Work progressing on park and ride in Downpatrick

Work progressing on park and ride in Downpatrick

7 September 2022

PROGRESS has been made on a major new park and ride facility on the outskirts of Downpatrick, it has been confirmed this week. 

The scheme is being spearheaded by the Department for Infrastructure on a site close to the sprawling Down Business Park.

A number of similar proposals are in the pipeline for other local towns, including in Ballynahinch, with the park and ride proposed for Downpatrick expected to be able to accommodate around 400 vehicles.

It was originally proposed to site the park and ride facility beside the Maxol station in Church Street close to the roundabout which is currently being redeveloped as part of a significant new investment. 

It was proposed to provide 50 spaces at this location before there was a change in thinking and agreement to provide a much larger facility at the Belfast Road which will provide eight times the number of spaces.

Translink is fully supportive of the new facility which is designed to encourage people to travel by bus, especially into the centre of Belfast to help ease congestion and reduce the city’s carbon footprint and emission levels.

News that a feasibility design study of the new park and ride facility has been completed has been welcomed by South Down MLA Patrick Brown.

He has been campaigning for the facility with the progress update provided to him by the government department.

“The Belfast park and ride has long been discussed and I am pleased that plans are progressing,” said Mr Brown.

“The project could potentially allow parking for up to 400 vehicles and is part of a Northern Ireland-wide park and ride programme undertaken by the Department of Infrastructure.”

The MLA confirmed that he wrote recently to its officials asking for a progress report on the project which he has been campaigning to be provided for a number of years.

The Department has confirmed that the feasibility design has now been completed,” confirmed Mr Brown. “The next steps are for a business case to be finished and then a public consultation before a formal planning application is submitted.”

The Assemblyman said the proposed park and ride facility “can’t come soon enough” describing its provision as a key part of helping alleviate parking issues that have plagued Downpatrick and Crossgar.

“The new facility would help those commuting into Belfast and free up parking within the town. Importantly, it will also help reduce car usage which is a key environmental goal,” continued Mr Brown.

He added: “The initial environmental and ecology assessments have already been carried out at the Belfast Road site and I thank the Department for its work on this much-needed project and look forward to a further update when the business case has been completed.”

Completion of the business case will allow departmental officials to secure the necessary funding to construct the new parking facility.