Vision for a vibrant Downpatrick town

Vision for a vibrant Downpatrick town

20 September 2023

THE redevelopment of the former Irish Street police station site in Downpatrick is one of the key strands of a major new vision for the town.

Revealed in front of an audience of over 100 people at the Down Arts Centre last week, the new Living High Streets initiative offers exciting opportunities for the county town, with the potential to secure hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding.

A document — which runs to 70 pages — outlines not just a future vision for Downpatrick, but an associated action plan and the next steps in the revitalisation process. 

And while the hard work starts now, all the key players are fully committed and signed up to delivering for the town and its people and address various issues which have been put on the back burner for many years.

The Downpatrick Regeneration Working Group is working in tandem with Newry, Mourne and Down Council, Department for Communities and the Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) on revitalising the town.

Redeveloping the former police base and adjoining Irish Street car park is described as a “great opportunity” with the expansive site offering “significant potential to be a catalyst for regeneration”.

The framework document suggests the site offers potential to provide restaurants, shops, a hotel and underground parking.

It says with amazing views towards Down Cathedral, there could be a tiered restaurant, with the Irish Street car park also used as a public space to hold various outdoor events.

It is also being suggested events could be held there to coincide with events at Downpatrick racecourse, St Patrick’s Day festival parade, Halloween, Christmas and the DownTime Festival.

Earlier this year, a development brief designed to attract interest from developers in redeveloping the Irish Street site proved unsuccessful, but it is hoped that a fresh bid to secure private sector interest will be.

Elsewhere, the use of vacant buildings, spaces and sites are viewed as high priorities as well as moves to occupy vacant properties, restore and improve shop and business frontages and improving approaches and gateways into the town.

As part of enhancing communications and marketing, ideas include creating a calendar of coordinated events and activities that can be shared to maximise connectivity and marketing opportunities.

The focus is also on developing a Downpatrick ‘passport’ with 10 things to see and do, developing a set of experiential days out for different audiences.

Other themes in the blueprint include maximising the potential of the Down Arts Centre and Down County Museum, Downpatrick Library, the St Patrick Centre, Downpatrick and Co Down Railway, the town’s bus station and South Eastern Regional College. 

The Department for Infrastructure is currently working with partners to take forward projects that have been prioritised in the framework such as a new skate park and pump track at Dunleath Park, environmental improvement enhancements in Lynn Doyle and Church Street and further enhancing Irish Street.

Other suggestions include plans to develop a legible network of routes and trails, promote existing trails and guides, improving public spaces and creating event space. 

During series of workshops, which paved the way for the detail in the vision for the future, there was a desire to have more frequent activities, events and markets, with the Irish Street car park touted as a perfect outdoor venue.

St Patrick’s Square, Market Street and St Patrick’s Avenue, Scotch Street, De Courcy Square, Church Street, Irish Street, entrances to Lynn Doyle Place, English Street, Dunleath Park, and The Grove area were suggested as key areas that could be developed and utilised more.

Regeneration Working Group chairman Mal McGrady welcomed the considerable interest in the launch of the new document.

“The passion for Downpatrick and its future potential has been made very clear,” he said.

“We have a vision for a vibrant Downpatrick and the framework outlines our significant wish list for the town and the next steps. The work that has taken place to produce the framework puts us in the best possible position for funding opportunities.” 

“I encourage our stakeholders, residents and businesses to stay with us on the journey.”

Regeneration group vice-chairwoman Cllr Oonagh Hanlon described the initiative as a “fresh approach” to placemaking that empowers local communities in collaboration with key stakeholders to re-imagine their high streets. 

“It is an exciting project with great potential for Downpatrick and we are pleased by the enthusiasm shown by the local community,” she said.

The Living High Streets Craft Kit can be found on the DfC website https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/publications/mag-living-high-streets-craft-kit, while details outlined in the Downpatrick Living High Streets Framework can be viewed at www.newrymournedown.org/downpatrick-regeneration.