Over £3m is to be spent on remedial and infrastructure work at Fort George in Co Londonderry, it has been revealed.

Regeneration Minister Margaret Ritchie said Ilex will oversee the programme of works, which is the first practical step in preparing the site for the market.

Works will include the removal of polluted sand, silt and other debris from the Pennyburn Channel; and repairs to the quay wall on the River Foyle and remediation of the bank of the Pennyburn estuary following dredging.

Repairs will also be carried out to the surface of the concrete jetty dating from World War II, including the installation of lighting and new steel railings.

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This will lead to the opening of the jetty to pedestrians and cyclists as an extension to the foot and cycle path.

Ms Ritchie said: "At the recent launch of the Ilex foot and cycle bridge I said that while the river Foyle is one of Derry's greatest assets, its potential has not been realised.

"We need therefore to reintegrate the river with the city centre and this work at Fort George is the first step to achieving this. It is of critical importance that we fully realise the potential of this superb river front location."

The mixed use redevelopment of Fort George will include education and research activities, office accommodation, including space for targeted economic sectors, together with residential and leisure use.

Ilex plans to have 30% of the site built out, or under construction by March 2011.

The immediate programme of remedial works is necessary to deal with the dereliction, pollution and infrastructural problems that characterise the existing river frontage.

(PR/JM)