A property developer has received planning permission to partially demolish a storm-damaged Georgian listed building in Londonderry city centre, ending months of uncertainty over the former Convent of Mercy on Pump Street. The decision, approved by Derry City and Strabane District Council on Wednesday, comes nearly a year after the structure sustained severe damage during Storm Amy in October 2025. The site has remained cordoned off with barriers and shipping containers since the storm, disrupting local businesses and traders in the area.
The former Convent of Mercy, a protected building dating to the early 1800s, was assessed by structural engineers as being in a "state of imminent collapse" following the storm damage. The Martin property group, which owns the building, sought planning permission for phased demolition and reconstruction work. Council approval has been granted subject to conditions, though no confirmed timetable has yet been announced for when the work will commence or when the shipping containers will be removed from Pump Street.
According to a national broadcaster's report from September 2026, the street had already been partially closed for almost a year at the time of the council decision, with no confirmed date then available for either the removal of the containers or the start of remedial work. Mayor Grace Uí Niallais expressed hope that the shipping containers would be removed "very soon" following the approval.
The closure of Pump Street has created significant hardship for local traders and businesses operating in the city centre. Foyle MP Colum Eastwood welcomed the council's decision, describing the partial closure as having caused "significant difficulties" for those working in the area. "It's nearly a year since Pump Street was partially closed following safety concerns around this listed city centre building," Eastwood said.
"I know the closure has caused significant difficulties, particularly for traders who have seen footfall and business affected through no fault of their own."He added that
"with council permission now approved to carry out the necessary work, I hope we can see the barriers and shipping containers removed as soon as the building is made safe and the road fully reopened."Eastwood characterised the approval as the "beginning of the end" of what has been a difficult period for residents and business owners in this part of the city.
What is the historic building?
The damaged property is a significant part of Londonderry's architectural heritage, forming part of a complex of protected structures near St Columb's cathedral. Built in the early 1800s, the building originally served as the offices of the Londonderry Sentinel newspaper before being repurposed for religious use.
The Catholic Church acquired the adjacent King's Arms hotel in 1840, and during the Great Famine an order of nuns, the Sisters of Mercy, was invited to establish a convent at the site. By 1890, as the Sisters expanded their charitable work in the city, they acquired the former newspaper office building and incorporated it into their convent complex. The Sisters of Mercy remained at the Pump Street location until 2005, after which the buildings were briefly used as an antique and curiosity shop before falling into disrepair.
In the late 1970s, the convent became part of an architectural conservation area, and in 1979 the entire complex was designated as a grade B protected building. The former convent complex is now listed on the Department of Communities "Heritage at Risk" register, which assessed the site as being in "very poor" condition with a risk level classified as "critical".
How did the approval process unfold?
The Martin property group's application underwent a detailed review process involving multiple stakeholders and revised submissions. According to local news coverage, the council received amended plans and additional information which were still under consideration as of 11 September 2026. The Historic Environment Division, which had initially opposed the demolition proposal, subsequently indicated it was content with the scheme subject to conditions being met.
Councillors were informed in July 2026 that the proposal covered a comprehensive redevelopment of 10-16 Pump Street, according to council documentation. Officials met with the building owners and their agent on 29 June 2026 to discuss the scope of the work. The owner's longer-term vision extends beyond simple repair to encompass a comprehensive redevelopment of the Pump Street properties, a distinction that shaped the council's assessment of the application.
What happens next?
Although planning consent has been granted, the formal decision process remains ongoing with no fixed date reported for the final approval or for work to commence. The removal of the shipping containers and barriers that have dominated Pump Street for nearly a year depends on the building being made safe and the road being fully reopened to traffic and pedestrians.
The approval represents a significant step forward after months of uncertainty, but residents and traders will be watching closely for confirmation of when the remedial work will begin and when normal access to Pump Street will be restored.
