Work starts on major new veterinary hospital

Work starts on major new veterinary hospital

10 September 2014

DOWNPATRICK is in line for a new £700,0000 veterinary hospital.

Work on the Church Street project is currently well underway at the site of premises formerly occupied by the South Eastern Regional College.

The new veterinary hospital — which is expected to open for business next spring — is being constructed by the Castle Veterinary Group which currently has premises in Church Street and in Castlewellan.

The Group is planning to move its current operation in Church Street to the new premises just a short distance away to provide Downpatrick with one of the most modern facilities of its kind in the district.

The £700,000 investment will provide the Castle Veterinary Group with a new ultra-modern facility and allow the Downpatrick centre to operate at the same level as its other premises in Castlewellan.

The Downpatrick project has secured funding of £180,718 from the Urban Development Grant programme administered by the Department of Social Development.Stormont Environment Minister Mark Durkan has described the Downpatrick investment as “good news for the town.”

He continued: “This major investment will boost the local economy and be of benefit to both the local rural and urban population.

“It will provide construction jobs in the short term, with further skilled jobs created in the long term.”

Mr. Durkan said the decision to provide planning permission for the veterinary hospital shows once again how the planning system can and is delivering for business.

He added: “I will continue to ensure that the right decisions are made as quickly as possible and that my department delivers a better environment and a stronger economy.”