Newry and Mourne District Council

Newry City Centre Strategic Development Framework March 2004
iv. Canal Redevelopment Zone
The public consultation exercise has identified the Canal and River as being of major importance in
any future development of central Newry. It is therefore important that a plan be put in place to
secure the long-term redevelopment of the area of land between the canal and river and the land on
either side. The Canal Redevelopment Zone includes all the land, buildings, water and spaces from
Dublin Bridge to the northern end of Merchants Quay and the town hall. It takes in the buildings
fronting the Mall, buildings on St Marys Street, the part of the Buttercrane Shopping Centre facing
Buttercrane Quay and all the buildings on Merchants Quay. The long-term vision for the area is
based on the reuse of the river and the canal and the space in between as a central space for Newry.
However it is not intended that this be a green wedge, but should be very urban. Linkages north and
south along this space and back and forward across the water bodies are crucial. Legibility and visual
linkages will therefore play a major part in the overall vision and in any redevelopment. It will be the
focus for events and civic functions, containing monuments and a small number of important
buildings at key locations. The buildings along the streets on either side will play a key role in defining
the space. At present, the scale and height of the buildings are generally not large enough in
comparison to the breadth of the area occupied by the canal and river. Future buildings would
therefore need to be at least 4 to 5 storeys in height in order to enclose the space. The physical and
visual barriers that restrict views and movement across the space need to be removed. The aim will
be to change the river and canal from being perceived as a boundary to being a feature in themselves.
Types of uses that would be considered acceptable along Merchants Quay and the Mall would
include, restaurants, residential, offices, small-scale comparison retailing and hotels. The streets need
to be more pedestrian friendly with the uses sharing space with the streets and having a greater link
with the water. At present, there are too many blank frontages facing the water. Uses such as retail
warehousing would not be regarded as acceptable in this area.
Marcus Square would benefit from a reduced number of vehicles or if possible a complete removal
of vehicles from the street. This would facilitate uses that could then “spill” out onto a street
dominated by pedestrians. However, this has failed in the past due to lack of alternative, convenient
off street parking, an adequate taxi rank, rear servicing to all premises and the fear that a street
without vehicle movement in the evening would not be vibrant. It would therefore be important that
any move towards pedestrianisation should be implemented in a phased manner. The first phase
would be to provide more attractive parking and servicing alternatives to the rear of the properties
with good linkages into the main shopping streets. Policies that would encourage night-time uses and
city centre living should be put in place at the same time. Opportunity sites such as the North Street
flats and the car park at Lower Water Street should be redeveloped to incorporate extensive car
parking that would serve the Primary Retail Core and the canal and river area. Only after these
changes have become established, will it be possible for the pedestrianisation of Hill Street to begin.
It will be necessary to establish a detailed strategy for the proper implementation of the
pedestrianisation and related proposals.
vi. Office, Leisure and Parking
The area from the North Street Flats to the Boat Street roundabout, including Abbey Playing Fields
has been zoned for office, leisure and parking uses. The North Street site is one of the most
important sites that has become available in the city centre. The high demand for city centre office
space could be accommodated here, close to the city centre, yet not impacting on vital retail space.
The idea to develop the sites with extensive car parking should be reflected strongly in any
proposals for the site and should be stated in the Area Plan. Despite the difficult links with the
central area, the provision of car parking on these sites will undoubtedly take pressure off more
important sites, better used for open space purposes.
v. Primary Retail Core
The policy for this area should aim to reverse the trend noted in the health check that Hill Street
and surrounding streets are moving from being a comparison goods area to one which is mainly
occupied by retail services such as travel agents, banks and cafes. Any proposals which might
prejudice the vitality and viability of the Primary Retail Core should be considered unacceptable.
Further, those which would result in a significant loss of retail floorspace and the clustering of nonretail
uses should be discouraged. In order to boost the evening economy and encourage Primary
Retail Core to be used beyond 5pm, uses such as restaurants, bars and living above shops should be
promoted. One of the main aims for Hill Street should be to create a more vibrant and safer
environment beyond normal working hours. Hill Street and in particular Margaret Square and
vii. Major Retailing
The existing Quays and Buttercrane Shopping centres have been identified under this zoning. Both
these centres are vital to the economy of central Newry and in the short to medium term at least
should be afforded protection under PPS5. Policies should be put in place to encourage both these
centres to play a bigger role in the well being of the city centre and improved linkages to and across
the canal and river to the traditional shopping area should be encouraged. Buttercrane in particular
presents a dead frontage to Buttercrane Quay. The strategy for better connections across the canal
and river will be dependent upon good physical and visual linkages between the shopping centre and
the Hill Street area.
Ferguson McIlveen in association with Mentor and Scott Wilson Page No. 25