As Project Manager and Construction Design Management Coordinator, Tetra Tech oversaw the £25m development of Foyle College and Ebrington Primary and Nursery School campus. Funded by Foyle College and Northern Ireland’s Department of Education, the project transformed a derelict site in Londonderry into a major educational asset.
Working with several multidisciplinary consultancies, we enabled the relocation of both schools to state-of-the art facilities at a single site on the former Clooney Army Base. The new campus includes 13,000m² of education space for the grammar school, a further 3,000m² for the new primary school buildings and a range of new sports pitches and courts.
Environmental approach
The derelict and overgrown nature of the site necessitated substantial ground preparation works prior to construction and careful consideration of the environmental and ecological impacts.
To manage these, and ensure legislative compliance, we compiled a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) that identified the key risk areas and was subsequently used to inform the tender documentation and works management. The CEMP included a range of risk assessments and a remediation strategy for decommission and removal of underground fuel storage tanks and other dilapidated buildings on site. An extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey was also undertaken to identify potential ecological constraints.
Engagement and Connectivity
The redevelopment of a derelict site subjected to unauthorised entry and vandalism was broadly welcomed by the local community and residents’ support for the scheme was built ahead of the planning application. Community engagement remained a central focus throughout the project and its success was recognised when it secured a Most Considerate Site Award from the Considerate Constructors Scheme.
To support regeneration of the vacant site, the rear campus boundary adjoins a section of the proposed Clooney Greenway, which will provide key linkages between the school and local community. It also offers further connectivity toward the Foyle river footbridge, strengthening accessibility between the Waterside and Cityside of Derry. This improved accessibility will greatly reduce the need for pupils to attend school by car or bus, with the added benefit of reducing congestion on local roads.
The new campus now provides fit-for-purpose, modern teaching facilities for over 1,200 children, from nursery through to A-levels. For the wider community, the relocation of the two schools is a significant part of the ongoing regeneration of Londonderry and the North-West region, with the vacated premises providing future investment and development opportunities.
