Contractors appointed for 'transformative' Derg Active project

A MULTI-million pound plan to regenerate Castlederg has reached another milestone with the appointment of a number of contractors to deliver the green infrastructure element of the development.

The Derg Active project is an integrated economic, health and wellbeing initiative incorporating infrastructure at a number of key sites in the town to promote and encourage more active lifestyles.

The project is one of three major strategic developments to benefit from an overall £16m funding pot secured by Derry City and Strabane District Council from the UK government’s Levelling Up Fund in 2021.

£6.5m of the Derg Active project is funded though the Levelling Up Fund and council, with £5,823,090 secured by council as part of a wider Levelling Up package, to create a high-quality public realm space at the Diamond in the centre of the town, new play provision and lighting at the Castle site and enhanced greenway connectivity at Dergview FC.

In the latest development phase Lowry Building and Civil Engineering have been appointed to deliver the public realm space at the Diamond and Gibson Brothers appointed to deliver the new play provision and greenway connectivity at the Castle and Dergview FC.

Welcoming the appointments, Mayor of Derry and Strabane, councillor Patricia Logue, said it was encouraging to see the project making further progress.

“I am delighted to be able to confirm these new appointments, and I want to acknowledge the work that has gone into reaching this stage of the project,” she said.

"This is an ambitious and transformative development for the Castlederg area and much needed investment in our rural settlements.

“The green infrastructure element is particularly important due to the wide-ranging benefits it will bring to the community in terms of overall health and wellbeing.”

Works are set to commence in the spring and will be completed by March 2025.

The planning process is already well underway for the delivery of the 3G multi-sport Pitch at Mitchell Park, and work will begin later this year.

Director of Health and Communities with the local authority, Karen McFarland, added: “This is another positive step in this much anticipated development in the Castlederg area.

"I want to thank the officer team for keeping up the momentum behind this major project.

“I also want to acknowledge the important contribution by local steering groups of community representatives and elected members who have played a key role in the design of these projects.

"I look forward to seeing the work now as it progresses to the next phase of delivery.”

Local Sinn Féin councillor, Ruairí McHugh, said the project will be transformative for the Derg area.

“I welcome confirmation that contractors have now been appointed to undertake the green infrastructure element of the transformative project for Castlederg," he commented.

“The green infrastructure element will deliver wide-ranging benefits to the community in terms of overall health and wellbeing.”

“I am delighted that this project is coming to fruition after sustained lobbying within council and many subsequent meetings to secure regeneration projects for the town."