Lack of progress at Fort George site raised

At the council’s Governance and Strategic Planning Committee meeting on May 7, SDLP Councillor Rory Farrell raised an Officers’ report, on a recent Strategic Growth Partnership meeting, which highlighted a lack of progress in regenerating the former military base in Derry.

At a previous Committee meeting, last month, Cllr. Farrell proposed writing to both then Minister for Economy, Conor Murphy, and the Minister for Infrastructure, John O’Dowd, for updates on four key Strategic Growth Partnership projects; Magee University expansion, improved road infrastructure, enhanced rail services, and improved connectivity and sustainability of City of Derry Airport.

“We look forward to the Ministerial responses regarding funding [for the projects],” Cllr. Farrell said, “But there’s an aspect of the Growth Plan which focuses on the regeneration of Ebrington and the regeneration of Fort George.

“The transformation at Ebrington is clearly evident; we’ve got two Grade A office blocks, a new hotel, many more hospitality businesses, a significant planning application both residential and commercial, so you can see the progress there.

“The progress at Fort George is not on that level.

“To see the site used to its full potential is something members and people right across the city and district want, but we’re not seeing much progress there at all.”

The council’s Chief Executive, John Kelpie, said an Officer meeting with DfC to discuss Fort George was planned in the coming weeks, and suggested inviting representatives to a Committee meeting to “present on current issues, obstacles to progress and challenges”.

The Trust confirmed in January that it was now on Phase 2 of the outline business case and is continuing to work with other organisations to ensure road access and parking is agreed prior to work starting on the ground.

The Trust paid £1m for the Fort George site, and the hub project will bring about major change in how medical services are delivered in Derry, with the new facility bringing together a number of GP practices on one site, as well as delivering a wide range of diagnostic and treatment services for local people.

Initially, the project was expected to cost around £70m but an updated cost is expected to be included within the completed Phase 2 business case.

A spokesperson for the Western Health and Social Care Trust has described the project as “a very exciting development for the Trust, and one which we are confident will provide improved access to services in a modern community setting to the benefit of the population of the City and the surrounding areas”.