Pupils from Thornhill College have visited a major new housing project on the Buncrana Road in Derry.
The Cashel development, located between Ballymagroarty and Coshquin, is set to become one of the largest projects of its kind in Europe.
Two classes from the school were welcomed to the site by The Braidwater Group, which is delivering the landmark £450m development in partnership with Apex Housing Association.
The overall vision for The Cashel is to create a fresh urban community, featuring approximately 2,500 new homes, communal amenities, an interconnected system of green areas, retail establishments and convenient services, all-encompassing a vibrant high street and central park.
The educational visit formed part of Braidwater’s ongoing engagement with the local community as the first phase of the development nears completion. The visit also aimed to encourage young people to learn more about careers in construction and development.
Darren Farnan, Marketing Manager at The Braidwater Group said: “We were very pleased to host the students from Thornhill and to give them a chance to see first-hand how a large-scale development takes shape. It’s always rewarding to introduce young people to the wide range of careers available within the construction industry and hopefully visits like this help inspire the next generation.”
Mr Farnan added “The students were given an overview of The Cashel development and the various stages involved with a project of this scale. The pupils also learned about the importance of sustainability and environmental responsibility in modern construction.”
The development is expected to deliver a major economic boost to the region, supporting hundreds of construction jobs, apprenticeships and opportunities for local suppliers.
A strong emphasis on sustainability and biodiversity includes plans to plant more than 3,000 trees and establish extensive hedgerows. New pedestrian and cycle routes will also support low-carbon travel throughout the community.
More photos from Thornhill’s visit to The Cashel:
