Ebrington clock towercould become a hotelor cultural facility

A NEW development framework for Ebrington is currently in train with Ilex aiming to achieve outline planning permission for the whole site by the Summer of 2014.
Interest has been expressed in turning the Ebrington Clock Tower into a hotel.Interest has been expressed in turning the Ebrington Clock Tower into a hotel.
Interest has been expressed in turning the Ebrington Clock Tower into a hotel.

Ilex’s “cultural broker” Caoimhín Corrigan says private interests have already expressed interest about turning the Ebrington Clock Tower into a hotel.

He recently told the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) Committee that the status of 14 of the 19 buildings on the site as listed, slowed things down somewhat. That and the topograpy of the site. However, he suggested progress would soon be made.

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For example, planning approval for a bar and restaurant in the Cunningham Building - facing onto Ebrington Terrace - has already been secured. Once the underground car park is completed nearby, that will be ready to go.

Mr Corrigan said Ilex’s immediate ambition was to get the whole site to that stage.

“We are working now on the new development framework for the site. Aside from the basic output of achieving outline of planning permission for the whole site to give investor confidence, the other key aspect of the framework for us is that it allows for an element of market testing but also allows the site to be tested against the One Plan.”

He said he believed outline planning permission would be submitted around December or January with approval within five to six months at best.

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Mr Corrigan also revealed “there has been some initial interest in a potential hotel development at the clock tower.” But that isn’t the only option.

“It has also been proposed as a regional cultural facility, of which there is not currently anything of its kind. There are no regional cultural facilities in the city, and the Academy of Urbanism, when it was here, suggested that the site and some of those buildings would be useful and should and could be used for third-level developments,” he explained.

The Cunningham Building - which is to get a face of grass as part of a forthcoming public art work - is nearest to advancement. “Interestingly, the Cunningham building, to our left here, the only building that faces on to Limavady Road, has achieved planning permission already,” said Mr Corrigan. “However, it could not be acted upon until the car park development came on site, because service access was not possible to the rear of it.”

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