Major Derry~Londonderry construction project to create 750 jobs

Major Derry~Londonderry construction project to create 750 jobs: A major construction project in Londonderry will see the creation of around 750 direct and indirect jobs over the next three years. Braidwater is the company behind the £60m investment, which will go toward building over 400 houses. Those houses will be built in the Birch Hill Belt Road and Skeoge areas of the city. They are set for completion in 2020. It forms part of a wider £300m investment plan in the north-west by Braidwater.

Joe McGinnis, Managing Director of Braidwater, said: “We plan to offer homes of distinction, designed to enhance lifestyles by creating places of respite and community. We are planning communities while responding to existing neighbourhoods and connecting these through crafted open spaces. “For every £1 spent in construction £2.84 will be generated in the local economy. This will support a strong local supply chain maintained and grown since the recession, alongside the trickle-down economic effect for services, suppliers etc generated through local spending when new homes are occupied.

“These projects and additional long term projects will deliver significant benefits to the local economy including developer led contributions to roads improvements, public transport, play parks, neighbourhood centres, landscape maintenance in conjunction with the Council, commercial and retail areas and schools.

“This will give the ability for the district to maintain a competitive and affordable housing market in the long term, providing communities and economic activity that will leave a lasting legacy.”

Laura Fox, the Head of Planning with Derry City and Strabane District Council says her team have been working in close partnership with a number of developers from both the social and private housing sectors, including Braidwater, on a wide range of development projects across the City and District.

“Collaborative working between the planning team and the developers is essential to successfully delivering sustainable communities throughout the Council area.

“Since the transfer of Planning powers from Central Government to the local Council two years ago, the Council has overseen the approval of approximately 3000 units, while in the past year alone, we have successfully delivered on 367 social housing units, the highest number in any Council in Northern Ireland.”