Consultation launched on 'groundbreaking' future of Rosemount factory

A community consultation regarding the future of the Rosemount factory has been launched, which could lead to a ‘groundbreaking’ transformation of the area.

Glen Development Initiative (GDI) will lead the consultation on behalf of the other community groups, The Village Hub and Ballymagroarty Hazelbank Community Partnership, in which they will look to determine the needs within the area and to assess the viability of purchasing the Rosemount Factory.

This is part of the PEACEPLUS project, 'A Stitch in Time', which is a two-year project aims to explore various aspects of history and community within the Foyleside area of Derry, including the history of shirt factories, past and present residents, and the impact of the Troubles' 'Exodus' on the area.

Dermot O’Hara from the Glen Development Initiative said: “This is the launch of the consultation. We have produced a concept paper for it, and basically we have been working on this project of taking the Rosemount factory into community ownership, and we have been working on it for 10 to 12 years.

“We have had meetings with the owners of the factory, and they are saying to us in principle that it is a new concept for them and they would be happy enough to look at us taking over the factory, taking ownership of it, or working in partnership with them, so part of this consultation will explore those options as well, but we are asking people to feel free and welcome them to be part of this process. We want to hear people's opinions, what the needs of the community are, and we want people to be involved in it.”

People can contribute to the consultation process now until March 28 through one-to-one conversations with the community groups, completing an online consultation document, or by visiting the Ballymagroarty Hazelbank Community Partnership, The Village Hub, or the Glenview Community Centre on Thursday, March 6.

At the consultation launch—which is being funded through Derry City and Strabane District Council’s co-designed Peace Plus Initiative—eight zones of potential development for the Rosemount factory were highlighted: commercial and social enterprise, heritage, education and health, community development, social support, arts and culture, accommodation, and restaurant.

Mr O’Hara outlined each zone to the crowd and suggested how these could be implemented in the factory to benefit the community.

He said: “Education and health would be the social pillars for the community, and I would like to see further down the line a GP practice based in the factory, as this area here is an aging community and people aren’t as mobile, so it would be good to have a GP surgery in the area, and attached to that, you would want a pharmacy and other services such as a dental practice and consultation rooms for social workers or other health professionals.

“Our core element will be the community development, and for that we will be looking at the provision of community services, meeting rooms, training areas, activity spaces, and welfare advice.”

The transformation of the factory into a community hub with services directed to the people living in that area was fully supported by one individual.

She said: “If you had a GP practice in a community building, along with community projects, then that would be groundbreaking, with a community coalition. We would be the first to do that in the Foyleside, and I think that is exciting.”

However, another woman at the meeting questioned the rumours surrounding the area that the factory would be used for flats or houses with multiple occupants (HMO).

Prior to the meeting, the GDI handed out leaflets to highlight the HMO situation in the area, with 147 of the 250 properties registered as HMOs in Derry being located in the Rosemount area.

Mr O’Hara said: “We are in there for quality of life in this area, for everybody, and so if there are situations that are having an adverse effect on our community, we can deal with it.”

He later said that because they are working in partnership with the university, they would have a voice to ensure the residents would not be adversely affected if the factory was used for student accommodation as the Ulster University at Magee looks to expand, or that if they owned or were in partnership with the owners of the factory, then they could also ensure residents were not negatively impacted by the site being developed into accommodation.

The mayor of the Derry City and Strabane District Council was in attendance at the consultation launch, and she was in full support of it.

Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr said: “It is really important we get involved.

“I think hearing from you and Amanda (McDermott) and how this factory has been a backbone for Foyleside DEA regeneration, it is a place of hard work, industry, and pride.

“By now there are so many opportunities we have already had within the eight zones that we could help to open up the community service in a dynamic way, but we know how desperately that is needed here. It is no secret that we really need to regenerate this Foyleside area, but for me, I look at it in a different way. The Rosemount factory can be the catalyst for the community and jobs; it could be the catalyst for keeping our young people here rather than leaving.

“It is not just about social connectivity but the economic wealth of the area, and that is the opportunity we have to take and go at them the way we can. I think it is so important we get behind it, the whole project, and that is why we need the voices of the community to help shape it towards what you want to see to benefit this generation but also the future generation.”