Downpatick to receive a major Public Realm Scheme boost
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced £3.1m of funding for the delivery of a Public Realm Scheme in Church Street and DeCourcy Place in Downpatrick.
The new works will deliver high quality measures, including paving and landscaping, which will improve the quality of both the Church Street and DeCourcy Place areas, as well as enhancing the connectivity between them and the rest of the town centre.
Announcing the funding, Minister Lyons said:xa0“I am pleased to announce this £3.1m investment in Downpatrick, with £2.7m coming from my department.xa0xa0
“This funding will complement previous public realm works in Downpatrick and is part of my ongoing commitment to the regeneration of our town and city centres. This investment will help to improve the streetscape and boost the rich heritage of the town.xa0 xa0
“It has been a difficult period for our high streets, particularly so for Downpatrick, where many businesses had their premises damaged by the floods last year.xa0
“I hope this will be a welcome boost in sustaining the long-term viability and prosperity of the town.xa0 xa0xa0
Newry Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Councillor Pete Byrne welcomed the funding and said:xa0“This next phase of Downpatrick Public Realm works represents a great opportunity to further boost the overall regeneration and recovery of the town.
“The Council and its Task & Finish Steering Group Partners look forward to working closely with the Department for Communities, as well as other departments and stakeholders, to complete both the Advance Utility Works and Public Realm Improvements.”
The Downpatrick Regeneration Group Chairperson Mal McGrady also welcomed the investment:xa0“We are delighted that funding for a further infrastructure project identified in our Living High Streets Framework has been approve.
“The Department for Communities and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have been able to support Downpatrick with this funding package to transform Church Street and DeCourcy Place.”
The investment comes from the Department for Communities (£2.7m) and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (£400,000). The public realm scheme will be managed by the Council and work is due to get underway in mid-2025.
The Public Realm works are due complete by end March 2027 with advance utility works to complete in the spring of 2025.
The scheme will focus on improving and enhancing the streetscape along Church Street in the centre of Downpatrick out to Pillarwell Lane, and in Decourcy Place at the lower end of English Street.
