Final chance to bid over Irish Street development

Final chance to bid over Irish Street development

15 February 2023

DEVELOPERS interested in transforming the former Irish Street police station site in Downpatrick have until this Friday to submit their formal bids.

A development brief designed to pave the way for the transformation of the former base and a number of adjacent empty buildings was published last November, with the closing date for submitted bids now just three days’ away.

Stretching back to St Patrick’s Avenue, the near two acre development site includes the Irish Street car park, with developers asked to submit their respective proposals on how they envisage the development of the site proceeding.

Once the bids are in, the Department for Communities will appoint a developer and agree the contractual development agreement.

The former police base was purchased by the government department which, alongside Newry, Mourne and Down Council, is driving the regeneration initiative which both organisations hope will help revitalise the town centre.

The successful bidder will be handed responsibility to oversee Downpatrick’s biggest ever economic regeneration initiative and once the tender has been awarded for the site, the appointed contractor will have 12 months to submit a formal planning application.

An additional 18 months has been set aside to obtain formal planning approval and five years to complete the scheme. 

With the emphasis on developing a multi-use scheme at the Irish Street site, the location has  already attracted keen interest from a number of leading retailers and it is hoped that investment will lead to the area’s social, community and economic renewal.

Contractors with previous experience of similar schemes in a conservation area are being encouraged to submit bids to secure the contract to transform the former police base which has been closed for over six years.

During a visit to Downpatrick to announce the launch of the development brief late last year, former Stormont communities minister Deirdre Hargey said the redevelopment of the huge site was good news for the town and represented a “once in a lifetime opportunity”.

Ms Hargey said the aim of the Irish Street scheme is to create an “innovative and inclusive place of the highest urban design quality”, with developers and other interested parties asked to submit design and build proposals for the regeneration of the key strategic site.

She added: “This exciting project is a great example of central and local government working with partners to transform this strategically important site, and to deliver a wide range of social and economic benefits for the town.

“It will see the much-needed regeneration of vacant buildings in Irish Street and breathe life and vitality back into the heart of the town, creating jobs, commercial activity and homes. I look forward to seeing exciting and innovative development proposals coming forward over the next few months.”

Downpatrick councillor, Dermot Curran, said the Irish Street scheme will be the single biggest development seen in the town centre for decades and represents a “once in a lifetime opportunity of a development of this scale”.

He continued: “People are keen to see what the preferred bidder will come up with to transform what is a huge site in the centre of the town. This investment represents a huge opportunity and we have to get it right,” continued Cllr Curran.

“Redeveloping the former police base site and neighbouring properties will be a game-changer and act as a catalyst to secure more investment, increasing footfall which will benefit existing traders.”

Cllr Curran said many people have spoken to him about the potential of the Irish Street site and are also keen to discover the detail of the “exciting” redevelopment proposals.