Derry City and Strabane District Council is set to move forward with a major £1.44 million investment in greenway infrastructure after securing £720,000 in grant funding from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).

Elected Members were informed at a Special Council meeting this week that the funding will support the installation of modern lighting schemes at three key greenway locations, significantly improving safety and accessibility for local residents.

The initiative stems from a substantial increase in the use of Council-managed green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic. In preparation for delivery, the Council has already invested £26,000 in design development and essential technical studies to ensure the projects are ready to progress.

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The three lighting schemes identified for delivery are Drumahoe District Park (£170,000), Boomhall/Bay Road Park (£250,000) and Foyle Valley Park, spanning from Craigavon Bridge to Coshowen (£300,000).

The total estimated cost of the programme is £1.44 million, funded through a 50:50 match between the DfI grant and Council resources. Following recent cost revisions, the Council will also underwrite an additional £90,000 to meet the updated 50 per cent match-funding requirement, bringing its total contribution to £720,000.

The project will be delivered across two financial years, with expenditure and initial works scheduled to commence in 2025/26, followed by continuation and completion during 2026/27. The final grant completion deadline has been set for 31 March 2027.

Elected Members approved the additional £90,000 allocation at the meeting, endorsing the overall funding package and enabling the projects to move forward. While current cost estimates are based on detailed business cases, the schemes will now proceed to competitive tendering to establish final market-tested costs. The Council has confirmed its commitment to delivering the projects in line with the DfI funding deadline.