THE Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Michaela Boyle, today welcomed news that funding has been approved by the Department for Communities for a new community centre in Galliagh.
The project will cost £1.5m and today £0.7 million has been confirmed by the department for the project which will offer state of the art new facilities and a shared space for the local community.
Council and other funders have pledged the remaining balance of funds for the facility.
It is the second project to benefit from departmental funding this week, with £1 million pledged to deliver a new £2.4m community centre in the neighbouring Shantallow area.
£1.4m has already been channelled into the project by Council and other funders.
Welcoming the announcement, Mayor Boyle said the centres would offer vital resources in one of the city’s largest neighbourhood renewal areas.
“I am delighted to see the Department offering their support to these much needed facilities,” she declared.
“Council is committed to providing inclusive and welcoming shared spaces that are fit for purpose and can meet the needs of a wide range of user groups in these community areas.
“The new centres will become vibrant and busy community hubs, facilitating new activities and the delivery of vital services within Shantallow and Galliagh.
“There are great ambitions for the transformation of the city’s community areas set out in the Local Community Plans which are currently being finalised, and we need the infrastructure and facilities in place to realise these aspirations.
“I really look forward to seeing the plans move now to the next stage as quickly as possible.”
The Community Centre in Galliagh will be based at Fairview Road and will provide single story accommodation over 860 sq ft.
The new facility is just one of a number of community projects that form part of Council’s wider capital investment programme aimed at transforming local communities and being delivered as part of the Strategic Growth Plan for Derry and Strabane.
The projects being taken forward were identified as part of a review of community centre provision right across the City and District.
Marking the official announcement today, Sharon McCullagh, Acting Deputy Director of Neighbourhood Renewal, is delighted to confirm funding of £1.7m has been made available from the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund to contribute to the delivery of two community centres in the Outer North Neighbourhood Renewal Area.
“I am delighted to confirm that the extensive work that has been completed in partnership with Council and the local community in respect of both Shantallow and Galliagh community centres has now progressed to reality.
“The Department for Communities through the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment fund has committed support of £1m to Shantallow Community Centre and £0.7m to Galliagh Community Centre.
“Both these projects will significantly improve the community infrastructure and space in the Outer North Neighbourhood Renewal Area facilitating the continuation of service delivery and improving the environment where these will be delivered to residents of the area.
“I really look forward to seeing the development of the projects on the ground.”
Both community centre projects can now move to the next phase with work expected to begin on site in the autumn.
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