McGuinness and Ritchie attend regeneration conference

Communities must be at the heart of shaping plans for the future of Derry, deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness told a regeneration conference in the city today.

The Minister was joined at the Ilex “Regenerating and Transforming our City” event in Derry by Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie, who said regeneration was not just about buildings and spaces but about improving lives and opportunities.

Martin McGuinness said: “Communities must be included in shaping the destiny of this city. This is not only as a right but because it makes good sense. Local people are central in determining what is required and devising what will work. It will be local people who will, by and large, be responsible for delivery, in working in the industries and business we are seeking to encourage and having civic ownership of the completed development.

“The investments that we make in Derry today must reap benefits for all in the city. No section should be excluded or reduced to the role of spectators looking in the windows of bright shiny new buildings. They must feel the benefits and ownership of these developments,” added Mr McGuinness.

Speaking at the conference, Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie described the regeneration plan for Derry as one of the most ambitious of its kind: "The agenda for this city is now one of transformation, of working together for a shared future that offers new opportunities and a better quality of life.

"I believe the people of Derry have the will to do this. I believe that they, like me, want to build a shared future. World-class regeneration is not just about buildings and spaces, it is about improving peoples lives and improving opportunities.

"We are on the right track in Derry. Teamwork, unity of purpose, respect, courage - these will deliver world-class outcomes in regeneration. And beyond that a properous, shared future for this city."

Notes to Editors

1. The one-day conference organised by ILEX was entitled ‘Regenerating and Transforming our City – Learning from International Best Practice’.
2. The aim was to draw from international expertise on regeneration and take forward the development of the new Regeneration Plan Mark II for the city.
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