Banbridge / Newry and Mourne Area Plan 2015
District Proposals: Banbridge Town Centre (Page 1 of 2)

Banbridge town centre has a multi-functional role, in addition to being the focus of commercial activity for the District, it provides educational, health, administrative, community and recreational facilities. The main shopping area is along Newry Street, Bridge Street, Scarva Street and Rathfriland Street. The town has a broad range of retailers providing both comparison and convenience goods. There are offices, banks, cafes and public houses present in the town centre.

Access to the town is generally good although the volume of locally generated and through traffic does cause periodic congestion in parts of the town centre. There are 8 town centre car parks located at Bridge Street, Church Square, Commercial Road, Downshire Place, Downshire Road, Kenlis Street & Townsend Street which provide approximately 650 spaces all with easy pedestrian access to the main shopping area.

The main food store is located a short distance to the east of the town centre.

There are several vacant sites which have development potential. There are also a number of under-utilised buildings and areas of land, including those to the rear of existing frontages, which present further opportunities for development.

A detailed town centre health check was carried out as part of the development plan process to provide a benchmark against which to measure the effects of future change in economic activity in the town centre. Details of the town centre health check are contained in the Retailing Technical Supplement.

The town centre boundary is designated to encompass the core area of commercial uses in the town. It contains a wide range of commercial and non-commercial uses but excludes the surrounding predominantly residential areas. The area accommodates several development opportunity sites.

Development proposals within the town centre will be processed in accordance with prevailing regional planning policy.

The purpose in identifying a Primary Retail Core is to allow control to be exercised over development inside that area to ensure the continuance of a compact and attractive shopping environment, offering both choice and convenience.

Policy for the control of retail development within the Primary Retail Core is contained in prevailing regional planning policy.

The Primary Retail Frontage in Banbridge Town Centre comprises that part of the town centre that should be retained in retail use. Details of the designation are contained on the town centre map.

Policy for the control of development within the primary retail frontage is contained in Policy RTC 1 in Volume 1 of the Plan.

The following sites are zoned as Development Opportunity Sites. Policy for the control of development on zoned sites is contained in Policy SMT 2 in Volume 1 of the Plan. Zoned land will be developed in accordance with all prevailing regional planning policy and with any relevant Plan Policies and Proposals, including where specified, key site requirements.

This site, comprising an area of under-utilised and partly vacant land, is located at the lower end of Bridge Street adjacent to the River Bann. The design of any scheme should take account of the prominent location of this site adjacent to the river. The site presents an opportunity for development with an active ground floor façade facing a riverside terrace.

Developers should note that difficulties may be encountered in discharging stormwater to the River Bann against high river levels; public sewers pass through the site and a watermain enters the site.

This site comprises areas of car parking and vacant land in Gospel Lane and several small parcels of land located to the rear of Bridge Street and Rathfriland Street frontage properties.

It would be desirable for the site to be developed comprehensively rather than in a piecemeal fashion. Direct pedestrian linkages to both Bridge Street and Rathfriland Street would enhance pedestrian permeability in this part of the town centre. The frontage to Gospel Lane will be prominent in views from Solitude Park, the river and beyond, therefore the façade of any proposed building should be to a high standard of design and finish.

Developers should note that difficulties may be encountered in discharging stormwater to the River Bann against high river levels and public sewers pass through the site.