A contractor is now being sought to build a new ‘world-class’ £16 million ‘Newry City Park’.
It is almost a year since a full planning application was drawn up for the development at the Albert Basin.
And now Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has gone out to tender to make the dream into a reality.
A public works contract is being tenders for a development which “aims to create a welcoming and inclusive multi-functional parkland area, providing a sense of place and a unique experience for the future users of the park”.
The brief adds: “Creating a series of exciting outdoor spaces catering for a variety of interests, age groups and abilities, the proposals have been developed with consideration of the specific features of the site, including historical and natural features, which are protected by planning policies and will be included into the future site in a sensitive and considerate way.
“The design team have developed, through consultation with council, steering group members, key stakeholder groups and members of the public, the initial concept design into a tangible proposal which aims to address and fulfil the council’s vision for the new public open space.
“The development of the parkland Newry City Park focuses on the creation of a series of interlinked public spaces, which aim to create a much needed and valuable multi-functional greenspace for Newry.
“The proposals aim to transform the Albert Basin Area into a lively green space, creating a variety of active and passive recreational spaces that will offer future users of the park.”
The council says its vision for Newry City Park is “to regenerate Newry City Centre by providing a world class park, improving health and wellbeing opportunities, attracting investment, creating jobs, sustaining our environment and promoting tourism”.
According to the tender, the park proposals aim to create a welcoming and inclusive multi-functional facility, providing a sense of place and a unique experience for the future users of the park.
It adds: “Creating a series of exciting outdoor spaces catering for a variety of interests, age groups and abilities, the proposals have been developed with consideration of the specific features of the site, including historical and natural features, which are protected by planning policies and will be included into the future site in a sensitive and considerate way.
“The overall objective of the project is to drive regeneration of Newry City Centre. This proposal aspires to improve the physical and spatial quality of the site, enhancing the quality of the public realm within Newry City Centre.
“The new high quality public realm proposals for footpaths, street furniture, wayfinding, signage, landscaping, new public spaces, and new streets will set the standard for all new developments and where existing structures are reused and adapted.”
Newry City Park is part of the wider Newry City Centre Regeneration Project, with park features including a sensory garden; an inclusive play park; changing facilities; an outdoor event space; water and urban sports areas; a plaza, and pop-up vending provision. These are complemented by woodland areas, green space, walking, cycling and running paths, with the park also upgrading links to Victoria Lock and the Greenway.
The council’s Outline Business Case for the park was approved by the Department for Communities (DfC) and a Contract for Funding issued in December 2023 with up to £16.2 million available from the Executive’s Complementary Fund through DfC. The council is also investing £2.4 million of funding to deliver the 15-acre City Park.
Tenders are to be received by May 5, and the hope is that a contractor would be appointed by the end of September.
The project is expected then to take around 20 months to complete.
