Council secures funding for greenway lighting
30 January 2026
Derry City and Strabane District Council is set to move forward with a transformative £1.44 million investment in greenway infrastructure following the successful securement of £720,000 in grant funding from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).
Elected Members of Derry City and Strabane District Council were informed at a Special Council meeting this week that the funding will facilitate the installation of modern lighting schemes across three key sites, significantly enhancing safety and accessibility for residents.
The initiative was initiated from the unprecedented increase in the use of Council green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, Council has already invested £26,000 in design development and essential studies to ensure these projects are spade ready.
The three lighting schemes identified for delivery are the Drumahoe District Park, (£170,000); Boomhall / Bay Road Park, £250,000); and Foyle Valley Park (Craigavon Bridge to Coshowen), (£300,000).
The total estimated project cost is £1,440,000, which will be funded through a 50/50 split between the DfI grant and Council allocation. Following recent cost revisions, Council is set to underwrite an additional £90,000 to meet the updated 50% match-funding requirement.
The project will span two financial years with 2025/2026 allocated for the commencement of expenditure and initial works and 2026/2027 set aside for the project continuation with a final grant completion deadline of 31st March 2027.
Elected members endorsing the report gave their approval for the additional £90,000 allocation to meet the total Council commitment of £720,000. It was also agreed that while current figures are based on robust business cases, the projects will now undergo competitive tendering to determine final market-tested costs and there is a commitment from Council to work to deliver the schemes to meet the DfI’s 2027 deadline.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairí McHugh said said the greenway lighting investment represents a significant step forward in promoting active travel and ensuring that local greenways remain safe and usable for all members of the public throughout the year.
To read the paper in full visit – Report 11 - Lighting Projects.pdf
The meeting was broadcast live and can be viewed back on the Council’s Youtube channel.