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The Historic Monuments section of the Department for Communities Historic Environment Department has requested additional information from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and its architects before it can provide an ‘informed and reasonable planning decision’ on the proposed new theatre and conference centre on the site of the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre in Newry.
It has also raised concerns about the impact of the proposed plans on Newry Canal, a scheduled monument.
In a letter to the Council’s Planning Department, Historic Monuments, in seeking an Archaeological Impact Assessment, say the proposed site has a high potential to contain below ground industrial archaeological remains and still contains some upstanding remains of warehouse buildings likely associated with historic industrial activity on Sugar Island.
“We would require an Archaeological Impact Assessment to be submitted to clarify the archaeological potential of the proposed development area and the potential impacts of development upon those remains,” Historic Monuments say in the letter.
“The report should also provide recommendations for mitigation ahead of development. Advance archaeological testing should also be considered given the high potential to encounter below ground remains.
“This may be useful to inform the site layout for the development and reduce the possibility of extensive excavation and recording.”
Newry Canal concerns
The letter points out the proposed development area is immediately adjacent to Newry Canal, a regionally important monument scheduled for protection under the Historic Monuments and Archaeological Objects (NI) Order 1995, and any intrusive works within the scheduled area of the canal would require Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC) from the Department for Communities’ Historic Environment Division.
Historic Monuments also say they have concerns regarding the proposed ‘Raised Timber Platform’ to be cantilevered over the canal ‘given the encroachment on the alignment of the canal and the works required along the canal bank to support this’ and have advised that Historic Environment Division ‘are minded not to grant Scheduled Monument Consent to this element of the scheme’.
“We advise that this element of the scheme should be reconsidered and moved further east out of the scheduled area so as to avoid any adverse impact upon the canal and its line,” the letter concludes.
