Talks over future of Boom Hall

A spokesperson for Derry & Strabane Council told the Journal a number of new proposals were currently at “an early concept stage,” with plans to develop these further over the coming months.

The derelict stately home and surrounding area has been an important site dating back to medieval times.

The area was included in a city-wide tourism initiative last year and walking and cycle pathways have been extended down through the area.

Excavations were carried out in 2013, revealing evidence of battles around the time the boom was laid across the Foyle during the Siege of Derry. The Catholic Jacobite army is known to have based itself in this area.

The Boom Hall area’s history stretches back to the time of the Columban Monastery in the city and for centuries it was owned by the Catholic Abbey of Derry.

The grounds has also been at the centre of several ghost stories.

A Council spokesperson said representatives were “actively engaging with a number of potential stakeholders who are currently developing proposals to regenerate the Boom Hall Estate”.

She said: “The proposals are at an early concept stage and the stakeholders have been working to develop these in further detail over the past months. Once these concept proposals have been completed, it is the intention to present an update report to Council’s Environment & Regeneration Committee for detailed consideration and to outline suggested next steps.”

She added that any proposed regeneration will “acknowledge the historical, built and natural heritage significance of the Estate”.