Proposed new shopping complex should be sited in city centre
March 31, 2009
A proposed new retail development for Newry must concentrate on the 100 acres of land identified in the city centre for such development, a spokesperson for the Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade has stated.
Reacting to plans for a huge new commercial project on the former Customs site between the Armagh Road and the Belfast Road, first revealed by the Examiner last month, the spokesperson said they were committed to the development of Newry city centre as a major commercial hub on the island of Ireland.
“Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade is committed to protecting the vitality and viability of Newry City through sustainable development and effective regeneration. Newry Chamber has been, and continues to be at the forefront of protecting, supporting, promoting Newry City Centre.
“The Chamber has identified over 100 acres of development opportunity sites within the city centre boundary (The draft Banbridge Newry and Mourne Area Plan 2015, also identifies in excess of 45 acres of land as Development Opportunity Sites within the city centre boundary of Newry, not withstanding further windfall sites which may come on stream during the plan period.)
“This is not surprising given the decades of minimal or no development of Newry during the Troubles. Given the unnatural suspension of new and sustainable regeneration that was imposed on the city centre for so many years, the City must now be given time to catch up before any major out of centre competition is allowed to threaten the vitality and viability of the centre”.
“In accordance with the defined limit of Newry City Centre, the Chamber advocates that land within this limit is the only primary consideration for the location of commercial office, retailing and leisure development”.
“The Chamber therefore expects the DoE NI Planning Service to apply stringent and rigorous testing of the development potential of these Opportunity Sites in line prevailing Regional Planning Policy. Only after such stringent testing has been exhausted should the consideration of any non city centre site be contemplated – and only then should consideration be given to an edge of centre location only for the life of this Plan and for the foreseeable future thereafter”
“Proposals for new major retail, offices and leisure development should not be considered at an out of centre location”.
