Apartment complex planned for landmark Derry site

Plans have been put forward for an apartment complex on one of Derry’s landmark development sites.

Four years ago, the historic Hamilton’s factory at John Street was demolished because there were fears that the building could collapse.

Since then, the site at the cityside end of the Craigavon Bridge has been unused.

However. It has emerged a proposal has been forward to build a new apartment complex on the site.

The complex would involve a total of 44 apartments, 24 two-bedroom flats and 20 one-bedroom apartments.

The company behind the proposal is Derry-based Elagh Developments Ltd.

They have lodged a planning application for the apartment complex with Derry City and Strabane District Council who are now responsible for planning decisions following the Review of Public Administration in Northern Ireland.

News of the plans for the apartment complex will be welcomed by those who have calling for development on the John Street site.

As well as the Hamilton’s factory, which had stood for more than 150 years, the former Tillie and Henderson factory at the cityside end of Craigavon Bridge has also been demolished in recent years.

Planning permission has been granted for an hotel on the Tillie and Henderson site but no building work has begun and the the site remains empty.

The two former factory sites are seen as key development sites for Derry given their prominent location at the entrance to the cityside end of the bridge.

There was anger among heritage groups in January 2012 when the decision was taken to demolish the Hamilton’s factory building.

The owners of the building had sought planning permission to knock it down in 2011.

However, the application was refused because the applicant did not meet planning regulations of having a proposal to redevelop the site.

However, on January 6, 2012, the Department of the Environment (DoE), which was then responsible for planning issues, was sent a letter informing them that an internal wall in the Hamilton’s building had collapsed resulting in the destabalization of the building.

The letter was accompanied by a structural engineer's report confirming the dangerous state of the building and recommending its demolition in the interests of public safety.

At the request of the DoE, the Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) carried out an inspection of the building in association with an engineer from Derry City Council on January 11.

CPD representatives confirmed the dangerous state of the building and recommended that it should be removed at the earliest opportunity.

As a result, the building was knocked down overnight on January 12, 2012.

Speaking at the time, the then Environment Minister Alex Attwood said: “No-one likes to see an old building, especially one which was part of the fabric and rich heritage of Derry go.

“But we have no real choice here. While I recognise that this is a building in a conservation area, the safety of the public and the ability of the public to go about their business is paramount.”

The proposed new apartment complex on the Hamilton site has been designed by Mc Girr Architects Ltd.

In a report submitted as part of the planning application, they say that the proposed development would be a ‘dynamic visual statement’ at a ‘key entry point’ to Derry.

“The site was occupied by a derelict factory building and has presented a number of design opportunities and challenges,” the report states.

“The significance of its setting at a key entry point to the city, overlooking the River Foyle, has demanded a high quality design solution.

“As recognised in the ‘Riverside Strategy’, there is a need to fully utilise under-used land for the economic and environmental benefit of the city, and to achieve good urban design, thus improving the image of the city.

“This proposal respects and utlilises the city’s important industrial heritage and will bring back residents and street-life to arguably the most derelict and under-utilised part of Derry city’s commercial core.”