The future redevelopment of County Tyrone village Sion Mills has been set out in the final draft of a major masterplan.

Members of Derry City and Strabane District Council's Environment and Regeneration Committee backed the Regeneration Masterplan, which includes the findings of a detailed technical analysis and survey to support the preparation of the masterplan as well as the vision, objectives and eight distinctive themes that will align with the proposed actions.

The themes identified are: A Warm Welcome, Our Streets,  A Hub for Heritage, Home is Where the Heart is, Our Place, The Mighty Mourne, Green & Gorgeous, Community, Business and Tourism.

The Masterplan also outlines the specific potential projects under each of the eight themes including their locations and how they relate to other potential projects being proposed within the masterplan.

-- Advertisement --

Explaining further about the Masterplan, Tony Monaghan, Regeneration Manager with the Council, said: "The masterplan is not an investment strategy nor has it any dedicated financial resourcing to deliver on any of the list of potential projects. Instead, the masterplan represents a key regeneration framework as well as an informed reference point for Council and other stakeholders in the design and delivery of future projects within the village.

'The draft masterplan outlines potential projects for a range of locations throughout the village on lands and sites which are in varied ownership. Again, the potential projects are aspirational and will be driven by the individual project promoter's desire/ability to develop such projects, as well as the availability of resources – both capital and revenue."

The Chairperson of the Environment and Regeneration Committee, Cllr Brian Tierney, welcomed the committee's endorsement of the report.

He said: "The masterplan is a key element of the Council's commitment set out in the Strategic Growth Plan to develop and conserve rural settlements and protecting and promoting our natural built heritage assets. We are confident this masterplan will become a resource for the entire community in terms of tourism and building the local economy for future generations."

Officers will continue to work collaboratively to scope relevant project proposals within the document and seek to develop these further via funding applications and further feasibility analysis.

(CM/MH)