Planning Permission has been granted for a massive mixed use development in Newry City Centre.
The site sits between Merchant's Quay and Cornmarket and the proposals would change forever the dynamics of the area. Presently no-one lives along Merchant's Quay and coupled with another proposed development at the Sugar Island end of the street, this would have the potential to change numbers living in Newry City Centre dramatically.
The development known as Pearce's Gate would see 82 residential units (private and social), office space, 3 retail units and a Coffee Bar on the site now occupied mostly by the vacant Goss's car showroom.
The application was made by Kerr Property Holdings Belfast and includes the demolition of Numbers 46, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 & 54 Merchants Quay and numbers 9, 11, 13, 15 & 17 Cornmarket to make way for the development. One of the properties in Merchants Quay is a listed building, and permission was also granted to carry out remedial work with the property the location for a coffee bar at ground level and office accommodation above.
Certain conditions have been attached to elements of the permission with provision of sufficient car parking being one.
The planning decision was made at todays meeting of the Newry, Mourne and Down Council Planning Committee.
Proposing that the total of three of the projects planning applications be approved, Newry City Councillor, Cllr Gary Stokes said "From someone who spent their years of life in that part of the town and it would be fantastic to see people living back in that part of Newry. A huge project in terms of Newry regeneration." Mournes Councillor, Cllr Glyn Hanna seconded the proposal saying "It would be a significant boost to Newry itself and the general economic impact of it will be massive in Newry" There were no objections.
