A former college in Londonderry is to be transformed into a new Retirement Complex.

Located on the old Thornhill College site on Culmore Road, the JTJ (Thornhill) Limited development will involve retaining three existing buildings at the front of the site to provide a Community Hub Building, Community Services Building and Site Warden Building.

The remaining buildings will be demolished and redeveloped as a 65-bed care home and 68 semi-independent living units.

A multi-use games area will also be created on site by remodelling the former tennis courts, while other sections will be redeveloped as formal landscape gardens and associated access, parking, drainage and landscape enhancement works.

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Planning permission was agreed for the development last July, but the full application needed a Section 76 Legal Agreement before moving forward.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor John Boyle, signed off the legal agreement, meaning developers can now apply for detailed reserved matters applications for the development. Planning officers also signed off on the outline planning permission.

Mayor Boyle said: "The Thornhill site is one of historical significance in our City and has been disused and lying derelict and in a poor state of repair since the school's relocation in 2003. I warmly welcome the fact that it can be repopulated and regenerated through signing of this Article 76 legal planning agreement.

"It has taken a period of time to bring this significant project to this crucial stage with Council working in partnership with all the statutory agencies and consultees to work collaboratively to bring this to fruition.

"This development will not only see the redevelopment of a much loved site but it will provide quality tailored living space and  support facilities for older people, allowing them to maintain their independence. A key element of this development is the fact the character of the original buildings will also be protected and maintained and a very visual derelict space will now be totally regenerated and restored to its former glory," he added.

(CM)