The Deputy Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council has welcomed a programmed designed to regenerate disused heritage buildings in L'Derry.

A total of £170,000 will be used to assist the Inner City Trust in developing a programme which will identify eligible target heritage buildings in the City deemed to be at risk.

Leading the programme Derry's Inner City Trust announced last week by the Architectural Heritage Fund throughout the UK, and the only award made in Northern Ireland under the current round of funding.

The initiative aims to allocate specialised technical support to conduct surveys and assessments, facilitating the identification of funding sources for the revitalization of selected buildings.

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Welcoming the announcement, Cllr Barr said: "I am delighted to see the award by the Architectural Heritage Fund to design a programme that will assist in identifying key eligible heritage at risk buildings in the City. The City has a diverse and rich collection of built heritage assets including listed buildings and historic city walls, so it’s encouraging to see a programme that will promote the regeneration and re-use of heritage buildings deemed to be at risk. The project aligns with the Council's Heritage Plan 2022-27 and I look forward to Council working with the Inner City Trust in the development of this exciting programme."

Helen Quigley, Strategic Projects Advisor with the Inner City Trust, said: "I am very pleased with the announcement by the Architectural Heritage Fund to support this important programme, which will assist in undertaking the necessary preparatory technical work in identifying potential heritage buildings. The Inner City Trust has a successful track record in the design and delivery of heritage-led regeneration projects such as the Bishops Gate Hotel and that this experience will assist greatly in the development of this new and exciting programme."