Derry city centre housing development on hold

The original development partner of Clanmil Housing Association, the organisation responsible for a proposed city centre housing complex, has gone into administration, Derry News has learned.

The site of the housing complex is at the foot of Waterloo Street, leading to Waterloo Place. It backs onto Derry’s iconic City Walls, with Paolos Pizza and Rockets Fast Food situated below it.

The “derelict building site” has been described as a “gaping hole that makes the whole area look like a pig sty”.

This “blight” on the city centre landscape has drawn calls for the developer and planners to “get it together and develop the site” to completion.

Speaking to Derry News, local Aontú representative Sean MacCearáin hit out at the current state of the “landmark” building.

Mr MacCearáin said: “This landmark building has been derelict and left in a terrible state for well over a year.

“I am now calling on planners and the developer to ‘get it together’ and develop the site or at least address the run-down aesthetic in a key city centre street.

“This building was due to be converted into housing for older people by Clanmil Housing Association, yet it has stood as an empty shell now for some time.

“We understand, given its proximity to the City Walls, archaeological analysis of the back of the building area needs to be inspected, but that is no reason for the building to be in its current state.”

The original planning application for the site was lodged in 2021.

Mr MacCearáin said the delay in developing the site was “unacceptable”.

He said: “Aontú are demanding that some aesthetic remedy be put in place to the frame of the building facing into Waterloo Street, one of the busiest streets in the city for tourists and locals alike. 

“Plenty of local businesses in this area have invested in their exteriors, yet when walking towards Waterloo Street from William Street that gaping hole makes the area look like a pig sty. We want to see action immediately.”

Speaking to Derry News, a spokesperson from Clanmil Housing said: “Our former development partner for the Waterloo Street scheme is in administration and we are working to secure a new partner to deliver these 19 much needed new homes for people aged 55 and over.

“This ‘living over the shops’ initiative will contribute to the regeneration of the city centre and provide future residents with homes conveniently located close to a range of amenities.

“As part of this process, we are exploring options to improve the appearance of the site throughout the construction period,.”

Clanmil Developments Limited was granted planning permission for the site in February 2023.

The approved development, as shown on the decision letter, comprised a six-storey building, providing 19 apartments with ground floor access and ancillary storage.

An amendment to the original planning application was also approved. It consisted of a change of use to a ground floor retail unit and “revisions to layouts to form bin store, stairwell / lift core, gas meter room and NIE (Northern Ireland Electricity) switch room [and] first floor revisions to layout to form ancillary office accommodation”.

In terms of elevations “revisions to fenestration and finishes” were also approved.

The granting of planning permission was conditional on the developers exercising due process on the site regarding Derry’s rich archaeological heritage.

Effectively building cannot 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”.

The delay in beginning the Waterloo Street development has resulted from concerns raised by the Historic Environment Division, which is housed within the Department for Communities and “records, conserves and promotes” the North’s historic environment. 

In May 2023, Gahan and Long, Archaeological Services, submitted its proposed Archaeological Programme of Works to the Historic Environment Division, on behalf of the developer. 

In June 2023, Historic Environment Division informed  the developer it had “reviewed the submitted archaeological programme of works”. 

It added: “We would not be in a position to agree the programme of works until issues regarding the status and protection of the historic Derry's Walls (LDY 014:033) are addressed.”

However, in October 2023, Historic Environment Division informed the developer it had “reviewed” the submitted amended archaeological programme of works.

It added: “We note the changes and agree with the archaeological mitigation strategy proposed and are content for this to proceed to archaeological licensing.”

In December 2023, Derry City Council told the developer there was one outstanding condition on the granting of planning approval.

It said: “Condition 10 still applies. It will not be fully discharged until the programme of works has been implemented on site by a licensed archaeologist, and a final report detailing the results of the archaeological investigation has been submitted to and approved by Council in consultation with Historic Environment Division.

“The applicant/agent’s archaeological consultant may proceed to apply for an archaeological excavation licence and implement the archaeological mitigation strategy.

“Historic Environment Division will be consulted when the final excavation report on archaeological site works has been submitted to the local planning authority.”