Derelict flax mill cottagesto be renovated under plan

PLANS are afoot to redevelop a dilapidated terrace of old flax mill workers’ cottages along the River Faughan on the outskirts of Londonderry.
By Kevin Mullan
Published 7th Sep 2013, 17:00 BST
The old Mill Cottages at the Green Road in Ardmore. Fresh plans have been submitted to the local planning office as part of a wider conservation move.The old Mill Cottages at the Green Road in Ardmore. Fresh plans have been submitted to the local planning office as part of a wider conservation move.
The old Mill Cottages at the Green Road in Ardmore. Fresh plans have been submitted to the local planning office as part of a wider conservation move.

Five new terraced homes will be built along the Green Road at Ardmore on the westbank of the popular Salmon river, if the plans get the green light.

It’s part of “a comprehensive scheme for the redevelopment of a dilapidated terrace of 14 mill workers cottages” overlooking the river.

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The development is part of a major revamp of a former linen production hub in Ardmore.

The Faughan formerly powered a flax mill in the area, whilst the nearby Bleach Green - where linen was bleached - gave it’s name to the Green Road itself, which was traditionally used as a thoroughfare for Ardmore residents accessing the Glenshane Road.

But it was the subject of a major public right of way dispute in 2010. Derry City Council went to court to have the Green Road, including a century-old bridge over the Faughan, declared a public right of way.

More recently, in 2011, a bid was made to once again harness the power of the Faughan at the Bleach Green.

A plan was lodged to re-establish a redundant water mill at the Ardmore Bleach Green site and to develop a hydro-turbine on land at the back of the Drumahoe post office.