By Ciaran O’Neill
coneill@derrynews.net
A landmark building in Derry’s city centre which has been empty for several years looks set for a new lease of life.
The Derry News has learned that the owners of the former First Trust bank at Shipquay Street have been given planning permission to turn the building into a bar.
The building has been vacant for a number of years since First Trust moved to new premises within the Sainsbury’s complex at Meadowbank in Derry.
The Shipquay Street building is currently owned by Derry-based Foyleview Builders, although First Trust still owns part of the basement.
No one was available from Foyleview Builders to discuss their plans for the building, although a Planning Service document shows that approval has been granted for the bar to take up the ground and first floors of the building as well as part of the basement.
News of the renovation plans for the former city centre bank comes as traders in the city centre prepare to meet Derry’s planning chief to discuss concerns they have about planning issues.
Divisional Planning Manager Mary McIntyre will met members of the City Centre Traders and Business Forum (CCTBF) at the City Hotel on Wednesday at 7pm.
CCTBF chair Martin McCrossan said the event is one of a series of meetings the group have been having about city centre issues.
“At the series of meetings we held with businesses from across the city centre one issue that was clearly a very sore point was planning.
“We heard numerous complaints about possible developments being stalled because the businesses could not get past the planning stage. Indeed one architect talked of having waited fifteen months and still had no planning permission.
“All this being so planning was one of the top issues we felt had to be addressed.”
Anyone interested in attending this week’s meeting is asked to contact citytradersforum@aol.com