Newly Formed Newry Regeneration Working Group Holds First Meeting

The formation of the Newry Regeneration Working Group (NRWG) has been welcomed as a key support to facilitate regeneration and investment into the city.

The newly established group has been set up to support the regeneration plans and long-term ambitions for Newry. The group will not only assist with the delivery of key Newry City Centre Regeneration projects over the coming year but aims to support future growth and investments into the city over the next decade.

Members, which include community, business, arts, enterprise as well as political, government and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council representatives, will have responsibilities including communication and engagement with internal and external stakeholders.

At the first NRWG meeting on 3 May in Newry, members received updates on the Newry City Centre Regeneration (NCCR) Theatre and Conference Centre and Civic and Regional Hub projects. They were informed both were progressing to the final stages of the planning application process in parallel with the procurement of the contractors for the delivery of the works. It is anticipated that contracts will be awarded in the autumn with work commencing on site soon after.

Regarding the Civic and Regional Hub, members received confirmation that the proposed car parking provision to the rear of the Cathedral is 138 spaces. This has been reduced slightly from 141 to address design requirements and to accommodate an NIE substation.

Members were also advised that the current NCCR total budget is £43 million – incorporating £23 million for the Theatre and Conference Centre and £17 million for the Civic and Regional Hub, including public realm at both sites. NCCR has benefited from £8 million Belfast Region City Deal funding – £5 million for public realm and £3 million for a Grade A office accommodation fund. (The Newry City Park project is funded separately with £16.2 million from the Executive’s Complementary fund through the Department for Communities. The Council is also underwriting £2.4 million to deliver a 15-acre City Park as part of Phase One.)

At the meeting it was agreed that under the NRWG a Stakeholder Engagement Forum will be established to facilitate engagement with key stakeholders on the Theatre and Conference Centre and Civic and Regional Hub projects. It was agreed members invited to the forum would include Newry Cathedral Parish, local businesses and the community impacted by the programme of works.

Following the meeting NCCR Project Board Co Chairs, Cllr Doire Finn and Cllr Declan Murphy said in a statement, “Our vision is a regenerated Newry City Centre, attracting investment and promoting tourism, creating jobs and sustaining our environment. We have an enviable position at the centre of the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor and a multi-million pound investment of this nature is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our city and our district.

“As we move into the delivery phase of our projects, Newry Regeneration Working Group members will be working hard to advocate for Newry, engage with stakeholders and keep the public informed in the exciting period ahead.”