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Newry City Centre Regeneration plans are back in the spotlight following the sending of an open letter signed by arts, business, Church and community groups to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
While welcoming the Council's efforts to developing a re-invigorated and regenerated city centre, the letter also spells out some of the challenges faced and asks for meaningful engagement, transparency and a willingness to speak to key stakeholders. It follows the formation of a group of stakeholders from the voluntary, business, church and arts sectors in Newry in November.
A council consultation on the regeneration scheme in 2021 saw respondants broadly welcoming most of the proposals but many had major difficulties with the Civic Centre/ Council office part of the scheme which would involve a new modern building behind Newry Cathedral and the removal of car parking presently there. The size of the new Theatre to replace the Arts Centre is also a concern. The proposals include public realm work, a new Arts/ Conference facility incorporating the site of the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre and Newry Town Hall, Grade A office space and Civic Centre/ Council Offices.
The Letter:
Let's Put the Heart back into Our City
We love this city we call home. We want to see investment in it so that it can develop and flourish. All of us want to live, work and relax in a thriving city.
For some of us, that means being able to go to a 300+ seater theatre to see first class shows, plays, and acts. For others it means being able to enjoy public spaces, improved landscaping in the city centre and access to a 15 acre city park. For most of us it means being able to walk, cycle or drive into the city centre and park so we can eat, shop, go to work or attend our local churches.
As Newry citizens we wholeheartedly support the regeneration of our city centre. We warmly welcome the Council’s efforts to invest in developing a re-invigorated and regenerated city centre that we can all be proud of. We all want to see a vibrant, thriving city heart.
The challenge for the Council and for our community is to ensure that this investment is in the right things and at the right level.
You asked us to respond to your proposals. Over 1,600 of us did, providing over 6,169 open comments across all of the regeneration projects elements. Your own consultants highlighted the “ambitions consultees have for the city and the positive contribution that they could bring to the plans going forward”.
Our priorities as a community, based on our feedback, differ in some regards. However, we believe that following represent the most urgent areas for our city:
- A 15 acre city centre park and marina at the heart of regeneration
- A 300+ theatre facility, comparable to Armagh and other venues
- Public realm and spaces that we can all enjoy and appreciate
- A vision that protects and enhances Newry Cathedral, a grade A listed building and arguably the most important building in the city centre
- Car parking adjacent to the Cathedral and Hill Street to meet current needs, alongside a transport plan for the future
- An integrated vision that preserves and connects our historic buildings and waterways
Whilst we warmly endorse the need for regeneration, there is an urgent need for meaningful engagement, proper transparency and a willingness to speak directly to the key stakeholders in our city. Please listen to and engage with your community.
Help us to help you in realising our shared vision of a vibrant city for all.
Yours, etc
Bosco Drama Group
Newpoint Players
Newry 2020
Newry BID
Newry Parish Pastoral Council
Sticky Fingers
Start of a Journey
Speaking about the meeting in November between the groups included above a spokesperson from Newry 2020 said "Newry 2020 are delighted to be part of this group, which is the first time that the voluntary, business, church and arts sectors have come together to respond jointly to the council's proposed Newry City Centre Regeneration Programme.
Naturally we welcome regeneration in our city, but it is essential that any investment reflects the needs and wishes of the community. The council must reconsider the current proposals in light of the serious concerns expressed in the recent public consultation.
This is just the start of a journey, and we are looking forward to working with other groups to ensure that our city and our community have the brightest possible future ahead!"
