A former British army base in Northern Ireland is to be transformed into a £35 million shared education campus, it was revealed today.
Land at the former barracks in Clooney, Co Derry, will be taken over by two schools, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie announced, with development intended to start as early as next year.
Her department acquired the 32-acre site from the Ministry of Defence in 2004 following the end of armed conflict in Northern Ireland and the significantly scaled-down army presence.
Ms Ritchie said: “This is fantastic news for the people of Derry City.
“Transferring this land from my department will deliver significant regeneration, educational and environmental benefits to the people of this city.
“It will become an integral part of the surrounding neighbourhoods with local people benefiting not just from excellent schools but also from state of the art sporting and recreational facilities.”
Mainly Protestant state-controlled schools Foyle and Londonderry College and Ebrington Primary will use the new buildings.
Ms Ritchie added: “By working in partnership across departments with colleagues in local government, with the schools sector, with the university and of course with local people, we have met the challenge we set ourselves in 2006.
“That challenge was to maximise the potential of this asset and deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to local people.”
The University of Ulster also has an option on part of the land to expand its Magee campus.
Ms Ritchie’s department also reached agreement with Derry City Council to construct a new greenway link and upgrade playing fields at Clooney.
PA