Revealed: New owners of Derry shopping centre say they have plans to 'enhance' the facility

The new owners of a Derry shopping centre have said they hope to ‘enhance’ it. The Derry News has learned that the Northside Shopping Centre in Shantallow has been acquired by an investment company after it was placed on the market earlier this year. The commercial property consultancy firm O’Connor Kennedy Turtle (OKT) has been appointed to act as the letting agent for the new owners. Speaking to the Derry News, Henry Taggart, an associate at OKT, said that the new owners have ‘long-term’ plans for the centre. He said they were very keen to work hand in hand with all existing tenants at the centre, which is anchored by the popular SuperValu store. Mr Taggart said they will be seeking to fill remaining vacant units over the incoming months. He added that despite plans for the North West Regional College (NWRC) to leave Northside in the coming months, they were working with the new owners and interested parties to see that unit let again ‘very soon’. “The new owners are looking at this on a long-term basis, they’re very happy with the property and they’re now looking at plans to improve Northside both internally and externally,” he said. “The first step will be securing new tenants for two vacant units, one office and one retail, and that’s looking very promising. “In addition to that, they’ll be working with existing tenants with a view to enhancing the centre for the benefit of customers and the tenants.” Mr Taggart added: “The centre is doing very well, it has a Post Office, a café and a number of busy retail units, it’s a thriving community hub. “SuperValu are obviously an excellent anchor tenant, who are a great footfall generator for the centre as a whole. “The time is right now for the centre to progress forward into the next phase of its success building on the ethos and origins of its development and this is something that the new ownership are keen to work consistently upon to achieve.” The Derry News can also reveal that the North West Regional College will be leaving the centre once its lease agreement runs out on August 31. A NWRC spokesperson said that despite leaving the centre, it will ‘continue to provide learning opportunities for adult learners in the area’. “North West Regional College can confirm its lease agreement for premises at the Northside Centre will cease on August 31, 2016. “However, we will continue to provide learning opportunities for adult learners in the area in co-operation with social partners and our learning programmes will continue to be delivered and developed at relevant community venues and schools within the area. “With over eighty social partners throughout the Limavady, Strabane and Derry areas, North West Regional College is committed to delivering doorstop learning within communities.” The spokesperson added: “Through our Community Education programmes the college is actively involved in strengthening links with other statutory bodies and community partners to improve the learning provision and thus educational attainment of all adult learners within the North West region, including the Greater Shantallow Area.”