Press Release

£1.7 million Funding Boost for Derry’s Built Heritage

Wednesday 14th November 2007

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced £1.7 million of funding earmarked for the repair and regeneration of historic buildings within Derry’s historic city centre.

The Walled City Partnership’s application for a second phase of its successful Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) has been awarded a Stage 1 pass of £1,669,000 together with an additional development grant of up to £25,000 towards developing Stage 2 of the application.

Derry was assigned the largest of 13No. THI grants recently announced by HLF, awarded to towns and cities throughout the United Kingdom and the only grant awarded within Northern Ireland. It is estimated that THI Phase 2 will generate an estimated £4.4 million of development within the city centre including £1.5 million of private investment, which will help promote the economic regeneration of the area. A total of 44 historic buildings have initially been identified as being eligible for funding under the THI Phase 2, which is programmed to commence March 2009 and be completed by February 2014.

Welcoming the announcement, the Mayor, Alderman Drew Thompson said the funding provided a unique opportunity for the city to further develop and transform a number of historic buildings in the city centre.

“Not only will it assist in promoting the economic development of the city, but it will allow the successful completion of the projects. The investment will also compliment the work being done as part of the public realm project.”

Commenting on the award, Mary McLaughlin of the Foyle Civic Trust and Chairman of the Walled City Partnership stated;

‘I am delighted with the award and look forward to working closely with both the respective property owners and our partners in other agencies in delivering the second phase of the initiative which will bring huge benefits to the city. The award gives a great opportunity for the Partnership to build on the success of Phase 1 which is due to be completed by December 2008 and will complement the proposed public realm improvements which are scheduled to be undertaken during the course of next year.’

Explaining the importance of the award, Paul Mullan, HLF Regional Manager stated;

‘Regeneration is all about making places that people are once again proud to live and work in. The Heritage Lottery Fund’s scheme is also an excellent way of bringing together local and national partnerships which can transform an area, often acting as a catalyst for further improvements.’

Asked about the next stage of the application process, Nick Brown, Project Officer for the Walled City Partnership said:

‘There is a lot of work to be done over the course of the next 12 months. The Partnership will not only be striving to complete Phase 1 of the Townscape Heritage Initiative, but will be working closely with its partners and consultants in developing Phase 2. The Partnership is presently seeking to secure the required match funding for the second phase and will also be approaching the respective property owners, from whom support and commitment is essential if the initiative is to be a success. The Partnership will be submitting its Stage 2 THI application in October next year and it is hoped will receive final approval by February 2009.’

To date, under the present Phase 1 Townscape Heritage Initiative, eight properties have been repaired and brought back into full use; a further two properties have commenced on site, including the Partnership’s landmark project, the former Northern Counties Hotel in Waterloo Place; and a further three properties are scheduled to commence before Christmas. In total 20 buildings within the historic city centre will have been completed by the time the Phase 1 comes to a close in December 2008.

Notes to Editors

The Walled City Partnership Limited is presently implementing the Walled City THI (Phase 1), an economic regeneration programme focused on repairing and bringing back into full use historic buildings which contribute to the historic townscape character of Derry. The Partnership, core funded by the Derry City Council Economic Development Section, administers the Phase 1 THI grant of £1,000,000 awarded to the Partnership by the Heritage Lottery Fund, following application by the Foyle Civic Trust in 2002. The Partnership awards grants to owners of private properties to encourage appropriate repairs, removal of external security shutters, replacing inappropriate shopfronts and signage and bringing buildings back into full use, particularly upper floors above ground floor shops. THI grants are awarded as a top-up grant to funding available from other sources including the Department for Social Development, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, DoE Planning Service and Environment and Heritage Service, where applicable. The present initiative is due to complete in December 2008, by which time approximately 20 buildings within the historic city centre will have been repaired and brought back into full use, generating approximately £4.9 million of investment into the city’s historic buildings, of which £2.5 million will be from the private sector.

The Partnership comprises representatives from the Foyle Civic Trust, Derry City Council and the City Centre Initiative with representatives from DoE Planning Service, Department for Social Development and Northern Ireland Housing Executive acting as advisors.

Ends

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