Derry City and Strabane District Council has launched a public consultation on greenspace, cycling paths and sports facility upgrades in the Clooney area.

Planning applications will be brought forward in 2024 which will be made available for the public to see at the following locations on the following dates:

• Glendermott Cricket Club on 22 November from 12.00 pm until 9.00 pm

• Foyle Arena on 23 November from 12.00 pm until 9.00 pm

In early December at the Institute's Pre-Application Community Consultation meeting at Brigade Cricket Ground officers from the Council's Green Infrastructure Team will be in attendance to answer any questions and the maps of the designs will be provided by McCloy Consulting.

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Following the public consultation, officers will combine all of the feedback and make appropriate design amendments. The Council committee will be updated in December 2023.

This public consultation comes after a five-stage consultation and engagement process which began in 2021. Council officers engaged with stakeholders, facilitated information sessions supported by the Department for Communities (DfC) and prepared an in-house concept plan which was endorsed by the relevant stakeholders. A report on the outcome of the consultation was presented to members of the Environment and Regeneration Committee in December 2021.

In November 2022, DfC sought the views from all the parties interested in the leasehold of part of the lands at Clooney Park West for recreational purposes to benefit the community. As a result, Institute Football Club were selected as the tenant. At present, the DfC is currently completing a due diligence process to ensure that Institute FC has the necessary finance to deliver the proposal set out in their Expression of Interest.

Gravity Architects have been appointed by Institute FC to draw up their plans which will be provided during a Pre-Application Community Consultation.