Public Invited to give views on Strabane Canal Basin improvement proposals
27 October 2026
Derry City and Strabane District Council is inviting residents, businesses, students, and community representatives to take part in a Pre-Application Community Consultation on major proposed improvements to the Strabane Canal Basin area.
Derry City and Strabane District Council is inviting residents, businesses, students, and community representatives to take part in a Pre-Application Community Consultation on major proposed improvements to the Strabane Canal Basin area.
The proposals form a central part of the wider, multi-agency Strabane Town Centre Regeneration Programme, a £115 million transformational initiative designed to reimagine and revitalise a strategically important site at the heart of Strabane. Supported by funding from Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC), the City Deal and Inclusive Future Fund, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), and the Department of Health (DoH), the Programme brings together key public partners including DCSDC, the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT), North West Regional College (NWRC), DfI and the Department for Communities (DfC).
The comprehensive scheme will deliver phased public realm, infrastructure, and active travel works across lands including Council-owned car parks, a DfC events space, and the existing NWRC campus. Streets within the scope include Derry Road, Canal Street, Dock Street, Railway Street, John Wesley Street, and Main Street.
At the core of the regeneration ambition is turning an underutilised strategic location into a vibrant, mixed-use destination and civic space centred around the historic Canal Basin. The masterplan integrates health, education, leisure, and community infrastructure into a modern, accessible urban environment built on the principles of the creation of high-quality placemaking, sustainable transport, and community wellbeing.
All the projects are interconnected across the overall programme and include a new regional leisure centre, that is led and fully funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council, a new Health and Wellbeing hub led by the Western Health and Social Care Trust, a new North West Regional College facility that will provide enhanced further and higher education infrastructure and the construction of a new Active Travel Bridge led by DfI, along with a new town centre car park at the former Academy site and comprehensive site enabling works.
The upcoming public consultation focuses on the phased public realm enhancements designed to seamlessly link the first phase of the works that will include the direct enabling works for the NWRC campus (including site preparation, drainage, and car parking) and the creation of a cohesive public realm linking the Health Hub, Leisure Centre, and college. The works will include new landscape structures, shelter, event spaces, and a parkland play area south of the NWRC campus, alongside a new town centre car park, upgraded pedestrian crossings on Derry Road and Canal Street, along with the widening of Dock Street to facilitate off street parking.
Phase two of the works, is subject to the securing of future funding, includes proposals for the expansion of the parkland south of the NWRC campus with new amenities including a café/community building, formalised Canal Street parking, greenway extensions toward the Mourne River and Alley Theatre, and new Toucan crossings on Railway Street and Main Street. Improved active travel links on John Wesley Street, and integration at Main Street for the future Mourne River Pedestrian Bridge landing. The programme has been carefully designed to complement nearby cultural assets like the Alley Theatre, aimed at driving increased footfall, social engagement, and local economic activity.
Encouraging the local community to participate in the upcoming consultation process, the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Grace Uí Niallais said: “The Strabane Town Centre Regeneration Programme is one of the most ambitious and transformational investment projects in our Council area. It represents an investment of approximately £115 million, and has the potential to be a game-changer for Strabane, bringing together first-class health, education, and leisure facilities that will help breathe new life into our historic Canal Basin.
“This project will be a key driver to economic regeneration, creating jobs, improving physical and mental wellbeing, as well as creating an attractive, modern town centre that residents, businesses, and visitors can be truly proud of. To ensure this development meets the needs of the town, we need your voice and would encourage everyone, local residents, business owners, students, and community groups, to come along to the drop-in sessions, view the plans online, and share your feedback. This is your town and your future, so please take this opportunity to help shape the new civic heart of Strabane."
Public drop-in consultation events will take place at Strabane Library, 1 Railway Street, Strabane, BT82 8EF on Wednesday 4 November 2026 from 10:00am to 12:00 noon and from 2:00pm to 4:00pm and again on Thursday 5 November 2026, from 10:00am to 12:00 noon and from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Members of the project team will be in attendance to answer questions, explain the phase proposals, and listen to community feedback.
For those unable to attend in person, the proposals and supporting information will be available online from Tuesday 27 October to Friday 11 December 2026 at www.derrystrabane.com/consultations .
Feedback and comments can be submitted until Friday 11 December 2026 via: email: [email protected] or by post and clearly marked for the attention of Strabane Canal Basin Public Realm, Derry City and Strabane District Council, 47 Derry Road, Strabane, Co. Tyrone, BT82 8DY.
The North West Regional College will also hold consultation sessions regarding plans for its new Campus build in Strabane Town Centre. These will be held in Strabane Library on 19 November 2026, 1.00pm –3.00pm and 5.00pm –7.00 pm. The purpose is to provide an opportunity for local residents, businesses and other interested parties to view the proposals, ask questions and provide feedback to the College.
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