Old Goverment Training Centre at Maydown in Derry identified for disposal next year

Economy Minister Diane Dodds confirmed the premises were among eight higher education assets in the north that were no longer needed.

She said the Department for Economy did not hold any property or lands that were currently surplus to requirements itself, however, its Arm’s Length Bodies, which include the North West Regional College, have earmarked older centres and plots.

The minister indicated that the Maydown centre was identified for disposal by NWRC in 2021/22.

Further capital investment by the deparment is likely to result in the disposal of more and more Further Education assets over the next several years, said Mrs. Dodds.

“There are a number of additional assets across the Further Education ((FE) Estate which will become surplus to requirements over the next few years following my Department’s major capital investment to provide six new, state of the art campuses. The FE Capital Projects Team regularly review, in consultation with the relevant College and the Department’s Financial Management Branch, the surplus assets and proposed disposal timelines to ensure a structured and consistent approach is maintained,” she stated.

A ‘major Government Training Centre’ was first established at Maydown in the 1960s and was described by the old Stormont Government of James Chichester-Clark in 1969 as ‘vital to the area’s future industrial development needs”.