The BBI is a vehicle for implementing an area based strategy. It emerged, as a coalition or partnership of all local organization and groups active in the area, to promote an integrated strategy of economic, social, cultural and environmental regeneration. Based upon the mandate established in July 1995, the Steering Group consulted the Northern Ireland Co-operative Development Agency (NICDA) as to possible structures and assistance to establish a community partnership, as a Company Limited by Guarantee.

The new structure, it was accepted, had to be capable of engaging the widest possible range of sponsors such as Derry City Council, the Department of the Environment and other relevant bodies to resource the needs of the area. The structure also had to be appropriate for maximising the involvement of local residents and groups. It aims to compliment, not displace, existing groups: the main point being to achieve greater strategic impact within the area in order to optimise the benefits for local residents.

The partnership is predicated upon the view that long term structural neglect and disadvantage in our area can only be addressed on an integrated basis: this is, to ensure no aspect of regeneration occurs in isolation from any other. A second premise underpinning the BBI's existence is a commitment to developing a process led approach to regeneration.

We believe change can only be effective when it is people centred, inclusive and participative. BBI subscribes to the principle that the development process is as important as the outcome. Due to the unique funding opportunities that materialized concurrent to BBI's emergence, local community activists recognized that these opportunities would only be optimised to the benefit of the area's regeneration if a high level of co-ordination and co-operation was developed within the local community sector. BBI members and staff have sought to develop democratic and inclusive structures and processes capable of introducing tangible changes to the quality of life in the Bogside and Brandywell. The workings of BBI are overseen by a Board of Directors who determine policy on behalf of the members and a core project staff of 4 people based in the Gasyard Centre.