Welcome to our Pre Application Community Consultation (PACC)
Introduction
This website is for to our proposals for the redevelopment of Desmond’s Petrol Filling Station (PFS) and garages/workshops to provide Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) of 344 bedspaces at No. 173 Strand Road/Duncreggan Road, Derry (Site 1).
Community Consultation Event
A community ‘drop in’ consultation event for the proposed development is open to all and will take place at:
Venue: Da Vinci’s Hotel – Pennyburn Suite
Date: Friday 5th December 2025
Duration: 2–5pm.
The purpose of this consultation is to share our indicative proposals with the community and other interested stakeholders and parties prior to the submission of a full planning application to Derry City and Strabane District Council.
Any feedback provided will be shared with the Project Team and will help to shape the finalised proposals, for feedback prior to the submission, of a planning application.
We will also prepare a Pre Application Community Consultation Report (PACC) which will provide a summary of all feedback, our responses and how we have integrated any appropriate feedback into the final design proposals for the scheme.
This PACC Report will be submitted as part of the full planning application to Derry City and Strabane District Council.
Benefits of this proposal.
We have identified the various benefits of the proposal, namely:
Job Creation: the development and construction of new student accommodation creates jobs in the construction and related industries.
1) Increased spending: Students living in the City spend money on a variety of local goods and services from groceries and transport to entertainment and retail, which boasts the local economy.
2) Urban regeneration: Building new student housing can help to regenerate brownfield urban areas, making them more vibrant and attractive for both students and residents.
3) Alleviating housing pressure: By providing dedicated student housing, pressure is reduced on the traditional private rental sector and Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO’s) which frees up housing stock for permanent residents and families.
4) Attracting and retaining talent: High quality, safe and accessible accommodation enhances the City’s attractiveness as a “learning city” for both domestic and international students. Retaining these graduates after their studies is crucial for a strong knowledge economy, and the availability of suitable living options helps achieve this.
5) Resilient income stream: For developers and investors, student accommodation offers a a stable and predictable income stream with consistent demand, even during economic downturns which university applications typically increase.
6) Support for universities: The availability of sufficient quality accommodation is a key factor in the University of Ulster’s proposals to increase the number of students at Magee ensuring its continued growth and success. The university is a major economic driver in the City.
7) Accessibility: The proposal is located within the Central Area, within easy walking distance of both the University and the City Centre and has excellent transport links to both the bus and train station.
How to find out about the proposed development and how to provide feedback.
Consultation Event.
An in-person consultation event will take place on Friday 5th December 2025 from 2–5pm at Da Vinci’s Hotel, 15 Culmore Road, Derry. Information on the proposals will be on display and members of the Project Team will be present to answer any queries & provide further information.
Leaflets.
By Phone
By Post
MKA Planning Ltd
32 Clooney Terrace
Waterside
Derry
BT47 6AR
Closing date for feedback will be 5th February 2026.
Website
This website provides details on the proposed development to assist the general public to access the proposal’s impact on themselves.
The website allows viewers to make submissions on the proposed development to the website.
The public can access the website using the provided link www.strandroadstudentdevelopment.com from the 5th of December 2025
Closing date for feedback on the proposed consultation proposal will be 5th February 2026.
View The Plan
