Newry is entering a major new phase of renewal as public and private investment gathers pace and several long-anticipated schemes move decisively into delivery.

Planning permission has been granted for Newry City Park, a key step for the transformational project. Procurement has advanced to the Invitation to Tender stage, with a shortlist of contractors in place as the scheme progresses towards construction.

The park will create a significant new public space at the heart of the city, offering high-quality recreational and community facilities while reconnecting the centre with the Clanrye River, Newry Canal and the Carlingford Lough Greenway.

Construction has also begun on the Newry Theatre and Conference Centre, providing clear, visible progress across the Newry City Centre Regeneration programme.

Together with new public realm works, the Theatre and Conference Centre will reshape the Town Hall and Arts Centre area into a focal point for culture, conferences and events. In parallel, the Department for Infrastructure and the Council are delivering advance elements of Phase 2 of the Newry Flood Alleviation Scheme to reduce flood risk to properties. Phase 1 completed in 2023, and the next works will help enable the wider scheme now in development.

These flagship projects are being reinforced by interventions designed to spur further private-sector investment in the city.

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The £2m Commercial Property Revive and Reimagine Grant, delivered under the Local Economic Partnership and currently open for applications, is backing the refurbishment of vacant and underused premises—bringing buildings back into productive use and improving the look and vitality of the city centre.

The Grade A Office Development Grant Scheme is offering financial incentives to investors and local businesses to create new Grade A office space in Newry city centre. With £3m from the Belfast Region City Deal, the programme is acting as a catalyst to leverage new privately funded developments by providing the high-quality work environments companies seek.

Newry has also benefited from the Hotel Accommodation Development Scheme, with £600,000 awarded to two city proposals. The funding aims to increase both the supply and quality of visitor accommodation, strengthening Newry’s appeal for tourism, business travel, conferences and events.

The opening of the Newry to Carlingford Greenway is another milestone, delivering a high-quality cross-border active travel and leisure route that links Newry with Carlingford. The Greenway is already encouraging walking and cycling, deepening cross-border community connections and enhancing the region’s tourism offer—creating opportunities for local hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses.

Sitting on the Dublin–Belfast Economic Corridor, Newry holds a unique strategic position and an ambitious pipeline of residential, commercial and regeneration schemes.

The Council has secured around £30m in public funding to support total investment in the city of up to £70m. Backing from public-sector partners is enabling delivery, maximising the impact of local investment and helping convert long-standing regeneration ambitions into lasting improvements for residents and businesses.

Collectively, these developments show Newry’s regeneration entering a period of tangible delivery. The coming years could bring the most significant physical changes to the city centre in a generation. The priority now is to build on this momentum and use public investment to unlock further private-sector development.

As major schemes become visible on the ground, there is a clear opportunity to showcase Newry’s growing confidence and make the case that the city is a great place to live, visit, work and invest.

Videos highlighting the planned works at Newry City Park and across Newry City are available to view.