Plans for the part demolition and restoration of the old Convert of Mercy in Pump Street approved
Permission has ben granted for the partial demolition of the former Convent of Mercy on Pump Street, Derry City and Strabane District Council has confirmed.
Mayor and Sinn Féin councillor, Grace Uí Niallais, assured members that shipping containers at Pump Street will soon be removed and the street can be fully reopened for the first time in almost a year.
Pump street in Derry City Centre has remained partially closed, with shipping containers placed near the Convent of Mercy building, since the listed building was damaged during Storm Amy last October.
The partial closure has led to vastly reduced footfall at businesses, while recent reports that part of the building’s roof has collapsed has led to concern about a complete collapse.
During September’s council meeting, Mayor Grace Uí Niallais confirmed that as of the day of the meeting (Wednesday, September 23), Listed Building Consent had been granted for the ‘partial demolition of the unsafe structure at Pump Street’.
She added: “Consent has been granted in accordance with council’s LDP (Local Development Plan) strategy following consultation with the Historic Environment Division, consideration of supporting information and engineering reports submitted on behalf of the landowner, and third party representation submitted during the planning process.”
Mayor Uí Niallais said she spoke to the owners before the meeting and they will be in contact with businesses on Friday morning to ‘explain their timeline for the part demolition and the restoration’ of the building.
“We will hopefully be looking at the containers coming down very soon for that remedial piece of work to be done,” she added. “After that it will be the restoration, which will be take a longer bit of time.”
“But I think anybody who has been in contact with businesses or residents will be really happy to hear this news today, because the removal of those containers will help to open up Pump Street again.”
DUP Alderman Niree McMorris thanked Mayor Uí Niallais for working ‘tirelessly’ with traders and owners to open the street, while People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin said council must learn from the closure.
Pump Street had to be closed last October when the he historic Convent of Mercy building was damaged during Storm Amy.