Contractors have commenced work on a key rural village regeneration programme in the Derry City and Strabane District Council District Area.

The programme is designed to improve the visual appearance of eight village and town centres by painting the façades of commercial properties. Over the past year the council has identified properties, carried out technical surveys, appointed contractors and engaged with business and property owners

to facilitate the commercial façade painting scheme.

Aiming to support a range of regeneration and active travel interventions, the programme will target small settlements with a population of less than 5,000 people to create viable towns that meet the needs of local citizens.

The painting works will be delivered over two separate contracts for Derg District Electoral Area (Castlederg, Newtownstewart & Sion Mills) and the Sperrin/Faughan District Electoral Area (Ballymagorry, Claudy, Donemana, Eglinton & Plumbridge).

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Estimated to be delivered over the next six months, the first phase of the painting works for each District Electoral Area has began in Castlederg and Claudy.

The scheme has been allocated £1 million from the COVID Recovery Small Settlements Programme which is a collaboration between the Department for Communities (DfC), Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), and the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).

Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Patrica Logue, said: "The Covid Recovery Small Settlements Programme represents an important initiative in targeting investment into our rural settlements to assist local businesses who play a key role in the economic vitality and viability of the rural area. It is hoped that not only will the targeted properties and village/town centres benefit from the physical enhancements, but also through increase in footfall and activity.

"This project represents a key collaborative rural regeneration initiative between Council and the respective Central Government Departments, and I would like to acknowledge the collective input all involved,” she added."

Supported by DAERA, DfC and DfI, a spokesperson for the three departments said: "It’s great to see the commencement of this Revitalisation programme which will breathe new life into towns and villages across the Council area. These schemes will boost the local economy, help tackle rural poverty and improve access to services in small settlements."