Downpatrick group to regenerate town

Downpatrick group to regenerate town

10 August 2022

A NEW group is to be established to oversee the regeneration of Downpatrick.

Agreement to establish the Downpatrick Regeneration Working Group came at Monday night’s meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism Committee.

Membership of the group is dominated by local politicians and senior council officials with only five representatives from the town’s business community confirmed as members with one additional person to be appointed.

Importantly, a member of Downpatrick Town Committee is also on the new working group alongside a representative from the Department for Communities and a local neighbourhood regeneration group.

It has also been confirmed that the membership of the new group could increase and that sub-committees may have to be formed to deal with certain issues.

The formation of the new group comes after council officials were asked to explore the feasibility of appointing a dedicated town centre manager. 

However, following a consultation exercise with the town’s business community, there was little support for the post, with the majority of those surveyed in favour of a dedicated regeneration working group.

During the consultation exercise a number of ideas were put forward, including a controversial suggestion to pedestrianise Market Street as part of a radical plan to regenerate the town centre.

Banning traffic from the heart of the town to accommodate street side cafes, creating a new public space for events and a dedicated area for shopping, was among a number of innovative suggestions that emerged from the consultation exercise.

The potential pedestrianisation of Market Street was one of the stand-out issues to emerge, with hopes that a new pedestrian link could also be created to nearby Irish Street where there are ambitious multi-million pound plans in the pipeline to redevelop the former police base and a number of adjacent, empty buildings.

Members of the business community who were asked for their views on the way forward want to see Downpatrick “getting the attention it deserves” from the local authority, arguing that in terms of investment, “Newry dominates the council’s agenda”.

Other priorities outlined during discussions with traders included establishing a regeneration forum that represents all business interests to develop a shared vision for Downpatrick and drive forward various initiatives, working in partnership and securing finance to fund an all embracing town centre renewal scheme.

Traders are also keen to see business, community, local and central government representatives working more closely together to maximise all potential opportunities.

It was also confirmed on Monday night that the remit of new regeneration working group will be to act as an advocate for future programmes and to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and implement regeneration priorities.

The group will have an advisory function, helping to develop ideas and work with various delivery partners as initiatives develop.

Council chairman Michael Savage said he was excited to see progress made towards securing a regeneration working group for Downpatrick.

“A Downpatrick Regeneration Working Group would offer a vital platform for local businesses; an opportunity to hear their plans for the future and their concerns, and be a central link to government and statutory bodies for advice and funding opportunities,” he continued.

“Now more than ever the business community wants to come together in Downpatrick to be a driver for new investment and increase town centre footfall. The group itself would discuss the way forward and identify its priorities, and the Council alongside its partners would do all it can to help.”

The council chairman added: “The potential for Downpatrick as the county town of Down remains huge and as a council we’re committed to playing our part.”

The recommendation to establish the new regeneration working group is expected to be formally approved by the full council when it meets on September 5.