Busy Start to September

Planning permission has now been approved for Newry City Park. This is a major milestone for the project, and we look forward to seeing it move towards delivery. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has also provided a wider update on the significant programme of public and private investment progressing across the city. See details below.

The barriers and hoarding around the two new parklets have come down this week. The contractors are now completing the final stages, including the installation of the furniture. We hope there will be a late burst of September sunshine so that businesses and visitors can enjoy them before winter arrives.

Iúr Cinn Fleadh, Newry Water Festival and Newry Mela were all great successes. Each brought activity and visitors into the city, and I would like to congratulate everyone involved in organising and delivering the events.

We have continued to work closely with members on grant and support applications. This included helping a number of businesses complete their applications for the recent vacant and underused commercial property grant scheme. We are also finalising the number of businesses around Sugar Island that will receive flood barrier support.

We recognise that the Black Saturday parade caused significant issues for many of our members. Since the event, we have been liaising with the PSNI and the organisers and putting forward alternative proposals for the future. This particular parade likely will not take place again in Newry for another 14 years. We believe there are important lessons to be learned about how all parades and major road closures are managed, particularly in relation to their economic impact on city centre businesses.

Work is also progressing with our hospitality sector on a shared door policy to help businesses and door staff manage some of the challenges facing Newry’s night-time economy.

Looking ahead, we are developing plans for our Spooks in the City Halloween programme, Christmas and further activity to improve the cleanliness of the city centre. We also expect to confirm the date of the Newry BID AGM within the next couple of weeks.

As always, if Newry BID can provide any support to your business, please contact me at eamonn@newry.com .

Planning permission has been approved for the £18.6 million Newry City Park project at Albert Basin.

The 15-acre park will create a major new waterside space, with areas for play, sport, recreation, events and community use. A shortlist of contractors has already been established, with the procurement process moving to the Invitation to Tender stage.

The approval forms part of a much wider programme of investment across Newry. Construction is under way on the new Theatre and Conference Centre, while a £3 million Grade A Office Development Grant Scheme is available to encourage investment in new office accommodation.

Funding has also been awarded to two proposals through the Hotel Accommodation Development Scheme, aimed at increasing the quality and supply of visitor accommodation in the city.

The Council has indicated that approximately £30 million in public funding has been secured to support investment of up to £70 million in Newry. The recently opened Newry to Carlingford Greenway is also creating new opportunities for tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses.

Newry BID welcomes the progress being made. The priority must now be to maintain momentum and ensure this investment delivers increased footfall, new business opportunities and lasting economic benefits for the city centre.

The barriers and hoarding around the new parklets at Dolce Vita and Café Crème have now been removed.

The project was subject to delays for a variety of reasons, but contractors are now completing the final stages and installing the furniture.

The parklets will create additional outdoor space where people can sit, meet and enjoy food and refreshments from the participating businesses.

We hope a little late September sunshine will give businesses and visitors an opportunity to enjoy them before winter.

Iúr Cinn Fleadh, Newry Water Festival and Newry Mela have brought music, culture, family activities and entertainment into Newry over recent weeks.

The events attracted strong crowds and created a great atmosphere across the city, providing another reason for people to visit and spend time in Newry.

Newry BID was pleased to support this programme of activity, and we congratulate the organisers, volunteers, businesses and everyone involved in making the events such a success.

Newry BID has been working closely with members applying to the Commercial Property Revive and Reimagine Grant scheme.

The scheme is designed to bring vacant and underused commercial properties back into productive use. The deadline closed this week, and we were pleased to help a number of members bring their applications over the line.

If successful, these projects could make an important contribution to improving the appearance of the city centre, reducing vacancy and supporting new and growing businesses.

We are also finalising the number of businesses around Sugar Island that will receive support with flood barriers. This practical assistance will be important in helping businesses in the area become more resilient to future flooding.
Black Saturday and the impact on businesses

Newry BID recognises that the Black Saturday parade caused significant issues for many of our members.

Since the event, we have been liaising with the PSNI and the organisers and putting forward alternative proposals for consideration. We understand that the parade is unlikely to return to Newry for at least another 14 years.

There are still important lessons to be learned. Our focus is not on the purpose or ethos of any individual parade. It is on how parades, major events and associated road closures of any type are planned and managed to reduce the economic impact on local businesses.

Newry BID will continue to engage with the relevant organisations on behalf of its members.
Working with the hospitality sector

Newry BID is working with hospitality businesses on the development of a shared door policy for the city.

The aim is to create a more consistent approach across participating venues and support door staff in managing some of the issues facing businesses within the night-time economy.

Further details will be shared with members as the work progresses.
Newry People’s Forum

Newry BID fully understands the frustrations being expressed by those involved in the newly formed Newry People’s Forum.

Many of the issues being raised are currently the subject of ongoing work by a range of stakeholders, including Newry BID. Newry BID is however, fully open to a constructive forum that brings all key stakeholders around the table, to work collectively for the betterment of Newry.

The group is holding a public meeting at the Canal Court Hotel on Thursday 8th October.
Looking ahead

Planning is under way for the return of Spooks in the City. Halloween falls over a weekend this year, presenting a strong opportunity to attract families and additional footfall into Newry.

Work is also beginning on Newry BID’s Christmas campaign and on ideas to help improve the cleanliness and appearance of the city centre.

The date of the next Newry BID AGM will be confirmed within the next couple of weeks, with details issued directly to members.