Picture shows Denis Rooney in the driving seat, with Yasmin Robinson, Room2Race one of the tenants in Epworth Business Park; Mayor Alderman Maurice Devenney; and Leslie Craig, RDC board member. The £655,000 Epworth Business Park which officially opened today (26 August) provides over 440 sq metres of modern workspace and was funded by the International Fund for Ireland (£300,000); Northern Ireland Rural Development Council's EU Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme (£200,000) and Derry City Council (£100,000).

A major new community development scheme in Newbuildings, County Londonderry/Derry was officially opened today by Dr Denis Rooney, Chairman of the International Fund for Ireland.

The £655,000 Epworth Business Park provides over 440 sq metres of modern workspace, in four spacious units. The International Fund for Ireland contributed £300,000 to the Project, which also received funding from the Northern Ireland Rural Development Council’s EU Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme (£200,000) and Derry City Council (£100,000).

Denis Rooney congratulated Newbuildings Community and Environment Association on the completion of the project and said:

“This is an impressive development, which is a wonderful example of how a community can strive to create a better future for everyone in the area. It offers a truly shared space, and fits well with the Fund’s key objective to encourage Unionists and Nationalists to work, learn and live together as part of a shared future.

“The Epworth Business Park is already proving a success with all four units let to local businesses and I have no doubt that the Centre will continue to promote economic and social advance in the surrounding area for many years to come.”

The current tenants are Pure and Simple coffee shop; Room to Race, a Formula 1 Racing Simulator; Perfections Hair and Beauty Salon; and the latest tenant a dog grooming salon.

Kenny McFarland, Chairperson of Newbuildings Community and Environment Association, said: “Today’s official opening of Epworth Business Park is a milestone in the regeneration of the area. It is a testament to local residents, politicians and the funding agencies, whose vision and commitment ensured the successful delivery of these superb units that are already providing retail facilities and services for all sections of the community and creating local jobs.”

RDC Board Member, Leslie Craig, said: “RDC is delighted to have helped out with this local facility which has helped bring about local job creation and facilities to the Newbuildings area. The project is a testament of how a community can identify local needs, develop a plan of action and more importantly implement that plan with the support of funds from the EU’s Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme.”  

Mayor, Alderman Maurice Devenney commented that the opening of the business park in Newbuildings was a significant boost to the local community who had campaigned for some time for investment and a vote of confidence for business development in the area. Acknowledging the Council’s investment, the Mayor said the Council remained committed to supporting rural communities in creating a shared space so that communities can provide essential services to the people who live and work in the area.

He added: “The Council is pleased to be associated with this key community based economic development project through the provision of £100k from its Economic Development Programme. This is a fantastic boost for Newbuildings that not only provides facilities and services for the region but also creates jobs and encourages further investment and social development.”

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