Shop fronts in Derry’s commercial centres are to get a lift with funding totalling £223,000.
Duke Street.
The funding will be used to carry out shop front improvement works on buildings and will compliment an earlier Northern Ireland Executive investment of £220,000 on revitalisation works in the William Street, Castle Street and Duke Street areas of the city.
Minister McCausland said Derry, like many other cities, was facing the challenge to remain vibrant and viable in the current economic climate and he was “very pleased” to announce the funding to deliver further regeneration within the city’s commercial areas.
He added: “I am very keen to build upon the success of earlier projects delivered by my Department which have had a positive impact for the businesses which benefitted.”
Mr McCausland said the investment would help to improve the appearance of shop fronts in these three city centre locations making them more attractive to residents and tourists alike.”
The Minister said the ReStore projects would further contribute towards the strengthening of the existing retail provision and would continue to assist in promoting Derry as a tourist destination to attract both visitors and investors.
Mayor of the city, Cllr Martin Reilly said the ReStore project was an important city centre regeneration scheme that would significantly improve the external façades of commercial premises located along “key streetscapes.”
He added: “This project compliments the work undertaken by Council as part of the recent completed Dereliction Improvement Scheme and also the ongoing heritage regeneration projects being delivered by the Walled City Partnership. Council is delighted to be involved in this partnership arrangement alongside DSD’s North West Development Office and City Centre Initiative.”
The project is be delivered in partnership with the Derry City Council and the City Centre Initiative.
Jim Roddy, City Centre Initiative manager said the group was delighted to continue to work with its partners to deliver the ReStore project.
He added: “Over the last number of years the project has proved invaluable by improving the streetscape of the city centre. It has also complimented the numerous other regeneration projects which have and are currently being delivered on behalf of the city.”
The works are scheduled to commence this month and completed by 31 March next year.
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