2 Comments
In a move that gives a massive boost to a derelict area of Newry, Planning Permission has been granted for a major development on the corner of Merchant's Quay and Cornmarket in Newry.
The development will see 73 one and two bedroom apartments as well as office space and commercial/ retail space on the former Goss car showroom site. The listed building at 47 Merchants Quay will be retained and repurposed as part of the plans.
The project was first discussed in 2019 and planning application was first submitted in March 2020 and has since been through a roller coaster of decisions with provision of car parking spaces being the major sticking point in the process. Council reccommended the scheme for approval in March 2021. Five days later the Department for Infrastructure issued a 'Holding Direction' which prevented Council from granting Planning Permission until further advised. Their main concern was car parking, insisting that 107 car parking spaces would be needed for the residential element of the scheme. A spokesperson for the developer at today's meeting pointed out that 107 spaces would take up 90% of the site area.
The ethos of the development is modelled on sustainability and a largely car free environment and representatives of the developers spoke at today's meeting of how it worked in other areas. Referring to the scheme and the fact that it is basically overlooking the Bus Station Independent Transport Consultant Karen McShane remarked "If we cant put a sustainable scheme in this space in Newry I don't know where we can."
In a move that could well be seen as a game changer in Newry City the developers argument and reasons for making the development a sustainable and largely car free environment were accepted unanimously by Councillors at a Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Planning Committee meeting this morning 16/11/22. Nine councillors voted to overturn a recommendation to deny approval while none were against and one abstained.
Councillor Glyn Hanna proposed that Council overturned the officers recommendations. He spoke on the assessment that 817 parking spaces were available within 350 yeards of the site "This is a complete no brainer. On street parking is available."
Councillor Declan Murphy in seconding the proposal said " this is a bold and very brave project proposal from the applicants. That's the direction we want to be heading in, There's other cities on this island, north and south Dublin in particular are doing something similar.
"At the end of the day we have to test these things and I think it is the right decision. For a multitude of reasons you have already said about the regeneration of Newry etc and I think everybody agrees with that but for all of those reasons I would agree that we overturn the recommendation to an approval."
Developers plan to provide 11 car parking spaces on site plus a car club where a car can be hired by the hour.
The proposal application states that it is a Major city centre mixed use development scheme comprising of circa 864 m of office space (incorporating the listed building located at No. 47 Merchants Quay, Newry); 518 .3 m Commercial Retail Space with associated ancillary service yard areas; 1no. coffee bar (54 m ) (within the ground floor of the listed building); 73 (11no. 1-bedroom units and 62 no. 2-bedroom units) (private and social) together with associated landscaped areas, internal communal courtyard and car parking. Proposals include the associated demolition of Nos 46/49/50/51/52/53 & 54 Merchants Quay (located within Newry Conservation Area) and Nos 9/11/13/15 & 17 Cornmarket, Newry.
Kerr Property, part of Keltbray Group, is behind the new development.
