Plans to redevelop Meenan Square have taken a significant step forward after Derry City and Strabane District Council granted full planning permission for a new community hub on the site.

The mixed-use regeneration project, led by Apex Housing Association, will include a shared community hub, retail and commercial units, public open space, amenity areas and car parking.

The scheme is being delivered in partnership with the Urban Villages Initiative, supported by The Executive Office, and Meenan Square Developments Ltd.

Council planners approved the proposals at today’s Planning Committee meeting, marking a key milestone in efforts to transform the long-running redevelopment site.

-- Advertisement --

A public consultation has already been carried out to gauge feedback on the plans which will provide a number of essential community amenities for the area. Members heard that the response to the plans has been widely positive.

There have been challenges in addressing ongoing issues of anti-social behaviour at the long-vacant site in recent years. The multi-million pound capital project will play an important role in the continued revitalisation of the Bogside and surrounding area, creating a welcoming, shared space that promotes community cohesion and pride of place.

Chair of the Planning Committee, Councillor John Boyle, said it would provide a valuable and vibrant space for the local community. "This decision marks a hugely positive milestone for this area and for our city as a whole. This transformational project will bring much-needed facilities, employment opportunities and investment to a site that has long been in need of regeneration.

"The Committee was particularly encouraged by the collaborative approach taken by Apex Housing Association, the Urban Villages Initiative and the local community in shaping a vision that reflects local needs and aspirations. We look forward to seeing this exciting scheme come to life over the months and years ahead."