The former Our Lady of Mercy High School in Strabane is set to be transformed into a new housing development.

Full approval was granted for the project at the recent Derry City and Strabane District Council Planning Committee meeting.

Members of the Committee voted in favour of the development, which will comprise of 60 residential dwellings and 10 apartments with associated private amenity space, landscaping, and public open space.

The development will be located on the 2.57 hectare of lands associated with the former school, located north of Evish Road and east of Mount Carmel Heights. The buildings associated with the former school have now been demolished and the site cleared for development.

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Members heard that the site would offer adequate provision for communal open space within the layout, in which it's proposed that a play area of 940sqm of useable amenity space is to be located at the northern part of the site at the boundary with Mount Carmel Heights.

Welcoming the decision, Deputy Chair of the Planning Committee, Councillor Kieran McGuire said: "I am pleased to see this application progress through the planning system. There is an urgent need for quality new housing for families in the Strabane and the surrounding area to meet growing demand. I am delighted to see developers continuing to invest in the area, and recognising that Strabane is a fantastic place to locate.

"With positive plans in the pipeline for the regeneration of Strabane town centre, including the ambitious new Riverine project and a strong commitment to the growth and development of the town, I hope to see further interest in the area from developers over the coming months."