Guildhall hosts public consultation for £45m Derry riverfront

Emerging vision unveiled for Derry’s £45m Central Riverfront

An update on the emerging vision for Derry’s £45m Central Riverfront Project will be provided at a consultation event in the Guildhall today (Wednesday, November 11).

Derry City and Strabane District Council – in collaboration with the Department of Infrastructure (DfI) – says it has been designing options for road layouts and public spaces as part of the proposals following a public information gathering event in February 2026.

“The purpose of that event was to gather feedback from local communities and businesses to help inform the design of the Central Riverfront Project.

"Ninety-three per cent of respondents in February supported the overall ambition of the Central Riverfront Project,” DC&SDC have stated.

An image representing the emerging vision (and not the proposals) for the Central Riverfront that is fully informed by the public and stakeholders following their input at the Information Gathering event in February.

Next week’s event is the latest phase in planning for the redevelopment of the city centre with feedback being sought to help inform the next stage of design development.

The ambitious multi-million pound project has the potential to completely transform Derry’s central riverfront from the Peace Bridge and Harbour Square along Queen’s Quay to the existing council offices.

Originally launched two years ago the proposals incorporate plans for new civic and commercial offices at the Peace Garden opposite the Guildhall and a new University Square at the Queen’s Quay Roundabout.

The overall aim of the City Deal project is to provide high quality public realm, improve active travel connectivity, prioritise public transport, promote economic vitality and promote sustainability and resilience.

A DC&SDC/DfI fly through of the Central Riverfront Project indicating the potential location of new civic offices.

Members of the public will have a chance to view the emerging design proposals in the Guildhall on Wednesday, November 11 from 10am to 8pm.

An online consultation will then go live until December 11. DC&SDC says it hopes to be in a position to officially apply for planning permission for its wide-ranging proposals by this time next year.

"We will consider your feedback on the Emerging Vision for the area.

A DC&SDC/DfI fly through illustrating the range of the proposed new Central Riverfront project.

Originally launched two years ago the proposals incorporate plans for new civic and commercial offices at the Peace Garden opposite the Guildhall and a new University Square at the Queen’s Quay Roundabout.

“We will then organise a further Public Consultation Event in Spring 2027 to present the Preferred Option. Following consideration of feedback on the Preferred Option, we intend to submit a planning application in Autumn 2027,” the Council states.

The images (above) have been extracted from a video which can be viewed in full at the event on Wednesday. These are not design proposals yet and the public are being consulted as part of a 3 stage consultation process that will inform the design; this is the second stage.

More information on the £45m project will be made available at the official consultation website: https://consultationspace.com/centralriverfrontproject/