Minister for Infrastructure Liz Kimmins and Cllr Ruairí McHugh, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, have invited the public to help shape ambitious plans to transform Derry’s Central Riverfront into a “premier European destination” through a £45 million regeneration scheme. The project, which forms a cornerstone of the Derry and Strabane Region City Deal signed last September, will reconfigure roads to prioritise pedestrians, cyclists and public transport while creating new civic spaces along the Foyle.
Public information gathering events will take place at the Guildhall on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 February 2026, offering residents and businesses the chance to influence the project before detailed designs are finalised later this year.
Riverfront Transformation: Key Elements
The Derry Central Riverfront Project represents one of the most significant urban regeneration schemes in the north west. Key elements include:
- Roads realignment along Strand Road and Queens Quay to create an active travel corridor
- New civic spaces including University Square, Harbour Square/Victoria Market, a Peace Bridge Landing Point and Whitaker Street
- Bus-priority measures operating in both directions to improve reliability and journey times
- Streetscape enhancement and high-quality public realm improvements
- A shift from private car usage toward sustainable and active travel modes
The project forms part of the Derry and Strabane Region City Deal, which was formally signed on 18 September 2025 and represents more than £250 million of combined UK Government, Northern Ireland Executive and local partner investment. The overall City Deal package includes additional regeneration projects for Strabane town centre, the Walled City public realm, and the £15 million DNA Museum at Ebrington.
Guildhall Engagement Sessions
The Department for Infrastructure and Derry City and Strabane District Council are hosting drop-in sessions at the Guildhall on:
- Wednesday 25 February 2026: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Thursday 26 February 2026: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
For those unable to attend in person, views can be submitted via the dedicated consultation portal at consultationspace.com/centralriverfrontproject. Feedback gathered during these sessions will inform the development of options that will be assessed and presented for further public consultation later in 2026.
Political Backing for City Deal Cornerstone
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, who assumed office in February 2025, described the scheme as transformational:
“The Central Riverfront project will be transformational in delivering a dynamic and re-invigorated urban waterfront area which will position Derry as a vibrant European destination and make this already wonderful city an even more attractive place to visit, live or work in.
“The scheme will provide high quality public realm and streetscape enhancement along with improvements to Active Travel provision in the area. Roads will also be reconfigured to prioritise public transport and deliver bus-priority measures in both directions to improve reliability and journey times.
“My officials have been working closely with Derry City and Strabane District Council and our consultants on the development of the scheme. We are pleased to have the opportunity now to engage with local communities, businesses and stakeholders and, more importantly, to receive views from those who know the area best. The feedback collected will help to inform the further development of a range of options which will be assessed and presented for further public consultation later this year.”
Mayor Ruairí McHugh, who took office in June 2025, emphasised the once-in-a-generation opportunity:
“This £45 million investment is a signal of our intent to position Derry as a premier European destination. By revitalising our riverfront, we are unlocking the economic and social potential of our city centre. The Central Riverfront project is a cornerstone of our City Deal ambitions and represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape our city’s relationship with the Foyle. We aim to create a world-class space that locals can be proud of and visitors will flock to. However, to get this right, we need the insight of the people who use these spaces every day and for that reason we are urging everyone to come along to the Guildhall or visit the online portal to ensure their voice is at the very heart of this transformation. When completed this project will better connect our city, enhance our public spaces, and drive the regeneration that our residents deserve so it’s vitally important that citizens bring to the table their ideas and views during these information gathering sessions.”
Regional Context and Outstanding Issues
While the announcement has been welcomed by local representatives, several details remain unclear. The press release does not specify when construction will commence, nor does it address how the bus-priority measures will interact with existing traffic flows during peak periods. There is also no mention of parking provision—whether existing spaces will be retained, reduced, or relocated—which could significantly impact local businesses and residents during the construction phase.
The riverfront project emerges against a backdrop of stalled infrastructure elsewhere in the region. The A5 Western Transport Corridor remains tied up in legal appeals following a High Court ruling in June 2025, while the A2 Buncrana Road widening scheme has been paused pending the North West Transport Plan consultation due in spring 2026. This raises questions about whether the Department for Infrastructure is pivoting from large-scale road building toward urban regeneration and active travel, or whether the riverfront scheme risks becoming an isolated success amid wider connectivity failures.
Historical context warrants consideration. Previous regeneration efforts, including the Ilex Urban Regeneration Company’s vision for Ebrington and the 2013 UK City of Culture, generated significant initial momentum but faced criticism for lacking lasting economic legacy. With the City Deal now expanded to approximately £300 million to account for inflation, scrutiny will focus on whether this investment delivers tangible, long-term benefits rather than temporary cosmetic improvements.
Five Critical Questions
- How will the project ensure that bus-priority measures genuinely improve reliability rather than simply displacing congestion onto surrounding residential streets?
- Given the history of delayed infrastructure projects in the north west, what specific safeguards and delivery timelines are in place to ensure the £45 million scheme completes on schedule?
- How will the design balance the daily needs of local commuters and businesses with the goal of attracting international tourists?
- What lessons have been learned from previous regeneration initiatives to ensure this investment creates permanent employment and economic activity rather than temporary construction jobs?
- Does the prioritisation of this urban project signal a permanent shift away from car-centric road expansion, or will the A5 and A2 projects eventually proceed alongside these active travel improvements?
Timeline and Next Steps
The February consultation represents the first phase of engagement, with further consultation events planned for Summer 2026 and Spring 2027 as detailed designs emerge. The project must be fully delivered by 31 March 2027 under City Deal terms, giving a relatively tight timeline for a scheme of this magnitude.
Residents and businesses can participate via the online portal or by attending the Guildhall sessions. The success of this project will likely determine whether the wider City Deal achieves its transformative ambitions—or joins the list of north west infrastructure promises that failed to fully materialise.