Albert Basin Store Demolition Won't Happen Until Newry City Park Work Begins

Demolition of the large store building on the Albert Basin will not take place until main work starts on site for the building of Newry City Park. This is despite the council agreeing in 2023 to appoint a contractor to demolish the store and carry out an environmental clean up, but in a reply to a Newry.ie query Council explained there was no 'remaining capacity' to appoint the contractor at the time.

The Council spokesperson said “In March 2023, the Council agreed to progress the demolition of the Albert Basin Store and undertake an environmental clean-up. At that time, there was no remaining capacity within the Council’s Civil Engineering and Minor Works Framework to appoint a contractor directly for this work. It was therefore decided that the demolition would be incorporated into the scope of the main Albert Basin Park project."
 
They added "As a result, the store has not yet been demolished pending the commencement of the main contract works for the park. The demolition will be undertaken in accordance with the main contractor’s conditions once site works officially begin."

The spokesperson added that the building contains small pieces of 'low-value Council equipment' and that security fencing has been installed around the building to deter unauthorised access and prevent further incidents such as fire or break-ins.
 
They concluded "The Council continues to monitor the site to ensure it remains safe and secure until demolition takes place as part of the main Albert Basin Park development.”