Progress on St Columb's Park plans

EXCITING plans to re-develop St Columb's Park House and transform it into a state-of-the-art conference centre in the heart of a new Waterside city centre have taken a major step forward with the invitation of tenders for the project.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Feb 2010, 09:25 BST
Updated 19th Feb 2010, 15:13 BST

Director Brian Dougherty said the scheme is an integral part of the regeneration of the Waterside area and sees it very much in connection with plans to develop the Waterside Greenway, the Peace Bridge and ILEX's Ebrington site.

"We see this in the context of the wider plans for the Waterside" said Mr Dougherty. "And we have already been working with other organisations and Derry City Council on facilities like the new Play Park.

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"That's already brought more traffic into the site and with the new Peace Bridge it will bring us practically into the city centre," he said.

"The re-generation is going to include a community cafeteria open to the public and new accommodation and office space."

The development will include extended conference provision, increased bed spaces, dining space and additional office accommodation and will see the Listed Building in the picturesque Londonderry park sensitively restored and redecorated.

It is anticipated a successful design team will be appointed in May 2010, with construction work commencing in January 2011 and completing in October 2011. Civic leaders believe the proposals for St Columb's Park House will complement the wider regeneration of the Waterside.

Confident

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Mr Dougherty said he was confident the 759,815 project - majority funded by the International Fund for Ireland (650,000) with the remainder from the Department of Social Development (109,815) - would proceed unhindered.

And in a climate where it is anticipated community and voluntary sector funding will be significantly reduced in the coming years he said he hoped the new and improved St Columb's Park House would allow the group to bring in additional independent income.

The proposed development will increase conference capacity from 90 to 120, bed space from 40 to 52, whilst a new dining space and caf will bring seating up from 90 to 120. Offices for staff and volunteers will rise from 9 to 10 allowing staff currently based in a portable cabin move to the manor itself.

"It's a really quiet site despite being in the heart of the city, it's almost rural really," explained Mr Dougherty. He said he believed this will make the centre an attractive alternative for events organisers looking to book a conference suite for their organisations.

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He said he hoped the new facilities can be tied in with the potential development of a North West Regional Sports Campus within St Columb's Park and that visiting sports organisations may be able to avail of new accommodation space there.

A Derry City Council spokesperson said: "The redevelopment of St Columb's Park House will complement Council's other regeneration projects, including the Waterside Greenway, the St Columb's Park Play Environment and the potential development of a North West Regional Sports Campus within the park.

"These regeneration proposals contribute significantly to the wider regeneration of the Waterside area of the city."

The Council has invited tenders from a Conservation Architect led, multi-disciplinary team of specialist consultancy services to take forward the extension and refurbishment of St Columb's Park House. The closing date is noon on Friday, March 26, 2010.