New housing for families in the Strabane and the surrounding area

Members of Derry City and Strabane District Council's Planning Committee granted full approval for a new housing development on the site of the former Our Lady of Mercy High School in Strabane.

At its monthly meeting, earlier this afternoon members welcomed proposals for 60 residential dwellings and 10 apartments with associated private amenity space, landscaping, and public open space.

The development will be located on the 2.57 hectares of land associated with the former school, located north of Evish Road and east of Mount Carmel Heights.

The buildings associated with the former school have now been demolished and the site cleared for development.

Members heard that the site would offer adequate provision for communal open space within the layout, in which it's proposed that a play area of 940sqm of useable amenity space is to be located at the northern part of the site at the boundary with Mount Carmel Heights.

Welcoming today's decision, deputy chair of the council's planning committee, Cllr Kieran McGuire, who presided over the meeting, said the plans would be a welcome boost to housing provision in the Strabane area.

"I am pleased to see this application progress through the planning system. There is an urgent need for quality new housing for families in the Strabane and the surrounding area to meet growing demand. I am delighted to see developers continuing to invest in the area, and recognising that Strabane is a fantastic place to locate.

"With positive plans in the pipeline for the regeneration of Strabane town centre, including the ambitious new Riverine project and a strong commitment to the growth and development of the town, I hope to see further interest in the area from developers over the coming months."