A meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council took place on Wednesday to consider the future of the former Convent of Mercy located on Pump Street. The building, a Georgian structure dating from the early 1800s, was listed as a grade B protected building in 1979 after becoming part of an architectural conservation area in the late 1970s.
The site originally housed the offices of the Londonderry Sentinel newspaper before being acquired by the Sisters of Mercy in the late 1800s to expand their vocation. Adjacent property, the King's Arms hotel, was purchased by the Catholic Church in 1840, and the nuns established their convent at this location shortly after.
The order departed from Pump Street in 2005, and the buildings were subsequently occupied briefly as an antique and curiosity shop. Since October 2025, when Storm Amy caused damage to the property, the site has remained in a state of disrepair while barriers and shipping containers have been erected nearby.
Council members voted to grant consent for a phased demolition and repair programme, though the approval is subject to specific conditions. Local businesses operating near the site have expressed frustration over the presence of these temporary structures for nearly twelve months, citing financial costs incurred during the period.
The complex now forms part of a group of protected structures situated close to St Columb's cathedral. While the decision allows for the removal of certain sections, the full extent of the works remains contingent on meeting the stipulated requirements set by the planning authority.