The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced £1.7 million of funding earmarked for the repair and regeneration of historic buildings within Derry's historic city centre.

The Walled City Partnership's application for a second phase of its successful Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) has been awarded a Stage 1 pass of £1,669,000 together with an additional development grant of up to £25,000 towards developing Stage 2 of the application.

Derry was assigned the largest of 13 grants recently announced by HLF, awarded to towns and cities throughout the United Kingdom and the only grant awarded within Northern Ireland. It is estimated that THI Phase 2 will generate an estimated £4.4 million of development within the city centre including £1.5 million of private investment, which will help promote the economic regeneration of the area. A total of 44 historic buildings have initially been identified as being eligible for funding under the THI Phase 2, which is programmed to commence March 2009 and be completed by February 2014.

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Welcoming the announcement, the Mayor, Alderman Drew Thompson said the funding provided a unique opportunity for the city to further develop and transform a number of historic buildings in the city centre.

The Mayor said: "Not only will it assist in promoting the economic development of the city, but it will allow the successful completion of the projects. The investment will also compliment the work being done as part of the public realm project."

Commenting on the award, Mary McLaughlin of the Foyle Civic Trust and Chairman of the Walled City Partnership stated: "I am delighted with the award and look forward to working closely with both the respective property owners and our partners in other agencies in delivering the second phase of the initiative which will bring huge benefits to the city."

To date, under the present Phase 1 Townscape Heritage Initiative, eight properties have been repaired and brought back into full use; a further two properties have commenced on site, including the Partnership's landmark project, the former Northern Counties Hotel in Waterloo Place and a further three properties are scheduled to commence before Christmas. In total 20 buildings within the historic city centre will have been completed by the time the Phase 1 comes to a close in December 2008.

(GK)