A new £1m council-owned sporting facility in Derry has been officially opened at a community ceremony, attended by government ministers from Northern Ireland and the Republic.

The facility, located in Creggan, forms part of the Oakland Park Redevelopment Scheme.

The scheme involved the regeneration of the former Oakland Park Playing Fields and includes the provision of 39 new social housing units that will be managed by North & West Housing Ltd.

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie and her Republic of Ireland counterpart Housing Minister Michael Finneran witnessed the unveiling of the civic project.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Derry Mayor Gerard Diver said: "The council is pleased to be a partner in the re-development of Oakland Park in that it represents an important regeneration project for the Creggan area by bringing about a number of key benefits including significant investment in a new enhanced community sporting facility for the benefit of the local population as well as much needed social housing in an area where there is high demand."

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The issuing of a development brief in 2005 by Derry City Council has been the key starting point and main component in the overall Oakland Park Redevelopment Scheme.

The development brief sought to maximise the community regeneration potential of the site, through a mixed-use scheme that enhanced and promoted its sporting and recreational integrity, while encouraging social housing development designed to maximise the wider regeneration impacts.

The total value of the overall redevelopment scheme has been in the region of £5m.

The new community sporting facility will comprise of a two-storey modern purpose community building consisting of community and changing facilities, a new state of the art children's play area and a new soccer pitch.

The Acting Town Clerk and Chief Executive, John Meehan, said the council was currently looking at other sites within its ownership with the view to bringing forward similar regeneration projects designed to bring maximum community benefits.

The Ministers also attended the official opening of a new sheltered house facility in Moville and social housing in Dove Gardens in the city's Bogside.

(PR)