Derry~Londonderry and Strabane City Region City Deal and Inclusive Fund Projects.
Since the completion of the £250m Heads of Terms Agreement on the Derry~Londonderry and Strabane City Region City Deal and Inclusive Future Fund in 2021 by Government, Council and project partners - Ulster University, the North West Regional College, and the Western Health and Social Care Trust, the focus has been on the development of the OBCs (Outline Business Cases) for submitting to Government.
Since then, the partners have been working diligently to re-analyse the projects to substantially reduce escalating costs during what was a very challenging process. Despite the challenges however the overall initial vision, nature and mix of projects have been maintained and the scope, scale, design and in some cases, the location, of some of the projects have been realigned to ensure the projected outcomes and benefits are achievable.
All of the OBCS are being submitted to Government ahead of the next stage of the process which is the Financial Deal which it is anticipated will be achieved by summer 2024.
The Derry~Londonderry Strabane City Deal Projects are as follows -
Strabane Regeneration Project - centered in and around the Canal Basin and Derry Road Area and presented to a Special Council meeting in December 2023 – it consists of a new Northwest Regional College Campus, relocated within the Canal Basin site, a WHSCT Primary Care Health Hub, Leisure Centre, New footbridge and associated public realm and environmental improvements. The area of influence of the revised plans now extends from Derry Road to the riverside walk adjacent to the car park at the end of John Wesley Street.
A key element of this revised masterplan is the overall expansion of the regeneration footprint of the scheme within the town centre. The original vision is now all integrated within a wider masterplan/public realm development that not only prioritises funding on the development of facilities and provides services to the community but also presents opportunities to develop elements of the project beyond the Canal Basin site.
To view the latest paper that was presented at a Special Council meeting on Monday 11 December 2023 click here -
To get a copy of the presentations click on –
You can also view the meeting on Youtube via this link
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City Deal Innovation Digital and Health Projects
As part of the City Deal Innovation Digital and Health Pillar, Outline Business Cases for the SMART Digital and CADRIC projects have been submitted to sponsoring departments of government for consideration and funding approval. The project is being taken forward by Council and its City Deal partners, Ulster University, to develop a c£39m new combined Cognitive Analytics and Digital Robotics Innovation Centre (CADRIC) on a site along the Strand Road opposite the Derry City and Strabane District Council Offices building.
The SMART/Digital City programme – c£15m – that will place the city at the leading edge of urban innovation supporting the development of smart specialisations across a range of sectors and public service delivery. It will include the development of digital enabling infrastructure, a SMART energy pilot, digital transformation challenge funding and a new innovation hub to be developed in or adjacent to the Strand Road Campus of Ulster University and the North West Regional College, and help address faster internet connections in both urban and rural areas.
To view the latest paper that was presented at a Special Council meeting on Wednesday 24 January 2024 click here -
To get a copy of the presentations click on –
You can also view the meeting on Youtube via the this link
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City Deal Central Riverfront/Strand Road, Walled City and Ebrington Regeneration and Tourism Projects
More than £180m has been earmarked to revitalise Derry’s Central Riverfront/Strand Road and Walled City area to create a vibrant and thriving Central Riverfront, Walled City and Strand Road areas of the city. The plans include proposals for the new Ulster University Innovation Centres of Excellence, School of Medicine and potential future university expansion to be integrated into the Riverfront by creating a new University Square public realm.
The proposals include plans to create new, high quality public spaces and places through the reorientation and reallocation of road space and the redesign of traffic circulation and vehicle movements. The proposals for this traffic reconfiguration split the traffic between Strand Road and Queens Quay comprising a two-lane, one-way system on each, with traffic flowing northbound (coming from the city centre) onto lower Strand Road and southbound (towards the city centre) along Queen’s Quay, with potential for bus priority on the inner lanes during peak times.
The plans also include proposals to remodel the Harbour Square/Whittaker Street/Victoria Market area and roundabout at the Council Offices to provide enhanced multi-use public spaces which will encourage additional private sector investment greater accessibility and usage of this area.
Exciting and innovative plans within the Walled City are also proposed including plans for the remodelling and integration of the existing Story of Derry underground space at the Tower Museum into Union Hall Place/ Guildhall Square and directly into the Craft Village, in partnership with the Inner City Trust.
A major lighting scheme within the Walled City and on the Riverfront is a key element of the proposals, alongside improved signage and public realm in and around the Diamond, Shipquay Street and Castle Street.
The DNA Museum - c£12.7m –Museum to be developed in Ebrington and recently approved for funding and is expected to commence on site later this year. DNA will be an interactive, experiential museum and tourist attraction which highlights the importance of the city and the wider Foyle Basin in a range of global historic events. There will be six galleries, a dedicated archive discovery zone, access to genealogy advice, a temporary exhibition space, multi-purpose learning and events space, café, retail and external interpretation space. DNA will create a range of exciting new learning and participation programmes and resources. It will present the history and heritage of Ebrington and uncover the transformation of the site from a 19th military barracks to the vibrant and welcoming space it is today.
To view the latest paper in relation to the Riverfront, Walled City and Ebrington projects that were presented at a Special Council meeting on Monday 04 March 2024 click here
To get a copy of the presentation click on
You can also view the meeting on Youtube via this link -
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New School of Medicine/Personalised Medicine Innovation Centre – in excess of £50m - The proposals include plans for the expansion of the three partner clinical research facility, C-TRIC as well as the development of future research on the Magee site to build a new School of Medicine/Personalised Medicine Centre, to be primarily located on an existing vacant site adjacent to the Council offices on the Strand Road/Riverfront, along with built educational facilities at Altnagelvin Hospital campus.The School of Medicine and Personalised Medicine Centre project has been designed to enhance the ability to provide integrated teaching and research facilities at Ulster University Magee Campus and at the Altnagelvin Hospital site. The expansion of C-TRIC will grow Clinical Academic Partnerships attracting high quality personnel to the Western Trust and improving the quality of healthcare provision. The proposal comes in three components – the first one is for Teaching and Research Accommodation at Ulster University’s campus at Magee, which will comprise a new build accommodation and equipment to host the annual intake of medical students and associated teaching laboratory space and equipment for Personalised Medical programmes and research facilities in the areas of translational experimental research, clinical medicine and public and population health.The second element of the Business Case relates to Medical Training at Altnagelvin Hospital and the MedEdWest teaching facility which will be enhanced by a new build, increasing the medical teaching space and providing provision for possible future expansion to respond to any future teaching needs. Included in the provision will be two new lecture theatres, two clinical skills rooms, three tutorial rooms, a stimulation room and a virtual reality room.The third and final element of the proposal is the Personalised Medicine Centre, which will comprise of a new build extension to the existing Clinical Translational Research Centre (C-TRIC) at Altnagelvin Hospital, aimed at providing facilities for increased clinical trials and research opportunities to support research, development and innovation. It will promote research and community based research and create a centre of research excellence.
The paper and presentation relating to this meeting is available here
- To view the Ulster University School of Medicine presentation click here
- To view the WHSCT presentation click here
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What is not included in the City Deal proposals?
Discussions between Council and DFI are continuing in relation to the replacement of the structure of Queen’s Quay with confirmation that these works would not form part of the City Deal funded programme of work. Ongoing monitoring of the site will continue by DFI with a view to a feasibility study to review potential replacement options.
Among the proposals not included in the current City Deal funding package but being planned for is the potential relocation of the Council’s civic office to the Foyle Street site beside the Guildhall, to allow further expansion of the university, the remodelling of the road space along the remainder of the Foyle Embankment from Harbour Square to Foyleside Roundabout, the relocation of the Bus Station and the possibility of a connecting public transport/footbridge to the NW Transport Hub. Ongoing engagement with partner Government departments and stakeholders will continue to develop these wider potential regeneration proposals.
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What happens next?
Going forward the management and delivery of such a complex programme of projects of this scale and value will require a significant step change in terms of governance, staffing and resourcing. Promotional collateral including drawings and visuals to help create awareness and engagement among the public, the private sector and support partners are currently being progressed while an emphasis on climate change mitigation and sustainability will remain at the forefront of this and all the City Deal projects going forward.
All of the OBCS are being submitted to Government ahead of the next stage of the process which is the Financial Deal which it is anticipated will be achieved by spring/summer 2024.