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The Planning Application for Newry Civic Centre is to be brought back to Council this week in another effort to gain approval for the project from Councillors. The proposed headquarters for Council in Newry was approved by Councillors in December 2024 but subsequently received a direction from Department for Infrastructure meaning that a Pre Determination Hearing had to be heard with a final decision following this. This was carried out in April but deferred for legal advice. Since then another planned meeting was also deferred.
This Thursday 19 June, plans are in place for 2 meetings a Pre Determination Hearing and then the Determination itself.
The application is for a Civic Hub building at Abbey Way, Newry accommodating council room, meeting rooms, council offices and associated ancillary accommodation as well as public realm work.
Over 2000 objections to the proposals were received from local businesses, Newry Cathedral Parish and members of the public.
An additional document on the Planning Hub dated 11 June 2025 replies to concerns that were raised.
Representations from third parties had claimed:
- Application was invalid because it was re-categorised by Planning Department as a major from a local application and the necessity for a Pre-application Community Consultation (PACC) to accompany the submission of the application.
- Querying fee paid on application
- Climate Change act not considered
- Failure to notify neighbours
Regarding the re-categorising the new document Council claim that the Planning Act doesn't give a time for the accompany PACC to be submitted. It just says "must be accompanied"
Re the fee paid the Council say the planning department is content the correct fee has been paid. On Climate Change Council say while the Climate Change Act (NI) 2022 sets general targets for departments it is not planning policy. Lastly they cite a mapping error as the reason why some neighbours weren't notified and that they have since been notified.
