£20m Pride in Place investment to revitalise local communities

Derry City and Strabane District Council and its partners formally launched the first Pride In Place investment plan that will bring forward £6.6m initial investment, to be rolled out over four years to revitalise local neighbourhoods, create thriving places and allow people to take ownership of their communities.

Funded as part of an overall 10 year £20m package by the UK Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Pride In Place Plan for Derry has been developed and agreed by the Pride in Place Board comprising local representatives from the local community, voluntary and business sectors.  

Originally launched as the ‘Long-Term Plan for Towns ‘, the initiative was rebranded in September 2025 as the Pride in Place Programme.

Derry City and Coleraine were the only two locations in Northern Ireland selected for the first phase based on indices of deprivation, population size, and healthy life expectancy. The first tranche of funding will be released in spring 2026, with the first investment period covering the financial years 2026/27 through 2029/30.

The investment plan is closely tied to commitments within Derry City and Strabane District’s inclusive, Strategic Growth Plan, the Local Growth Plans and Heritage plans in the city. A central pillar of the plan is addressing systemic deprivation. Currently, 16% of households in Derry live in poverty, with 22% of children affected and the plan is designed to respond directly to the "Pathways out of Poverty Action Plan 2025-2035.”

A number of local initiatives that are set to benefit from the funding include the Foyle Poverty Truth Commission, who work to bring those with lived experience of poverty together with decision-makers to co-create solutions; The Network, who will be able to increase their capacity for wraparound support for people facing financial hardship and the Health Inclusion, a dedicated project to tackle the root causes of vulnerability in the city centre, including the recruitment of a qualified nurse to support those in contact with the PSNI or outreach services.

The Board has also approved a diverse range of capital investments across five key areas including the Austins Regeneration that sees a £2m contribution to rescue the Grade A listed building from the Heritage-At-Risk Register and helping to restore its civic prominence. Funding has been allocated to An Teach Scoile (The School House) for the refurbishment of a Grade B+ listed building on Great James Street that will support Irish language students at Ulster University.

The Investment plan includes funding of £2.2m for Ballymagroarty & Hazelbank Community Centre, to create a multi-purpose hub to reduce social exclusion and improve health outcomes while the Resource Centre, Carnhill will also see a major redevelopment to increase daycare capacity to 12,000 places annually and expand the "meals on wheels" service to 30,000 meals per year.

The Currynierin Play Park will see environmental improvements and new play facilities in deprived interface areas and Stevenson Park has also been earmarked as a potential project. While there will also be investment in community and revenue Initiatives and a Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme that will enhance estates through murals, street art, and landscaping led by local artists.

There are plans for a person-centred mental health programme delivering targeted interventions across the Ballyarnett, Foyleside, Moor, and Waterside DEAs while a bespoke budget will be set aside for place-based marketing that will promote the city as a premier location to live, work, study, and invest.

The Moor Local Growth Partnership has deferred its projects to the next funding period, where they have been allocated £100,000 in capacity-building funding to develop plans for the Creggan Shops, Pilots Row Community Centre and the Fountain Estate.

Following the launch of the investment plan at the Board meeting in the Guildhall on Friday, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Ruairí McHugh said: “The Pride In Place investment plans mark a major milestone for our District. This £20m programme gives us the tools to deliver long-term and meaningful change in our local neighbourhoods. It will help us tackle deprivation while also empowering local communities to shape their own future.

"I want to acknowledge the role played by all partners of the Board for their commitment and collaboration in developing a plan that truly reflects the needs and ambitions of local people and that aligns with the other investments taking place in the region.”

Helen Quigley, from the Inner City Trust and Co-Chair of the Pride in Place Board said the Pride In Place investment plan was a very positive news story for the area. She said: “This funding gives our communities the chance to reimagine and revitalise the places we call home. It will allow us to restore historic buildings, expand community hubs and improve outdoor shared spaces as well as invest in local pride and wellbeing with the opportunity to create safer, healthier and more vibrant neighbourhoods that everyone can enjoy.”

Darren Kirby of the Ballyarnettt Local Growth Partnership and Co-Chair of the Pride in Place Board said the Pride In Place investment plan had a strong focus on providing support to communities and tackling poverty.

He said: “This investment is a lifeline for families experiencing hardship across the district. By supporting local organisations who are working on the frontline of poverty, the programme acknowledges that sustainable change starts with listening to lived experience and investing in providing compassionate and practical support. The investment package will enable us to strengthen the wraparound services people rely on every day.”

Anna Doherty Chief Executive of the Chamber of Commerce is also a Co-Chair of the Pride in Place Board. She also welcomed the signing of the MoU said: “The Chamber is delighted to support the Pride in Place Board and this investment plan. It will play an important role in helping to regenerate our City and to deliver the inclusive Strategic Growth Plan.

"I am pleased that the Board has agreed to progress several key projects in this first investment phase that will help make our City safer and more vibrant, protect our heritage, strengthen local communities and help address the social and economic needs of this city.

Members of the Board signing an official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the launch were informed that project delivery partners will now work closely with Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to work towards delivery of phase one of the funding programme.