The Downpatrick Regeneration Working Group help an open meeting in Down County Museum to update the community about progress so far and future plans
Speaking at the Open Information Session of the Downpatrick Regeneration Working Group held in Down County Museum on Tuesday evening 29th April 2025, DRWG Chair Mal McGrady, said: “You are all very welcome to this meeting at Down County Museum, at the heart of historic Downpatrick.
“The project planned going forward are complex and varied.
“Among the highlights of future development, Church Street and and De Copurcy Place areas are to get a £3 million uplift.
“On the Grove Enhancement Scheme, there is a lot more work
to do.
“We want to brink it back to what many local people remember is as where they can spend quality time with their families and friends.
“We were involved in planting out at the weekend at The Grove but it will be a big task working with a landscape architect to get it into shape as it is a large area.”
Mal McGrady added: “On St Patrick Avenue Feasability Study, there is no funding available yet to progress with projects but it would be an idea to get a group of interested people together to conceptualise what St Patrick’s Avenue could look like. This in turn would help to stimulate funding.
“This area will be one of our key priorities.
“And the Lynn Doyle entrance will be upgraded with planting, painting and new LED lighting. Local residents will then be proud of this area.
“And looking on at the development stage of the Dunleath Urban Sports Park, it is well on its way. The £500,000 project will boost recreation and active living in Downpatrick for the young and not so young.
“Around Downpatrick we can already see changes. English Street has been upgraded with new lighting, and Market Street and Irish Street will soon be resurfaced. There will be planting in Irish Street too and gradually the town will take shape.”
Paul McNaught, Director of Regional Development, Department of Communities, said: “Downpatrick is the first of these town development schemes. This investment will shape the future of Downpatrick.
“£1.2 million has already been spent on upgrading the town. Many similar communities in Northern Ireland will be looking on at this transformation.
“It will attract new business and footfall and already a hotel is being considered as part of the overall project.
The DfC is committed to the regeneration of Downpatrick. Already £2.2 million is committed to improving Church Street and De Courcy Way areas.
Catherine McInerney, Department for Communities Director, said: “In looking at the town masterplan, our department went into partnership with Newry Mourne and Down District Council in 2018.”
“Back then we went to the market to try and find a developer who would be interested in bringing the scheme forward. But sadly no developers applied. It wasn’t deemed viable at that stage,” added Catherine McInerney.
“Overall the scheme to rejuvenate the old police station and adjacent building was not seen as feasible. It was a complicated site. So we approached a community consultancy to create a plan for the site and when that was done we will go to the market again to find a developer.
“There is a plan for a 54-bed boutique-styled hotel.
“And there is the potential to create a business space of 10,000 square feet to attract a big business and create jobs.
“Attached to this part of the project, there is 55 apartments planned for people who want to settle in the town. The next stage is tying this in with car parking and to create a space to benefit the people of the town.
“The business case for these parts of the overall plan will need to be completed and funding put in place with a grant to make it happen. This hotel will transform Downpatrick.
Board Member of the Downpatrick Regeneration Working Group, Emma Bohill, the CEO at the Down Business Centre, said: “The Business Centre has been at the table of the group playing its part since 2022.
“In the Downpatrick area, we provide office and work space, and manage the Go Succeed programme. We also provide business mentoring, educational opportunities and we are members of the Labour Market group in Belfast.
“Our future initiatives will include creating a Market Street hub, engagement and outreach with businesses, and collaboration.
“We are working with the Department of Health at the moment to try and secure the former Social Services building to provide workspace for voluntary business and start-ups and working closely with Newry Mourne and Down District Council.
“Also, we’d like to enhance business in our local towns and villages and will be working with other agencies to achieve this.”
In summing up the presentation, Mal McGrady said: “What’s next ?
“We have a number of activities on-going.
- there is traffic modelling involving the Department for Infrastructure. This may involve different scenarios of one-way traffic. This looks at town centre connections.
- the toilet relocation from Market Street and upgrading.
- we want to see the completion of the St Patrick Avenue Environmental Improvement Scheme.
- we want to see wider linkages with other stakeholders.
- we need to look at the ‘shutterville’ image of Downpatrick and see what we can do with shop fronts.
“There will be a lot of money coming in from central government and from Newry Mourne and Down District Council.
“So we need to encourage the removal of shop and street shutters (the shutterville), and engage in activities such as litter picking to create community awareness and take pride in our town.
Mr McGrady thanked the Departmental representatives for attending, and the Working Group Members and people from the Downpatrick Community.
