PLANS have been lodged for a massive new public car park at the Ebrington site in the Waterside area, the Derry News has learned.
The proposal will see the construction of a new surface level car park with 256 car parking bays plus an addition six coach parking bays.
The new car park will be located between building 80/81 at Ebrington and the existing temporary car park at the site, which can be seen from the Limavady Road.
The application has been lodged by The Executive Office (TEO), who took over responsibility for the redevelopment of the Ebrington site following the closure of the Ilex Development Corporation in March 2016.
The Executive Office had been due to hand over ownership of the site to Derry City and Strabane District Council this year.
A 214-space underground car park, which is accessed via King Street Roundabout, opened at the site 2015 at a cost of £5.5m.
However, the facility is currently not open to the public.
A spokesperson for The Executive Office confirmed that the new car park will be open to the public.
“This car park will operate for a five-year period and will make way for permanent car parking arrangements as outlined in the Ebrington Development Framework,” the spokesperson said.
“The car park will be for the benefit of people using the Ebrington site.”
The application marks the latest major development planned for the site, after the Derry News revealed in April that a contract has been awarded for the construction of a new £10.2m office block on top of the existing underground car park at Ebrington.
The development is being backed by Executive Office with an investment up to £5 million.
The main contract for the work has now been awarded to the Derry-based Heron Brothers Limited.
The new multi-storey building, which is described as ‘modern, high quality, high specification, Grade A office accommodation’ will cater for up to 500 people when complete.
Meanwhile, the council is also currently considering a planning application for a new 152-bedroom hotel at the site.
The proposed hotel, which will be called ‘The Ebrington’, will feature a restaurant and bar, function suite, meeting rooms, a gym and a spa, with on-site parking to the rear of the building.
It has been described as being ‘one of the most prominent developments within the historic site’.
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