 2024 - making it the first city deal project in Northern Ireland to reach this stage.
It is hoped that it will open by autumn 2026.
The museum will feature six galleries and an archive discovery zone displaying a range of the region's archive material.
Queens Quay
The plan also includes the regeneration of Strand Road and Queens Quay along Derry's riverfront with a stretch of green spaces and pedestrian areas.
However, Mr Kelpie told councillors that plans to address deterioration of the structure of Queen's Quay is not included within the city deal.
"The reconstruction of Queens Quay is not included as part of the city deal process, but certainly DfI [the Department for Infrastructure] are now monitoring that structure on a very regular basis," he said.
"They will be developing a strategy for the replacement of Queens Quay in the future."
He said he hoped that "as the design progresses, that the design of this scheme and the design for the replacement for Queens Quay go hand in glove".
"But clearly there are budgetary issues that will need to be overcome in due course."
Wider vision
Councillors were also told about future plans which it is hoped will follow the city deal projects.
They include:
The relocation of Derry City and Strabane District Council buildings to a new city centre site
Relocation of Derry's bus station
Further regeneration within the Walled City
Mr Kelpie said that when "contracts of funding have been signed and the resources are in place" an extensive plan for a consultation process over the city deal's projects will be developed.
The plans were endorsed by councillors on Monday.
"This is the single biggest investment that this council area has ever seen," Sinn Féin councillor Christopher Jackson said.
"It was always going to be massive but what the team has demonstrated is that by working with others... we can achieve so much more."