Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Atkins has been working on an integrated urban design strategic framework for the ‘Heart of the City’ in Londonderry.

Commissioned by the Department of Social Development’s Londonderry office, we took a comprehensive long-term view of the ‘Heart of the City’ in order to identify what would be achievable in the next 15 years. Our urban design strategic framework has begun a wide dialogue about what character is desirable for Londonderry City Centre.

We have developed proposals under eight headings - river, movement, major developments, opportunity sites, walled city, commercial core, parks and the public realm and neighbourhoods. A very successful public consultation programme won wide support for the proposals. Our Strategic Framework also shows, in some detail, how design guidance can help deliver the strategy. It is designed to be flexible and to avoid dependence on any single element which may not be realised.

Its aim is to achieve an environment that is vibrant and animated, reflecting the new ideas on urbanisation and the cultural importance of City Centres being seen throughout Europe.