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A Judicial Review over Newry’s new controversial £17m civic centre has been delayed as a one year time-line draws close to when plans were approved.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s had voted through designs for its new HQ in the city centre in June 2025.
The project has proved deeply divisive with more than 2,500 objections submitted by parishioners of Newry Cathedral mainly over car parking concerns for Mass goers.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted the courts service, which confirmed: “The JR application was previously listed for a leave hearing on 20 March 2026, but has been taken out and is now listed for a leave hearing on 8 May 2026 by consent of the parties.”
The planning decision in June last year was made with only half of the 12 committee members present in the chamber.
When put to a vote four members (3 Sinn Fein & 1 SDLP) voted in favour of the application, one against (DUP) and one abstained (SDLP).
Ciarán O’Hare Solicitor of McIvor Farrell Law Firm launched legal proceedings in November 2025,on behalf of his client, Mr Paul Lennon a local resident, to challenge the planning approval.
The proposed development would see council offices, meeting rooms, a public hub and associated public realm works built at the Abbey Way multi-storey car park using local ratepayers’ money.
NMDDC has previously referred to a parking survey (2023) of the Abbey Way site and has amended its HQ plans to provide 138 car park spaces at the site, which it says is above the maximum occupancy rates of mass-goers recorded.
