The move follows Tuesday afternoon’s Governance and Strategic Planning (GSP) Committee meeting, during which councillors were told DCFC had enquired about acquiring land at Templemore for the development of a training facility and the establishment of a youth academy.
Council and DCFC will now work towards the “development and presentation of a subsequent paper setting out plans, process and timeframes for consideration”.
Supporting the move, Ballyarnett SDLP councillor Brian Tierney said the DCFC proposal would possibly enhance Council’s “plans and aspirations for Templemore”.
He added: “As someone who represents that area, I think it is a very exciting opportunity for our community.
“But I think it is a very exciting opportunity for DCFC as well. DCFC is a huge club across Ireland and it is growing in terms of their fan base locally. The Academy is thriving and having the facilities available to them to nurture the talent that is about the North West is vital and having that at Templemore and for me having that at Ballyarnett is a major factor.”
Cllr Sandra Duffy (Sinn Féin) who also represents the Ballyarnett area, described DCFC’s request as “exciting”.
“Templemore is a key strategic project for Council but I think this complements that in terms of our ambitions around sporting excellence throughout the city and district.
“I think for the local area of Ballyarnett it also sits very clearly within our own ambitions for the area. I find the DCFC request at this time very exciting and I think we should do everything we can to support Derry City.
“We have seen the impact the club’s success has had on us as a city and how it energises us and motivates the city. We have a huge amount of talent and what we can do to enhance that talent by working along with DCFC at this point, we should be doing everything we can,” said Cllr Duffy.
Alderman Derek Hussey (UUP) congratulated DCFC on the proposal.
He added: “I totally endorse that we would work with the club in helping it achieve the facilities that would be necessary for the further development of their academy.
“Any progressive club has to have a successful academy working in the background and it won’t just be of benefit to DCFC, the products of that academy will find themselves not just going to Derry City but dispersing to many clubs throughout our area, therefor the benefit of that facility will be spread and that is to be welcomed.
“Not to mention those of higher quality who will find themselves moving across the water or to Europe to play football,” said Ald Hussey.
Council has previously prepared plans for the extensive redevelopment of the Templemore site for leisure purposes.
However, councillors were told “it may be possible to facilitate a development by DCFC at the Templemore site without adversely impacting Council’s plans for its own development at the site”.
Derry City and Strabane District Council owns the lands at Templemore on a long lease of 999 years from November 1, 1979.
The title is subject to a restrictive covenant that states that the land must be used for “the purposes of constructing and erecting thereon playing fields and other sports and recreational facilities for the enjoyment of the public and for no other purposes.”
Any development at the site by DCFC may require an amendment of this covenant.
Under the 1972 Local Government Act Council can only dispose of land “at the best price, or for the best rent, or otherwise on the best terms that can reasonably be obtained.”
Councillors at the GSP meeting were advised the disposal of Council land “should be on a transparent basis that meets Council’s strategic objectives”.
Council could decide to sell the land at Templemore Sports Complex on the external market where the purpose is to deliver on policy objectives contained in Council’s strategic plans such as its Community Plan.
Disposal on the external market may be by way of an open market process or, in certain very limited circumstances, direct engagement with a single organisation.
Before determining the most appropriate disposal process councillors were advised, Council would need to engage with DCFC to better understand the needs of the club, the proposal for the site, and how this might align with Council’s strategic objectives for the site and the Council area in its entirety.
Council’s Pitches Strategy has identified a need for increased provision of both grass and artificial pitches to cope with growing demand.
Following a previous review of the plans for Templemore, it was noted that there was still scope for the five to six new pitches on the site as part of the redevelopment of the existing facilities - these would be a combination of both 3G and grass surfaces.
It was also brought to the attention of councillors that demand for pitches currently exceeds supply within the Council area.
The report on the matter stated: “This demand has increased significantly in recent years owing to growth of women’s soccer.
“DCFC, by relocating bookings to their own facilities, could potentially free up 20 to 25 hours of pitch time which could be made available to other clubs and organisations.
“Any redevelopment by DCFC would be a separate entity. Separate entrances and car parking would be required, and the site would exist independently of the Templemore redevelopment.
“The options being proposed by DCFC will be reviewed by Officers. As the land in question is extensive, it is likely that a range of options can be developed without compromising the ambitions of the proposals for the Templemore redevelopment.”
