Irish Street earmarked for major improvement

Irish Street earmarked for major improvement

23 March 2016

IRISH Street in Downpatrick could be in line for a significant makeover to help regenerate the area.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council is to make a bid for Heritage Lottery Funding to draw down money under the townscape heritage initiative which provides cash to improve properties within designated conservation areas.

Grants ranging from £100,000 to £2m are available for approved projects which meet designated criteria and the local authority is keen to form a partnership with property owners in Irish Street in a bid to secure some of the money up for grabs.

In an added boost, the Department for Social Development has indicated that additional money may be available for a public realm and revitalisation scheme at this historic part of Downpatrick.

Townscape heritage projects must demonstrate they will make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities. 

Council officials are confident they can deliver in Irish Street where work is already underway to remove heavy fortifications including a blast wall at the former police base which closed last November.

Local authority officials are particularly keen to see the refurbishment of a number of derelict properties adjacent to the former police base.

The council will concentrate its efforts on working up an application to secure money for Irish Street, but officials are also giving consideration to the development of future project ideas in areas where previous Heritage Lottery Funds projects have not been delivered or plans not developed.

Areas suggested for consideration include Scotch Street in Downpatrick, Castlewellan, Killough, Killyleagh, Ardglass and Strangford. The projects put forward for funding will be ranked in order of feasibility and the level of commitment from property owners and potential match funding.

It was confirmed at Monday’s meeting of the local authority’s Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism Committee that possible feasible projects which appear to meet current funding criteria include the refurbishment of a number of vacant properties at Castlewellan’s Upper Square.

The refurbishment of vacant properties in Scotch Street as part of the overall regeneration of the so-called cultural quarter are suggested, as are the refurbishment of derelict properties at Castle Street in Killough.