Plans have been submitted to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for the re-building of fire damaged commercial property at an industrial estate in Bessbrook.
The premises at Loughbrook Industrial Estate on the Camlough Road saw several units gutted when a large-scale blaze broke out in December 2023.
It took over 60 firefighters, five fire appliances, a command support unit, an aerial appliance and water tanker more than 12 hours to bring the fire under control and an investigation was launched the following day to determine the cause.
The application submitted in the name of Cathal Hughes of Antique Style Reproductions Ltd now seeks permission to rebuild the fire damaged units which were subsequently demolished.
A Design Access Statement explains that access to the units is proposed to be “provided from the existing entrance and laneway which served the site’s previous units” and as such will ensure the site remains “virtually identical to how it currently exists”.
The proposed units will occupy the now “derelict” space of approximately 1,214 square metres, which has since the fire become an “eyesore” in the area.
If approved, there would a total of nine separate units, two of which would extend onto a first-floor.
The Design Access Statement also explains that “each unit has been designed with fire safety in mind, with escape hallways and multiple entrance and exist points”.
The units would be finished externally in “blockwork and metal cladding” to be in keeping with adjacent existing buildings.
Plans also seek to introduce six additional car parking spaces.
Public consultation on the planning application is now open.
