Work is set to commence on Waterside Shared Village Project

The then Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie at the announcement that the old Department for Social Development was to acquire and oversee redevelopment and regeneration of the former Clondermot School. Included, are the then Mayor of Derry, Councillor Gerard Diver, (the late) Dr James Mehaffey, former Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, and the then Foyle MP Mark Durkan.

The Waterside Shared Village project which is being led by Derry City and Strabane District Council supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Council, along with its community partners at Irish Street Youth & Community Association and Hillcrest Community Trust, have been awarded €8,057,292.72 to develop the Waterside Shared Village, which will become an iconic and transformative shared space in the interface area between Irish Street and Top of the Hill.

The project will include a state of the art community building and sports complex and aims to build trust and reconciliation between the two communities by creating a safe place for residents to come together to engage in activities. The facility will offer extensive new shared space including a hall that can be transformed into four meeting or training rooms; a community kitchen; office space and a suite of sports changing rooms.

The area around the community hub will comprise a 3G and grass pitch, a cricket training area and tennis courts.

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Brian Tierney, welcomed news that work is about to commence in the area, stressing that the development will have a major impact on the positive development of the Irish Street and Top of the Hill areas.

“The Waterside Shared Village project is of major significance in terms of community development in the Waterside area.

“It will provide a safe, accessible shared space which will enhance greater levels of cross community contact, promoting inclusion through interaction with people from different religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

“I am delighted to see work progressing well on this project, and I look forward to seeing construction now begin on the ground in the coming days.

“I want to thank all those who have worked so hard to bring the plans to this point.”

Match-funding for the project has been provided by the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland.

Work on the Waterside Shared Village Project is expected to be completed by Summer 2022.