A housing development in Derry city centre which has faced delays is an “eyesore” and needs to be progressed as soon as possible, a local councillor has said.
The proposed apartment block was left as a skeleton structure after the previous developer went into administration.
The building backs onto the historic Derry Walls and sits close to the busy Visit Derry offices, attended by tourists every day.
It is also situated above takeaway restaurants and is on one of the busiest streets in the city for nightlife.
SDLP councillor John Boyle said: “After multiple delays, it’s important that we see building work progress at this site as soon as possible.
“The current situation leaves a significant eye-sore in the heart of our city that sends the wrong message to visitors and local people alike and I welcome Clanmil’s efforts to drive this forward.”
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He added: “We are in the middle of a housing crisis and when finished these flats will provide much-needed homes for people aged 55 and over. We need to see many more developments like this progressed if we are to meet housing demand.
“In the interim, I would suggest looking at alternative solutions so that this site is not left in its current state. Consideration could be given to erecting a mesh with images of what the finished façade will look like.”
The skeletal building on the corner of Waterloo Place and Waterloo Street in Derry’s city centre. Picture Martin McKeown.
A planning application for the development was submitted in November 2021 and granted approval in February 2023.
Clanmil Housing will be the provider once the apartments are built.
A spokesperson for Clanmil Housing said: “Our former development partner for the Waterloo Street scheme, Active Maintenance Solutions Limited is in administration.
“To deliver these 19 much-needed new homes for people aged 55 and over, we have recently launched a tendering process to appoint a new development partner.
“We look forward to continuing with this city centre regeneration project in early 2025.”
The approved development, as shown on the decision letter, comprised a six-storey building, providing 19 apartments with ground floor access and ancillary storage.
There was also to be a change of use to a ground floor retail unit and revisions to layouts to form a bin store, stairwell and lift core, gas meter room and NIE (Northern Ireland Electricity) switch room.
The building was not to commence “until a programme of archaeological work (POW) has been prepared by a qualified archaeologist, submitted by the applicant and approved in writing by Derry City and Strabane District Council in consultation with Historic Environment Division, Department for Communities.”
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