Maghera Regeneration: Cllr McGuigan leads £10.65 million investment

A recent meeting of Maghera Town Centre Forum was updated regarding the recent announcement of significant ‘Levelling Up’ funding for three key elements which comprise the Maghera Regeneration Project. A major financial announcement was made in January but more details, have just emerged, as to the extent of this key investment, with total investment now reaching £10.65 million.

Forum members present included representatives of Mid-Ulster District Council, Department of Communities (DFC) Mid-Ulster Disability Forum, Department of Infrastructure (DFI Roads), PSNI and town centre businesses.

Speaking to the County Derry Post, forum chairperson, Cllr. Brian McGuigan (Sinn Féin) spoke of “fantastic, game changing opportunities that this funding opportunity will bring in terms of positively transforming Maghera and improving lives.”  

Cllr. McGuigan (pictured below) said: “As Chairperson of Maghera Town Centre Forum I want to begin by thanking the officers and staff of Mid-Ulster District Council for bringing this successful bid to fruition and securing a funding award of nearly of £9.6 million from the Levelling Up Fund with extra money, over £1.6 million, also being provided by Mid-Ulster District Council - bringing over £10.65 million into Maghera by way of much needed and very welcome investment.

“We cannot understate the enormity of this financial investment regarding opportunities for everyone living in Maghera and its  neighbouring townlands and villages.”

The tenacious elected representative continued: “This was an extremely competitive process and the success of the bid is testament to council’s hard work and the proper identification of projects needed to regenerate our community. Just this week Mid-Ulster District Council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the funders for delivery of what is referred to as the Maghera Regeneration Project”

“Forty per cent of the funding envelope award is earmarked for the Maghera Public Realm Scheme ( £4.055 million), while forty-two per cent  (£4.152 million) of the award is going to the development of Maghera Business Park. Mid-Ulster District Council’s recently purchased farmland at Mullagh will be developed with eighteen per cent of the funding award (£1.857m) for the development of a Wetlands Park to meet our needs in relation to green recreational space and the challenges regarding biodiversity, climate and well-being.

Concluding his comments Cllr. McGuigan said: “Whilst it is extremely satisfying to know that such a funding award awaits delivery of the projects, much work has yet to be done in order to maximise the potential of this  transformative project. There will be further community consultation on elements of the proposed schemes with a procurement process anticipated to commence in Spring/Summer 2023. It is expected that capital works will commence later in Autumn/Winter 2023/24, with the entire projects completed by March 2025.”

“Now is the time that we must all join together, in putting our shoulder to the wheel, and maximising the opportunities that these game changing, social, environmental and economic benefits will bring to everyone who live, work and shop in Maghera.

“It has been my pleasure, to have been given the opportunity to play a lead role in the development of Maghera Regeneration Project, when having chaired the local town centre forum, over the past four years, through turbulent times.”