A new hotel has been approved for building at the former Tillie and Henderson shirt factory site in Derry.
Planning permission has been granted for a 139 bedroom hotel, with the new development also including retail units, apartments and integral car parking.
The Belfast Telegraph reports that the application was made by businessman Lord Rana's firm, Andras House - which owns a raft of hotels in Belfast, including the Ramada Plaza at Shaw's Bridge, the Holiday Inn Express, Days Hotel and two Ibis hotels.
“This is great news for Derry," said environment minister Mark Durkan. "With the recent announcement by Lonely Planet that Northern Ireland is in the top 10 European travel destinations, this very significant hotel in the heart of the city will enhance choice for tourists, business travellers as well as local people."
He added that the site of the hotel occupies a pivotal location on one of the prime entrance points to the historic core from Craigavon Bridge and will, when complete, regenerate a site that has been derelict for a number of years.
