17 February 2006
CLOONEY REDEVELOPMENT IS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE
Ebrington Primary School and Foyle & Londonderry College should be co-located at Clooney a public consultation has concluded.
Launching a report on the outcome of the consultation Social Development Minister David Hanson said: "Following careful consideration of the views expressed during the consultation process and after extensive discussions between Government Departments, there is now a consensus that, subject to formal appraisal and statutory approvals, Foyle and Londonderry College and Ebrington Primary School should be co-located at Clooney.
"The most commonly expressed and strongly endorsed aspirations emerging from the consultation include:
A total of 672 written submissions were received in response to the consultation process. In the context of the number of consultation documents issued, this equates to a response rate of 74%, well above the average for this type of exercise.
- retention of the Clooney Playing Fields for recreational use
- creation of a Centre of Sporting Excellence for the North West
- creation of a Centre of Excellence for pre-school education
- avoidance of a split site for Foyle and Londonderry
- ensuring the Clooney development complements that of Ebrington and Fort George
- agreement on timescale for action to secure early progress."
The Minister said that the Department's North West Development Office had appointed urban design consultants to produce an outline masterplan for the wider Clooney lands.
He said: "This masterplan will guide the development of the wider Clooney lands in a way that maximises the regeneration benefits to both the Waterside area and the city as a whole. It will be completed by early March 2006 and therefore will not impact on any timetable for the proposed relocation of Foyle & Londonderry College or Ebrington Primary School.
"The Department for Social Development is keen to maintain the momentum that has been created and ensure that the redevelopment of Clooney is indeed a catalyst for significant change in Derry.">
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The Clooney lands consist of the former military base totalling 32 acres and the Clooney Playing Fields comprising 16 acres.
2. In addition to the central proposals comments were invited on the proposed ring fencing of the 50-acre land-bank at Northland Road, currently occupied by Foyle and Londonderry College, as a preferred site for the possible future expansion of the University of Ulster's Magee campus.
3. In December 2005 the Secretary of State announced that around £20million will be allocated from the Schools Capital Programme to facilitate the relocation of Foyle & Londonderry College and Ebrington Primary School onto the Clooney lands.
4. For media enquiries please contact the Information office on 028 9082 9078.
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