AUSTINS REGENERATION

In March 2025, grant funding from the Department for Communities (DfC) enabled the Inner City Trust (the Trust) to acquire Austins as the first step in rescuing this iconic
‘Grade A’ heritage building. Statement by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons can be found here.

The Trust’s vision for Austins is to:
• Rescue this iconic and significant heritage building from terminal decay and decline and to preserve it for the future.
• Restore Austins to its former civic prominence and revive its catalytic importance in the rebirth of the city centre.
• Reimagine its future as a vibrant, sustainable and accessible new use for wide public benefit.

Hover over images for more information

View of The Diamond looking towards Bishops Street in the late 19th Century showing the former ‘Austins & Co’ drapery store on the left and the former Town Hall on the right; both destroyed in a severe fire in 1903.

Photo taken by Robert French sometime between 1865 and 1903.

(Image reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland).

Architectural elevation by local architect M.A. Robinson of the proposed new department store at The Diamond, 1905.

(Image reproduced courtesy of DCSDC Museum and Archive collections).

View of The Diamond in 1907 after the new Austins department store was opened. The new five story elaborate store with corner tower commands the town centre. It also overlooks the new public park on the site of the old Town Hall.

Photo taken by Robert French sometime between 1865 and 1903.

(Image reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland).

Austins in 2023, view from above The Diamond showing Austins’ prominence in the roofscape of the city.

Austins April 2025, presentation improvement works underway.

Project Update – 18 April 2025

This week contractors have commenced a program of minor, but urgent, work to arrest building decay and secure the site. This work is anticipated to be complete by the summer of 2025. In addition, this week contractors are also improving the presentation and lighting of the building at ground level and includes the display of historic photos of Austins throughout the years.

Inner City Trust’s Chair, Venerable Reverend Robert Miller, stated that “we are pleased to take forward this initial phase of essential repairs as part of our overall vision to rescue, restore and reimagine this regionally significant heritage building right in the heart of Derry’s historic Walled City”.

“These initial works will allow the Trust and our consultants, Mullarkey Pedersen Architects, to safely undertake thorough building appraisals from the summer 2025 onwards. This technical appraisal work will include detailed architectural surveys, material investigations, heritage analysis, detailing scope of repairs and refurbishment, and development of design options for a reimagined Austins”.

“The Trust is currently discussing potential future uses of the building with a range of bodies, and we look forward to engaging with the community on this and on the community’s personal memories and connections with Austins”.

“Given the scale of the project and the historic significance of the building, developing the Austins Regeneration project will be ongoing. Subject to funding and planning consents, the Trust currently anticipates moving into delivery construction phase in 2026, with construction estimated to be complete by 2027”.

In concluding, Venerable Reverend Robert Miller added that the Trust “will continue to provide project updates as we work through the detail to deliver the project vision, and the Trust would like to thank the community for their continued support”.

For further information about the project, please contact Inner City Trust on 028 7126 0329 or info@innercitytrust.com.