Newry and Mourne Council will attempt to forge a new way forward for the 15 acre Albert Basin site at its next Economic Development Committee meeting. A multi-million pound redevelopment scheme for the site has yet to materialise – despite nearly £500k of ratepayers’ money being spent on the project. This was initially the result of the Council’s failure to advertise the project in the European Journal in 2007 before the property crash and economic turmoil scuppered a second attempt to a developer. Indeed a subsequent Council decision to attempt to sell the land came to nothing as the market failed to respond. As such instead of offices, cafes, theatre and apartments as had been proposed the site remains barren used only on occasion as a car park and fun fair location – with new proposals also being tabled to stage concerts on the site. However the Council has retained a longterm aspiration to develop the site, an ambition that is likely to take some years to realise considering the economic climate and the local authority’s financial commitment to developing a new leisure centre. That said, councillors remain keen on working towards an agreed future on the site with Crotlieve Councillor Connaire McGreevy (SDLP) raising the matter at last week’s (March 4) monthly meeting. “I requested six months ago that we contact DETI (Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment) about the future of the Basin and developing an IT hub there,” he said. “Where are we with this?” In response Council chief executive Thomas McCaul said the matter would be discussed at the next Economic Development meeting – with all councillors invited.
Newry Reporter
13th March 2013
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