Approval has been given for £1.3 million of funding for the redevelopment of Harbour Square and factory girls artwork in Derry.
In March a piece of artwork to remember the local shirt factory workers was approved by Derry City and Strabane District Council’s planning committee.
The committee approved public realm works which will transform the area taking in Harbour Square.
New artwork honouring factory workers of the city will be housed there.
The funding has now been approved by the the Department for Communities (DfC).
A factory girls sculpture was shelved back in 2018 and plans for a new artwork were announced in 2020.
Speaking to BBC’s The North West Today programme on Radio Foyle, Sinn Féin councillor Sandra Duffy said the funding will be “transformative” for the Harbour Square area.
“Through City Deal funding, we have a huge redevelopment plan for our riverfront so the Harbour Square will be the opening between the historic walled city and that lively riverfront,” Ms Duffy told the show.
She said the artwork would be a fitting tribute to the hard-working women from Donegal, Tyrone and Derry who worked in those factories and helped build the city.
The former Mayor of Derry and Strabane said the artwork would be produced by the artist in conjunction with former factory girls.
“A group of factory girls are working on this to ensure everyone is incorporated and that we have something that everyone is happy with,” she said.
Councillor Duffy added that the artwork and the redevelopment work is anticipated to be completed by Spring 2024.
