Write a commentArchitects working on the Newry City Centre Regeneration project have given a presentation to Councillors. The online presentation took place at last weeks monthly Newry, Mourne and Down Council Strategy Policy and Resources meeting.
Graham Ogle and Nicola Donnelly from Hamilton Architects and Richard Moore from Delloite gave the presentation. They explained tha the aims of the Newry City Regeneration Programme is twofold, to encourage more people into Newry City and to embrace opportunity.
Graham Ogle spoke of the "Seed Projects" the projects which are funded by the council: the Newry Town Hall Theatre and Conference facility and the Newry Civic and Regional Hub. "As part of this there will be the urban regeneration of the main core, which is the Merchant core that we talked about before and other opportunities of investment through redevelopment of the Albert Basin, development of the Southern Relief Road and private investment in the likes of a new hotel and Grade A office accommodation."
Speaking of the benefits of the Civic Centre and Theatre, Nicola Donnelly said "They are destination places, which will attract workers, families, visitors and events. They have an urban civic square concept. They embed the arts and culture of Newry Town Hall and the theatre within the city through the performance square which will addresses the canal and the pedestrian cycle connection to Needham Bridge."
"Included in the vision for the regeneration programme is the provision of new Grade A office space and the relocation of workers to the city centre is an opportunity for the development of land adjacent to the Daisy Hill site."
Speaking on theTheatre part Ms Donnelly said "The Town Hall significant listed beautiful red brick building will be enhanced with the addition of an new theatre, atrium and a public performance square"
"The aim of the project is to increase the evening and daytime economy to Newry City Centre, increase the arts and culture offering to the city centre, and this project also levers innovation fund and DFI rivers flood alleviation funding."
Speaking on the Newry civic and regional hub element Ms Donnelly added "This project really is a significant opportunity for the council on two fronts. Firstly place making around Newry Cathedral and creation of an new community square. This will lead to increased footfall to the city centre and in turn help benefit local small businesses based in the Newry City Centre. Secondly it embraces post Covid working patterns provides a regional hub strategically located between Belfast and Dublin and this builds upon the success the council already have for the Downpatrick offices and it bookends the council region with the provision of this kind of service."
She also noted "Ongoing discussions with the Department of Finance regarding opportunities of relocating the Northern Ireland Civil Service staff within this regional hub."
Another part of the scheme Public Realm work, funded by Belfast Region City Deal would involve place-making at Bank Parade, a performance square overlooking Newry Canal, a public path via Needham Bridge which would access this, place-making at Newry Cathedral, improved relationship between Abbey way and city centre, civic urban square and improved appearance of Newry City Centre core.
During the presentation Richard Moore from Delloite talked about private sector investment and a potential new hotel likely to be a mid range budget hotel that fills a gap in the market. Richard said "Obviously there's a really strong fit with the Theatre/ Conferencing which will help to drive overnight stays and this in turn will drive expenditure in the evening economy"
Speaking of a fund to support Grade A office development which would be funded by the Belfast Region City Deal Mr Moore said "Currently there is market failure where private sector is not coming forward to speculatively build office accommodation in Newry despite there being a real lack of good quality office space. Newry is a very competitive location compared to Belfast and Dublin when it comes to leasing space but as a result there is a lower return of investment for a developer
"They could for the same cost build the same square box in Belfast or Dublin and get a higher return so there is a viability gap. This fund is looking at a way of trying to address that barrier for investment, put Newry on the map as a key location and as an investment opportunity"
Following the presentation there were questions from Councillors which like the previous Monday night's Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism meeting broadly took two sides, those supporting the scheme in it's entirety and those concerned about the Civic Centre element which at present is towered over by a council motion requiring a re-evaluation of the Civic Centre report put to councillors at a September meeting to go to a full public consultation.
