ilex - Ilex steps up city revival plans

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2005 Press Releases

Ilex steps up city revival plans

09 May 2005

Ilex is working on the development of new approaches to kick-starting the economy of Derry~Londonderry, Ilex Chairman Dr Alan McClure told top planners when they toured Ebrington Barracks today (Mon. May 9).

Ilex, the Urban Regeneration Company for the Derry City Council area, has been doing vital work in paving the ground for long-term recovery, he said, and will soon embark on a three-pronged strategy linking all sectors in the city in a concerted drive to tackle unemployment and social deprivation.

Planning experts, policy advisers and other regeneration specialists took time out from the two-day British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA) conference, being held in the city, to visit Ebrington former military base and see at first hand the massive development potential of the 26 acre site.

Ilex is a public-private sector company which has been tasked by government to promote a programme of regeneration, secure community support and pursue implementation single-mindedly.

Government has given Ilex control of Ebrington and FortGeorge former security bases for use as the springboard for city-wide revival. They add 40 acres of valuable development land to the city’s real estate stock.

“The UK has 18 Urban Regeneration Companies. We are Northern Ireland’s only URC. Regeneration does not happen overnight. Planning is a protracted and arduous process but it is pivotal to success,” Dr McClure said.

“The first URCs in Britain are only beginning to deliver results after five years. The Laganside story has taken over 15 years to tell in Belfast. We expect the regeneration of Derry-Londonderry to play out over a similar timeframe.”

Dr McClure said Ilex had concluded the first phase of its research – a “Baseline Analysis” of main factors governing the city’s economic performance, infrastructure, population statistics, levels of deprivation and other key factors. Plans are being made for its publication in June, he said.

“Work is advancing on the next crucial phase, three strategies which will identify the problems, solutions and actions needed to secure the city’s future and ensure its role as the hub of the North West of the island.”

Dr McClure added: “Ilex will play a leading role in delivering a competitive and confident city. This is an unsurpassed opportunity which must be developed in a co-ordinated fashion as part of an integrated area-wide strategy.”

The BURA conference participants toured the former military complex and were shown historic buildings which include barracks constructed around 1845 and married quarters erected at the turn of the last century.

For further media inquiries:

Martin Cowley
Ilex – 028 71 269226
Mob – 07990 560601

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Ilex Urban Regeneration Company

Ilex Urban Regeneration Company was established in July 2003 by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland.
Ilex was charged by Minister Ian Pearson, MP ‘to create and promote a deliverable vision for Derry~Londonderry’s regeneration, to secure the commitment of all stakeholders to that vision and to pursue single-mindedly its implementation’.
The Minister envisaged Ilex as ‘providing added value to statutory powers and skills by bringing in private sector drive, expertise, finance and development, and promoting wider economic confidence.’
Ilex will add value by identifying the problems that really need solving, proposing solutions to these problems and delivering (or facilitating delivery of) actions which will lead to economic growth and a better standard of living for the people who live here.
Ilex is the government’s agent for the development of two former security bases which have been gifted to the city in order to facilitate its regeneration. With these sites, the city has the potential of an injection of fresh vigour in the quest for dynamic solutions to the area’s endemic unemployment and social deprivation.
Ilex wants to achieve an urban renaissance that will trigger better conditions for everyone who lives, works and plays in this region. In short, Ilex wants to play a leading role in delivering a competitive and confident city.
The Department for Social Development and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister are the two founding members of the company. Ilex has worked with both Departments to fashion funding bids for projects in Strabane, Limavady and Derry~Londonderry through the Integrated Development Fund. These projects will provide a boost to tourism, the built environment, arts and culture in the region.
Ilex will be the DSD’s agent for the development of the FortGeorge site and OFMDFM’s agent for the development of the Ebrington site.