Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Planning Committee will hold a special meeting on Thursday, March 19, to decide on two developments in Derry that would deliver 739 social and affordable homes.

One proposal covers 7.87 hectares of zoned housing land between Upper Galliagh Road, Beragh Hill Road, and Skeoge Road, west of Beraghvale. Apex Housing seeks approval for 343 two-storey houses and 137 apartments, with 42 units adapted for households with complex needs to wheelchair standards. The site includes seven retail units in a single-storey block, two three-storey office blocks, allotments, a multi-use games area, landscaping, car parking, and minor roadworks. A pedestrian and cycle path runs along the distributor road, and a new public transport bus stop is planned.

The second application from Kevin Watson Properties Ltd and Apex Housing Association targets 9.89 hectares of former agricultural fields south of Springtown Road, between numbers 44 and 42. It features 259 homes: 28 one-bedroom apartments, 143 two-bedroom units, 86 three-bedroom units, and two four-bedroom units. Thirty units meet wheelchair standards. The site adjoins Derrymore to the east, St Eithne’s Park, Ard Grange to the south, Hawthorn Grove, and Springtown Court to the north.

Landscape buffers along the northern, eastern, and southern boundaries provide separation from existing properties. Dwellings maintain distances to avoid overlooking and overshadowing. The development includes 11,937 square metres of public open space, pedestrian links to streets and Springtown Road, and a new bus route.

Additional elements comprise a community centre with a café, storage, offices, and a community room, plus outdoor spaces with a children’s play area and recreational areas. Access improvements feature a new entry to Springtown Road and upgrades at the junction with Hawthorne Drive, including two right-hand turning lanes.