PRELIMINARY TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANTS ONA FIFTEEN-YEAR PLANFORTHE LONDONDERRYAREA

Professor Sir Robert Matthew placed Londonderry at the head of a list of key centres for industry outside of the Belfast Region. The recommendations of Professor Wilson and subsequent studies by the Ministries of Development and of Commerce suggest that by 1981 the population of the Urban area of Londonderry (60,000 in 1961) is likely to be 80,000 rising possibly to 100,000 at the end of the century.

The advent of large-scale industrial development could, however, have a considerable effect on the growth and distribution of population and plans for the area should be sufficiently flexible to meet such contingencies. The Consultant will be required to take into account Londonderry as a port, an industrial, commercial, cultural and tourist centre, and to suggest means of stimulating development for the benefit of its citizens and Northern Ireland.

The area of study is to be the County Borough and Rural District of Londonderry but the area should be looked at in its total context of adjoining areas and the Province as a whole. The work will involve examination of the existing structure, resources, population, employment, communications and services and the making of proposals for physical renewal of the area in terms of land use, transportation, environmental standards and general character. Particular attention is to be paid to the possibilities of expanding existing and creating new villages within the general area, to the promotion of local and regional recreational facilities and the conservation of agricultural land and areas of high amenity value.