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The High Court in Belfast today granted Leave for judicial review to challenge the decision of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to approve planning permission for the proposed civic hub development in Newry.
The civic hub was granted planning permission in August 2025 and the current multi storey car park at Abbey Way behind Newry Cathedral was to be demolished to enable the development containing a council room, meeting rooms, council offices and associated ancillary accommodation, as well as public realm works and alterations to the existing road network. Latest figures suggest that the hub would cost £16.9m. Over * 2000 objections were received, with Newry Cathedral Parish being one of the most vocal objectors.
The decision in the challenge brought by Newry man, Paul Lennon means that Lennon’s case concerning the interpretation and application of Northern Ireland’s climate change legislation will now proceed to a full hearing.
Lennon's challenge centres on whether the Council properly considered its obligations arising from the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and the Climate Change (Reporting Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 when granting planning permission for the major development.
Commenting on the decision, Ciaran O’Hare, Solicitor of McIvor Farrell Law firm, acting on behalf of Mr Lennon, said “This is a significant development in climate and planning law in Northern Ireland. The Court has recognised that there is a serious issue to be tried regarding the legal effect of Northern Ireland’s climate legislation and how public authorities must take climate obligations into account when making major planning decisions.
O'Hare continued: "This is believed to be one of the first judicial review challenges in Northern Ireland to proceed on grounds directly concerning the interpretation and practical effect of the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and the associated reporting regulations."
The Solicitor believes the case raises important questions about whether public bodies can simply acknowledge climate change obligations in principle, or whether they must actively assess and take account of carbon emissions and climate impacts when making major planning decisions.
He concluded: "The outcome of this case has the potential to provide important guidance for councils and other public authorities across Northern Ireland when exercising their planning and decision-making functions in the years ahead.
"My client welcomes the Court’s decision and looks forward to presenting the full arguments at the substantive hearing.”
Correction/ Addition 3pm 23/6/26
* Correction 4.30pm 23/6/26 - should be over 2000 and not 20,000. Total was just over 2,600.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have requested a correction in relation to above article, based on the omission of six of the applicants claims out of seven being refused Leave for JR and Newry.ie are happy to print their statement in full.
“The leave application for judicial review in respect of planning approval for the Council’s Civic and Regional Hub in Newry was heard in the High Court on Monday 22 June.
"The applicant had lodged seven grounds of challenge to the decision to grant permission. However, after the applicant made their submissions to the court and after the Council’s senior barrister had opened the Council’s position, the applicant abandoned four of their grounds of challenge mid-hearing. The abandoned grounds were: Ground 3 (inadequate consultation process), Ground 4 (lack of transparency in decision making), Ground 5 (transport assessment) and Ground 7 (breach of regulation 3 – wrong fee paid.)
"After the application then proceeded on the remaining grounds, Mr Justice McLaughlin determined that the applicant could not substantiate their grounds of challenge for either Ground 2, (inadequate environmental impact assessment) and Ground 6 (speculative sites) and refused leave on both grounds.
"In respect of Ground 1 (breach of climate change legislation), the judge referred to the ongoing A5 Appeal before the Court of Appeal. He accepted that the challenge on this ground raised a novel point as there has been no previous challenge to any local authorities’ responsibilities in respect of climate change in this jurisdiction.
"The judge granted leave on this ground alone as he considered that he required a full hearing in order to determine the extent of the Council’s responsibilities in respect of climate change and whether any breach has arisen. The date for the hearing is to be confirmed.”
