North West Development Office

The North West Development Office (NWDO) plays a central role in the urban regeneration and community development of Derry. Through a range of funding programmes, and in partnership with Derry City Council, the private, community and voluntary sectors, and other Government Departments and Agencies, NWDO seeks to tackle social, economic and physical regeneration and to redress disadvantage in the city.

The last 10 years have witnessed dramatic change to the physical appearance of Derry through the Urban Development Grant (UDG) and Environmental Improvement (EI) Programmes. During this time 700 projects within the City’s Commercial Core have received assistance through UDG. Of particular significance is the refurbishment of five of the city’s former factory buildings. These landmark buildings now provide valuable new city centre residential accommodation and high quality office space.

Community Initiatives delivered by NWDO have led to the emergence of an effective and dedicated community/voluntary sector, which plays a key role in the life of the city. Almost £100 million has been delivered directly by the North West Development Office in regeneration projects and community initiatives. In turn, this support has helped lever significant private sector investment and attracted other large scale public funding. Wherever local citizens or visitors to the city go today, the results of this investment are visible. The physical city centre has been renewed and community infrastructure and capacity strengthened, especially in the city’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

Much of NWDO’s work in recent years has been inspired and influenced by the City Vision 2020 initiative. NWDO’s environmental improvement strategy, which seeks to enhance public spaces throughout the wider city centre and the Riverfront, is an example of how the Department for Social Development has sought to translate City Vision 2020 into reality. Schemes of exceptional quality within the Walled City and the opening up of the Riverfront with the creation of the cycle path and new footway help to “create an aesthetically attractive city, with public open spaces and landscaped areas, and which conserves it characteristic natural and built heritage. “