After over 60 years, landmark family-run Londonderry car retailer set to relocate to make way for 'immediate need' student housing
Information evening planned as Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) submitted for major new student accommodation redevelopment at Desmond Motors car showroom on Strand Road
Plans for a major new student accommodation development at Desmond Motors car showroom, Londonderry, have taken a step forward with the submission of a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN).
The PAN, submitted by the developer to Derry City and Strabane District Council, outlines early-stage proposals for 553 purpose-built student bed spaces at the 162 Strand Road site.
The notice also sets out how the developer intends to engage with the public ahead of a full planning application, including planned engagement methods, consultation dates and opportunities for residents to provide feedback.
In correspondence to Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan, the Royal Town Planning Institute confirmed the submission of the notice, stating that the development “will help meet the significant identified immediate need for student accommodation in the City along a riverside site within the Central Area.”
The letter included a site location map to assist the council in identifying the proposed development area.
Welcoming the update, Mr Durkan confirmed he had been notified of the proposal and highlighted an upcoming pre-application community consultation event to be held at Da Vinci’s on Friday, December 5, at 2pm.
The largest family-run Ford Dealership in Northern Ireland, Desmond Motors has been a landmark business on Strand Road having opened their doors at the site over 60 years ago. According to Mr Durkan, if the plans get the green light, the car showroom would relocate operations to Buncrana Road.
In a social media post, the SDLP MLA said: “I have received correspondence about a proposal for purpose built student accommodation at the Desmond Motors site on Strand Road.
“The development, if delivered, could create over 500 bed spaces for students in Derry while Desmonds would move operations to Buncrana Road.
“Local residents are to be leafleted and will have an initial chance to hear more, to ask questions and to raise concerns at a pre-application community consultation event in Da Vincis on Friday, December 5 at 2 pm. Let me know what you think.”