Social Development Minister, John Spellar has launched a new report into improving urban design and higher quality architecture within the city centre of Londonderry.

The study, 'Heart of the City - Integrated Urban Design Study', puts forward strategic proposals for key riverside sites including Ebrington Barracks, Fort George and the Queen’s Quay area as well as recommending improvements to transportation, design quality and public spaces.

The four chief aims of the strategy are:

• the physical transformation of the city centre to reflect its economic status and profile as a regional hub within the island
• the integration of the centre as a whole, encouraging all citizens to have a sense of pride in, and move safely within it
• the integration of the city centre with its river following the severance caused by road developments, car parking and development along the riversides
• the reinforcement and enhancement of urban character and identity

Commenting on the report, the Minister said: "The Heart of the City proposals will take the scale and ambition of urban regeneration in this city to another level. Londonderry has often set the standards for others to follow and is now the first city in Northern Ireland to have devised an urban design strategy for its entire central area.”

Commissioned by the North West Development Office, the report was written by urban design consultants W S Atkins.

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