One plan for city is further streamlined

A NEW Draft Regeneration Plan for Londonderry - due to be launched tomorrow - will shortlist the removal of traffic from the Walled City, the creation of a third road bridge and a new footbridge between Prehen and the Brandywell as achievable actions for the city.

The Ilex Draft Regeneration plan - seen by the Sentinel - will also propose establishing a new Derry~Londonderry Regeneration Partnership - under the overall supervision of the Local Strategy Board, comprising local politicians and stakeholders, to oversee its delivery.

Since March 2010 and the circulation of the Derry-Londonderry Regeneration Plan: First Draft Report, 189 actions suggested by twelve Sectoral Working Groups (SWG) to move the city forward and tackle inequality across a range of areas, have been whittled down to just 95 workable projects.

The streamlined plan consolidates 58 priorities identified across 12 separate theme and sectors under a single collaborative vision of a "competitive, connected, creative and caring city."

And the draft plan will also pursue the 2009 Citi-Scope target of 12,500 new jobs for Londonderry by 2020.

The ambitious document envisages 1,500 new digital jobs (related to Project Kelvin - process centres, data storage, computer-related R&D, programming linked to US market), 1,000 creative and cultural jobs (UK City of Culture), 1,500 knowledge services jobs (the prime source of jobs in most urban locations with a university) and 1,000 new green jobs, as well as new jobs in tourism, public administration, health, retail, infrastructure and education, to make up the 12,500 target.

Working under the Local Strategy Board as part of the Derry-Londonderry Regeneration Partnership will be a Programme Board, which will include the Chief Executive of Derry City Council, Ilex, North West Development Office and senior executives from other organisations whose contribution is regarded as key.

Chapter Four of the plan deals with various "Catalyst Programmes and Actions" dealing with themes such as growing the digital economy; accelerating the growth of tourism and culture; establishing a co-operative and social enterprise hub; early intervention for education; strategy for skills acceleration and employment; the Foyle Valley Gateway Project; quality places, spaces and neighbourhoods; the creation of an 'eco-city'; early intervention in health; the peace bridge project and an integrated transport policy.

And Chapter Five dealing with deliverabilty suggests: "By developing the assets of the City such as the Walls, the River, Ebrington and Fort George we can realise other projects in our programme.

"The stimulation of private sector investment in areas such as new digital economy or in culture and tourism, and the attraction of EU and other resources, can be levered as confidence grows."

Co-chairs of the local Regeneration Strategy Board Mayor Colum Eastwood and Ilex Chair, Roy McNulty - signing off the document in its foreword - state: "We are proud of the guiding coalition that is emerging in Derry~Londonderry. The Strategy Board and SWG members and many others have worked tirelessly over the past year to develop this Plan.

"We have still more to do to complete all the necessary detailed planning and targeting but we have no doubt that the energy and commitment is there to take the Plan forward.

"Transformational change – it's in our hands, it's our responsibility to deliver the step change and realize Our Vision of a Competitive, Connected, Creative and Caring City. This is a Plan that will be place shaping and life changing."

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