APX009 - Meenan Square Development

Apex Housing Association are set to deliver the mixed-use development scheme on behalf of the NI Executive Office (TEO) under their Urban Villages (UV) Initiative. The UV’s is an endorsed good relations programme which will contribute to delivering on the Executive commitments in T:BUC (Together Building a United Community) designed to improve good relations and develop thriving places where there has been a history of deprivation and community tension. Meenan Square has been identified as one of the sites set out in UV’s strategic framework that is set to deliver a truly transformational regeneration development for the Bogside area in Derry/L’Derry. Apex HA will remain in ownership of the site & development throughout construction. Once the development is completed, ownership of the housing will be maintained by Apex and ownership of the mixed-use development (community, commercial & public realm) will be passed to Meenan Square Development’s (MSD’s), a local social economy group. The Site: The site at Meenan Square is located northeast of the city centre and is within the Bogside Area, with site constraints that include the busy Lecky Road & Westland street and is in close proximity to neighbouring properties. This brownfield site was formerly designated as commercial use which operated up to 10 retail units, that of which included the iconic Bogside Inn bar. Much of the accommodation had been closed for many years, leaving a vacant and widely under-used site. In recent years (2021), the former buildings had all been demolished, leaving only the building encasing the existing electrical sub-station. The site was left clear just prior to land purchase. The Scope: This proposal is set to be delivered in 2no. phases and sets out the following development:- Phase 01: Social Housing (Apex Housing Association) The Housing mix for Phase 01 is as follows: - 4no. General Needs 3P2B’s Houses and - 4no. General Needs 5P3B’s Houses Therefore, a total provision of 8no. new build social housing units. These works will be undertaken on behalf of Apex. Phase 02: Mixed-use Development (TEO / MSD’s) The mixed-use development will comprise a summary of the following buildings and public realm/landscaping works. Building 01: Will facilitate the provision for the intended Community Hub at 1400m2 /15,069.5ft2 Gross Internal Floor Area (GIFA), to include the following accommodation: - Provision of 2no. retail units, that front onto Lecky Road. Each with an area 30-35m2 of shop floor space completed to shell & core CAT A+ fit out finish. W/C & kitchenette facilities included also. - Provision to relocate the existing Dove House, currently located adjacent the site. The new premise for Dove House will include a reception, staff offices, staff facilities, flexible teaching & training rooms and rentable social enterprise spaces and meeting room. The proposed area for Dove House is 570m2/6,135ft2 GIFA. Subject to full fit out. - Provision for a community hub (Youth First Facility) will include a reception, lobby area, W/C and changing places facilities, lockers, main activity hall, counselling rooms, a teaching and training room and indoor & outdoor (2nd floor) recreational spaces. The proposed area for Youth First Facility is 670m2/7212ft2 GIFA. Subject to full fit out. Building 02: Will facilitate the provision for the intended Commercial Hub at 1030m2 / 11,085 ft2. GIFA to include the following accommodation: - Provision of 1no. Convenience Store, accessed via Lecky Road, at ground floor level will be completed to a shell & core finish. Accommodation is designed to feature a ‘coffee dock’ that will serve the central public realm space. The remaining ground floor will also accommodate storage facilities, cash/managers office, W/C facilities, staff facilities and access to the rear service yard. The proposed area is 315m2/3390ft2 GIFA. - Provision of access to the community lettable retail units (floors above) will have a GF entrance, accessed via Westland Street and will be the point of access to the first & second floors above. The GF will include a reception area, access to the rear service yard and form the main circulation core. All landlord areas are subject to full fit out. The proposed area is 35m2. - Provision of community lettable retail unit’s 1st & 2nd floor (floor plans repeated). Flexible open planned spaces are provided on each floor depending on interest. MSD’s will confirm interest. Floor spaces to be designed to potentially split the open planned spaces to smaller spaces, as required. These will be subject to shell & core CAT A+ fit out/finish. Proposed area for these spaces 245m2/2640ft2 GIFA. - Provision of Landlord areas to both floors (floor plans repeated) to include circulation cores, circulation routes, storage, plant room, WC/Shower facilities, accessible WC facilities, shared kitchen and shared/flexible office space. All landlord areas are subject to full fit out. The proposed area is 740m2/7965ft2 GIFA. Associated public realm, landscaping works & infrastructure works: These works will be undertaken on behalf of TEO/UV for MSD’s and will include the following: - Public realm / public piazza (fully gated on both sides at Lecky Road and Meenan Square). - Public realm to have a feature canopy, permanent seating and a main events space (to facilitate events organised by MSD & the community hub). - Private parking area to the northwest of the site – access via Westland Street, egress via Meenan Square, controlled by retractable bollards. - Road widening works at Meenan Square and Durrow park to regularise the existing road layout. - Renewed footpath finishes and kerbing details throughout to tie Phase 01 & Phase 02 schemes together. Coordination of key infrastructure works is required in line with the programme. The programme: Each development, phase 01 & phase 02 will have a separate programme and key dates are outlined below: Key programme dates for the Housing Development: Tender award: January 2026 Site Start date: March 2026 Completion date: March 2027 Construction period: The anticipated time is 1 years, depending on capabilities/size of interested Contractor. 1 year would be considered sufficient. Key programme dates for the Mixed-Use Development: Tender award: January 2026 Site Start date: March 2026 Completion date: March 2028 Construction period: The anticipated time is 2 years, depending on capabilities/size of interested Contractor. This is based on the current programme developed. We would request the potential contractor to provide their programme and this will be reviewed as part of the assessment criteria/quality submission.