New taskforce to drive regeneration in district

New taskforce to drive regeneration in district

16 October 2024

A NEW taskforce is to be established to spearhead town centre regeneration and rehabilitation across the district.

Newry, Mourne and Down councillors agreed the move on Monday night, paving the way for the new group to identify priorities, grow local economies and create vibrant and attractive urban spaces in the district’s main towns.

The Newry, Mourne and Down Council Local Economic Partnership/Town City Centre Taskforce provides a foundation for local communities to identify their own economic priorities.

The new taskforce will include key players such as the Downpatrick Regeneration Working Group, Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, Down Business Centre and the Newry, Mourne and Down Labour Market Partnership.

Members of the local authority’s Economy, Regeneration and Tourism Committee were told on Monday night that the Department of the Economy recently launched its sub-regional economic plan which sets out proposals for a locally-led approach to regeneration with partnership working at its heart.

Councillors were told the taskforce is being established to deliver a long-term, collaborative approach to 

town and city centre regeneration and revitalisation.

Through local partnerships, central government, Invest NI and Newry, Mourne and Down Council, in tandem with education providers and civic society, will work together to identify the main barriers to economic development and what needs to be done to unlock that potential.

Over the coming months, the Department of Economy and Invest NI will engage with the local authority and stakeholders to support the formation of the new local economic partnerships.

The plan is to have the new taskforce embedded before the end of the year.

Councillors were told on Monday night that the new taskforce will have shared aims and objectives with the cost of creating the new body provided via existing council committee structures.

They also believe that the drive to regenerate and rejuvenate town centres will be welcomed by the business community and residents alike.

It’s just over a year since the wraps were finally been taken off the eagerly-awaited blueprint designed to rejuvenate Downpatrick.

The Living High Streets initiative — which has the potential to unlock hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding — is being spearheaded by the Department for Communities in tandem with Newry, Mourne and Down Council.

A framework document has been published which outlines a future vision for Downpatrick and an associated action plan and the next steps in the revitalisation process.

The Downpatrick Regeneration Working Group worked in tandem with the government department, local council and the Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) on developing the new blueprint and is keen to work with roads officials on a range of issues.

They include the use of vacant buildings, spaces and sites and transforming the former PSNI base and Irish Street car park, with other high priorities moves to occupy vacant properties, restore and improve shop and business frontages and improving approaches and gateways into the town.

Other themes in the blueprint include maximising the potential of Down Arts Centre and Down County Museum, Downpatrick Library, the Saint Patrick Centre, Downpatrick and Co Down Railway, the town’s bus station and South Eastern Regional College. 

The Department for Infrastructure has also worked with partners to take forward projects that have been prioritised in the framework such as a new skate park and pump track at Dunleath Park which is expected to open in early spring, environmental improvement enhancements in Lynn Doyle and Church Lane and further enhancing Irish Street.

This week work started on a major resurfacing scheme in Downpatrick town centre.

Significant stretches of Irish Street and Market Street are being resurfaced with the work coming after a large part of Church Street was also resurfaced several weeks ago.

Work began on Monday night to resurface Market Street between the Irish Street and St. Patrick’s Avenue junction, while Irish Street is being resurfaced between the Edward Street and English Street junctions.

In addition, town centre traffic signals will also be upgraded, with work on the schemes expected to be completed by November 1.