The go-ahead has been given for a major redevelopment of Derry’s Ebrington barracks site to include office and residential accommodation.
Derry city and Strabane district council’s planning committee approved two applications on Wednesday.
Dating back to the Napoleonic war period, Ebrington was first used as a naval base before being taken over by the British army during the Troubles.
The 29-acre site was eventually handed over for civic development. Linked to Derry city centre via the Peace Bridge, it is now home to Ebrington Square, a hotel, restaurants and other buildings. A new Derry maritime museum is also to be built there.
The redevelopment will include commercial offices, a multi-storey car park, residential units, adjacent to Limavady Road and a new public square.
Chairman of the council planning committee Sean Mooney described the plans as a significant step forward in the regeneration of Ebrington. He said an “impressive” array of businesses was already in place.
“This work will entirely transform the upper area of the site and complement the extensive work that has already been carried out on the main Ebrington square and surrounding buildings,” Mr Mooney said.
The SDLP councillor said the development would be the “final pieces of the jigsaw”.
“The Ebrington site is of major strategic important to the city and district and these are very exciting times,” Mr Mooney said.
