News Release Page Title

18 August 2003

JOHN SPELLAR LAUNCHES HEART OF THE CITY REPORT

A challenging and imaginative vision for the future development of the central areas of Londonderry was launched today by John Spellar, MP, the Minister with responsibility for Social Development

The Minister announced the publication of the Department’s "Heart of the City - Integrated Urban Design Study" for Derry during a visit to the city today. Commissioned by the North West Development Office, the report was written by urban design consultants W S Atkins and aims to achieve better urban design and higher quality architecture within Derry City Centre.

The study puts forward strategic proposals for key riverside sites including Ebrington Barracks, Fort George and the Queen’s Quay area as well as recommending improvements to transportation, design quality and public spaces.

He said: "The Heart of the City proposals will take the scale and ambition of urban regeneration in this city to another level. Derry has often set the standards for others to follow and is now the first city in Northern Ireland to have devised an urban design strategy for its entire central area."

The four chief aims of the strategy are:

  • the physical transformation of the city centre to reflect its economic status and profile as a regional hub within the island;

  • the integration of the centre as a whole, encouraging all citizens to have a sense of pride in, and move safely within it;

  • the integration of the city centre with its river following the severance caused by road developments, car parking and development along the riversides;

  • the reinforcement and enhancement of urban character and identity.

The Minister continued: "Heart of the City will further develop the city centre’s role as an employment location, as a centre for modern and traditional manufacturing businesses, as a retailing and tourist centre for the wider North West region and as an administrative centre for public and private services.

"It is important that the public sector works in partnership with others, including the City Council and the private sector to take forward this study. My Department, as a founding member of the new Urban Regeneration Company, welcomes the opportunity this study offers to inform and influence the wider masterplanning of the city council area, which ILEX, the new Urban Regeneration Company, will oversee."

The Minister also announced the publication of the Department’s Discussion Paper, "A Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal – Derry/Londonderry Implementation Plan" in line with People and Place, the overarching strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal in Northern Ireland which he launched in June of this year.

The Department, through the North West Development Office, will facilitate discussion with the public, private and community/voluntary sectors in Londonderry on how it proposes to implement Neighbourhood Renewal in the city.

The Minister signalled a move away from previous short-term, project-based approach to a longer term strategy based on well-planned programmes.

He said: "My Department recognises that this strategy does not promote a ‘one solution’ fits all. We will work closely with local communities to ensure our approach reflects the specific needs of each community."

The Mayor, Councillor Shaun Gallagher, who attended the launch said:

"All strategies which contribute and inform the future development of the city are welcomed and we can look forward to integrating the ideas and discussions into future plans for the city."

Using the Noble Deprivation Measures, four "neighbourhoods" have been identified as primary target areas that resources will be initially concentrated; namely Cityside, Outer West , Outer North and Waterside. This is a first ‘cut’ of proposed Neighbourhood Renewal Areas (NRAs) and through discussion these might be refined. Local choice, knowledge and research will play an important role in agreeing NRAs.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. Multiple economic and social deprivation is to be found in significant concentrations within Derry city. The Noble Measures demonstrate that 13 of the Londonderry Urban Electoral wards, with a total population of 37,341, fall within the top 10% (or 50) most deprived wards in Northern Ireland. A further 17 of the city’s Enumeration Districts, with a population of 10,070, fall within the 10% most deprived Urban Enumeration Districts (outside the 50 most deprived urban wards).

  2. The target primary areas for Neighbourhood Renewal are:

    • Cityside: This area takes in the Creggan and the interface area between the Fountain and the Bogside/Brandywell. The area is made up of a core of wards that include Creggan Central, Creggan South, Brandywell, The Diamond and Westland but it also includes Enumeration Districts within the Strand ward. It has a population of 19,177 people.

    • Outer West: This area encompasses the Glen, Rosemount, Ballymagroarty and Hazelbank districts with a total population of 8,634 people.

    • Outer North: This area includes Greater Shantallow and some Enumeration Districts in the Culmore electoral ward. The proposed Neighbourhood Renewal Area has a total population of 13,877 people.

    • Waterside: This area is made up of the Victoria ward together with a spine of Enumeration Districts in Caw, Clondermot and Corrody and has a population of 5,723 people.

  3. Copies of both papers can be obtained from:

    The North West Development Office
    Orchard House
    40 Foyle Street
    Londonderry
    BT48 6AT

    Tel: 028 7131 9900 or on the Department's website: www.dsdni.gov.uk.

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