A multi-million pound refurbishment is being planned for an apartment complex in Derry which has been plagued by anti-social behaviour.
Details of the plans for a major revamp of the Rock Mills complex (pictured) on Strand Road emerged this week, after the owners of the building, Choice Housing, revealed they intended to make a number of major improvements.
Choice Housing said it aimed to ‘remodel, revitalise and transform’ the existing housing facilities within the complex, with a tender having now been issued for the work.
Almost half of the current accommodation within Rock Mills is occupied by Choice Housing tenants.
However, in recent years, residents have raised concerns over the level of anti-social behaviour within the comlex.
In its tender document, Choice House says the ‘resultant remodelled and improved scheme’ will provide a total of 94 ‘new’ dwellings for allocation at Rock Mills.
It adds the ‘vast majority’ of its 36 tenants have expressed their desire to remain within the scheme, following on from completion of all re-improvement works on site.
In a statement about the proposals, Choice Housing said it hoped the planned refurbishment would not only benefit its own tenants and other people living in Rock Mills, but the surrounding community.
“The proposed multi-million pound investment by Choice will include comprehensive refurbishment works to all internal and external elements, as well as significant in-curtilage environmental improvements,” Choice Housing said.
It added the improvements, while ‘ultimately benefitting’ Choice Housing tenants and ‘prospective tenants’, would also benefit the ‘immediate Strand Road community’.
The plans for the Rock Mills upgrade will now go on display at a public information event to held at the The Metropole, Bridge Street on Friday next, April 15 between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.
The format of the event will be a drop-in information session at which interested parties can call in and discuss the plans.
“Choice Housing would welcome any comments from local people with an interest in these proposed improvement works and our staff will be available to respond to any queries in respect of the project,” the Choice Housing statement added.
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