A former County Down police station could be demolished to make way for a new mixed-use shops and apartments development at a cost in the region of £4m.
Up to 20 jobs could be created when the three planned shops are up and running at Charlotte Street in Warrenpoint.
The new units would offer retail floorspace of close to 9,000 sq ft.
And overhead, the plan is to construct a total of eight apartments.
Proposals for the prominent site have been drawn up on behalf of Newry-based Breen Developments Ltd.
Warrenpoint police station closed to the public in 2014 and has lain vacant until it was advertised for sale last year.
Previous reassurances had been sought ahead of the sale that any plans for the police base site would see the retention of a memorial stone to 20-year-old Joanne Reilly, who died after an IRA bomb nearby in April 1989.
While mystery had previously surrounded the identity of a new buyer for the station, a site previously linked as a potential location for a new community centre, this confirmed new development plan would see it finally brought back into productive use if Newry, Mourne and Down District Council gives its approval.
Gravis Planning has compiled a supporting statement which accompanies the proposals, describing the application as one which would “bring substantial economic benefits in terms of job creation and investment in the local economy”.
In addition to the retail jobs which would be created, there would also be further work generated throughout construction.
The “attractive, high-quality apartment development” will consist of six two-bedroom units and two one-bedroom units.
There would be a total of 26 parking spaces to the rear to facilitate the overall development.
The intention is also to provide a service yard, bike parking area and bin storage.
The current access serving the site to the east will be closed with the existing access at the west retained.
The supporting statement advises the proposed retail units are “small scale” and would therefore function as “local shopping, providing easily accessible goods”.
“It is expected that the proposed retailing would sell a range of food and non-food goods, but essentially everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, newspapers, tobacco etc,” it explains.
In terms of potential customer base geographically, it adds: “Catchments can be defined by drive time calculation. In this case, as the proposed retailing provides a local shopping function, the likelihood is that the vast majority of its customers will be from the town.
“We consider therefore that the catchment area of the proposed retail use would be the town of Warrenpoint, including Burren.”
The statements says that while there is a “wide mix of uses in Warrenpoint/Burren”, only about “one third of the units in the town centre are retail”.
It adds: “The proportions are similar for the settlement as a whole. The largest grocery store in the settlement is a Eurospar in Dock Street in the town centre measuring approximately 600 sq m sales.
“This would strongly suggest that there is a quantitative and qualitative need for additional retailing in the settlement.
“As an edge of centre location which actually abuts the town centre boundary, and in the absence of other sequentially preferable sites in the town centre, the application site is ideally located to meet this need. The added benefit is that its close proximity to the town centre will ensure it adds to the vitality and viability of the town centre by helping to increase footfall and enhance the attraction of the town centre as a retailing destination.”
The statement also argues that there is a “pressing need for additional jobs” locally, with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area having the fourth highest unemployment figures out of all 11 local authorities in Northern Ireland.
The supporting paper confirms: “The proposal will create employment at construction stage as well when operational. The proposed retail units will likely generate up to 15-20 full-time and part-time positions. This will obviously help reduce unemployement in the area and the additonal wages will help support the local economy through increased spend in local shops and businesses.
“The proposal also represents an investment of circa £4m in the area and the associated rates will help support the local council.”
The development will be served by a vehicular access from Charlotte Street, an “improvement to the existing vehicular access to the site”. Pedestrian access to the retail units and apartments will be provided from the existing footway along the front of the the development.
The former police station building is described currently as “very dated and in a run down, dilapidated and unmaintained state”.
The supporting statement points out: “It significantly detracts from the existing streetscape and is in sharp contrast its immediate surroundings and the wider area. In addition, the tall steel fence that surrounds the site to the sides and rear only serves to emphasise its previous utilitarian use which is completely incongruous with its surroundings and is no longer in use or required.
“The proposed development on the other hand is an excellent opportunity to renew and revitalise this site which will have obvious and significant benefits for the site, the local streetscape and its surroundings.”
The application will now be advertised shortly.
