18 February 2004
MAJOR DEVELOPMENT SECURED FOR KEY WATERSIDE SITE
A multi-million pound development scheme for the Distillery Brae site in the Waterside area of Londonderry was announced today by the Department for Social Development.
The Department, through the North West Development Office, said that a state-of-the-art Primary Healthcare Centre is to be constructed on the one acre Distillery Brae site, by the General Practitioners currently based at the Waterside Health Centre.
The new development will not only accommodate three medical practices serving a population of more than 25,000 patients but also incorporate other health and social care professionals.
Declan O’Hare, Director of the North West Development Office, said the new centre would make a significant contribution to the regeneration of the Spencer Road area.
"The new building will enhance the streetscape and has expansive areas of glass landscaped public space that will make a significant design statement when viewed from the Duke Street and Cityside areas. The centre will also contribute to the social regeneration of the wider Waterside, which is a key objective for Government under the Department’s recently-launched Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy."
It is envisaged that the centre will bring an additional 1600 people daily into the Spencer Road commercial area.
Dr Michael Healy, speaking on behalf of the GPs in the Waterside Health Centre, said:
"This is excellent news for patients and also for those of us who work in the Waterside Health Centre. The three practices have been caring for patients in the Waterside area since before the Second World War and have a long history of working together. We have always had a very strong commitment to service provision in the Waterside and the new centre will enable us to further enhance and develop the services we can offer. It will also greatly improve the physical environment for both patients and staff and will make a significant contribution to the social and economic regeneration of this part of the Waterside."
Notes TO Editors:
The Distillery Site consists of an area of under-used land fronting onto Spencer Road and Duke Street. The Department for Social Development, through the North West Development Office, acquired the site for comprehensive development in 1998. Following a development competition in 2000, no viable proposals were submitted and the Department re-advertised the site in 2002. A panel of advisers, chaired by the Development Office and including senior officers from Derry City Council, the Planning Service, Roads Service and the VLA, selected the Waterside GPs submission as the preferred scheme.
Under its comprehensive development powers, the North West (formerly Londonderry) Development Office has been responsible for the regeneration of almost 700 city centre sites and properties over the past twenty-five years.
The three Practices in the Waterside Health Centre are:
- Stone and Partners
- Connolly and Partners
- Ashenhurst and Partners.
Dr Michael Healy can be contacted at 028 7132 0103
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