The government department which will take over responsibility for the Ebrington site in Derry’s Waterside has said it will continue to develop the site as a ‘major events space’ for concerts such as MTV Crashes (pictured).
It comes after it emerged last year that the urban regeneration company, Ilex, who were responsible for the development of the site, would be wound up come March 31 this year.
The responsibility for the regeneration of Ebrington Square will return to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM).
That will become effective as of April this year after the resignation of the entire management team at Ilex.
It is envisaged responsibility for the site will eventually be transferred to Derry City and Strabane District Council by April 2017.
However, during the interim period up until council take over the site, OFMDFM said it would continue to work with ‘all parties in interested in the promotion of Ebrington Square as a major events space.
The comments came following an Assembly question from the Foyle DUP MLA, Gary Middleton, who had asked OFMDFM who would have responsibility for sourcing and managing major events such as the MTV Crashes event at the Ebrington site after the closure of Ilex.
The response from OFMDFM stated: “Since the opening of Ebrington Square in 2011 it has played host to many major events particularly during the City of Culture year.
“The plan is that responsibility for the site will move to Derry City and Strabane District Council by April 2017.
“In the interim, the Department will continue to liaise with the Council and all parties interested in the promotion of Ebrington Square as a major events space.
“This will ensure that the full potential of the site continues to be fully realised during this exciting phase of its ongoing development.”
The DUP MLA also asked First Minister and Deputy First Minister what plans they had for further investment at the Ebrington site.
In response, the OFMDFM said that early in 2015, it commissioned an independent review of the Ilex Urban Regeneration Company to determine if it remains the best model to take forward future development of Ebrington.
“The review found that while there has been some progress by Ilex, there has been insufficient focus on the development of Ebrington and recommended that the site be transferred to Derry City and Strabane District Council from 2017,” the response added.
“This approach has been accepted and the intention is for a future transfer of the site to the Council. “However, in the short term given the recent resignations of the entire senior management team of Ilex, we have decided that the development of Ebrington will be taken forward by the Department from April 2016.
“Ilex will continue to have responsibilities in respect of the site until 31 March 2016. A capital budget of £2.1m is available for this work within 2015/16.”
It concluded: “An Outline Planning application for the entire site is being considered by the Planning Service.
“We anticipate that this will provide approval for the Ebrington Development Framework which will facilitate future development on the site.”
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