OUTLINE planning permission has been granted for a major residential development in Derry which could create up to 3,500 homes.
Members of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s planning committee on Wednesday approved outline planning permission for the development of land west of the Buncrana Road between Whitehouse Road and Benview Estate, Coshquin in Derry. The 118 hectare project was first mooted back in 2003 and the residential development includes a mix of housing, local community facilities, open space, cycle / pedestrian routes and vehicular access, a primary school, drainage and other infrastructure.
The application was made by Pragma Planning and Development Consultants on behalf of Coredale Management and the site has been identified as H2 Zone in the Derry Area Plan.
Development plans are made up of a number of elements including the housing development where the entire zoning could accommodate up to 3,500 mixed housing homes, phase one accounting for 1,650 and phase two, 1,850 homes.
While the remaining land within the zoning is not part of the application proposal, members were told how the land could be comprehensively developed as part of the entire zoning.
The proposed development plan also includes access roads, cycle and pedestrian routes, open spaces, a church, primary school, retail provision, crèche and day care facilities and a spine road network and associated infrastructural works.
Local councillor Dan Kelly from the planning committee said the importance of the application for the area could not be overemphasised.
“This is a significant boost for the Buncrana Road area of the city and is a really good news story for the entire north west region. Not only will it help address the housing issue but it will also provide a much needed boost to the local economy in terms of construction jobs.
