£17m Newry civic centre gets planning green light

£17m Newry civic centre gets planning green light

25 June 2025

THE Downshire Civic Centre in Downpatrick will remain an important administrative hub for Newry, Mourne and Down Council, despite a £17m investment in a new local authority base in Newry, the district’s first citizen is insisting.

Last week, planning approval was granted for the new civic centre and regional hub at Abbey Way in the city, despite major objections to the controversial proposal.

One of the main objectors was the Catholic Church which expressed major concern about the centre’s proximity to the near 200 year old Newry cathedral.

The ultra-modern civic hub — which will be home to 215 staff and have a debating chamber for council meetings —  is part of a broader city regeneration scheme that includes a 15 acre park, a theatre and a road bypass and is supported by the Belfast Region City Deal.

Council officials insist the wider scheme will increase vibrancy and footfall in the city centre and stimulate further investment, with work on the new civic centre potentially starting within weeks.

But the Planning Committee’s ruling could be challenged in the High Court via a judicial review, while some Alliance councillors have questioned the need for two administrative bases.

The green light for the controversial hub came after two meetings of the local authority’s Planning Committee in Newry and Downpatrick last Thursday.

An initial meeting in the city heard evidence in support and objection, with the second meeting in Downpatrick resulting in planning committee members voting on the matter.

At the beginning of this second meeting, committee members took legal advice in closed session and following the decision, objectors say they will consider whether to judicially challenge it.

Council chairman Philip Campbell said securing planning approval for the new civic centre “marks a step forward in revitalising the historic heart of Newry”.

In addition, he said the planning ruling will position Newry as a “confident, dynamic destination for people, business and culture”.

Cllr Campbell said delivering this “once-in-a-generation investment” will act as a catalyst for economic growth, create employment and lay the foundations for long-term prosperity in Newry. 

“It is central to the council’s vision for a modern, vibrant city centre that thrives on business, creativity, community life and cultural identity,” he continued.

“The council will continue to have two administrative centres in Newry and Downpatrick, with the Downshire Civic Centre remaining as the council’s headquarters in Downpatrick.”

Cllr Campbell said once the Newry city centre regeneration projects are on the ground, they will create a wide range of skilled and semi-skilled jobs in the construction industry — supporting local employment and skills development.

“Local suppliers and service providers will also benefit through contracts and support services. Beyond the construction phase, the regeneration programme will lead to sustainable long-term job creation across multiple sectors including retail, hospitality, the creative industries and public services,” he said.

“The decision by the Planning Committee follows the recent submission of a planning application for the transformative Newry City Park, also part of the Newry City Centre Regeneration Project.”

Sinn Fein Slieve Gullion councillor, Declan Murphy, said he believed the civic centre and the other regeneration schemes will drive investment.

“This has been scrutinised more than any other application that has been in front of me.

 Everyone had their view heard. Our view was that we were satisfied with what has been proposed,” he said.

“Newry will be transformed over the next five years – with the civic centre, the southern relief road, the city park, the new theatre and streetscape a huge amount of public and private money is being invested. This will attract more investors to the area and it will be transformative,” he added.

The SDLP’s Declan McAteer says the new hub “fills a gap” on the Belfast-Dublin axis with the chosen location an area “that was completely dead”.

Canon Francis Brown from Newry Cathedral said he was “disappointed” with the Planning Committee decision.

“All the parishioners are opposed to this building,” he said. “It’s far too close to the cathedral which is 200 years old. We’re all very disappointed.”

Andy Stephens, of Matrix Consulting, who represented objectors at planning meetings, said consideration will now be given in relation to what happens next.

“It’s not the end of the road,” he said. “Obviously there is a decision that has to be issued. We’ll take a look at that and then take advice and see what the outcome of that advice is.

“The only remedies in Northern Ireland for third parties is to judicially challenge – there’s no third party right of appeal like in the south. 

We’ve three months to launch those proceedings.”