Economic Development \ Local Infrastructure \ Other aspects of local infrastructure

Telecommunications

The development of the European Community S.T.A.R programme (Special Telecommunications for Regional Development) has projected Northern Ireland into the forefront of modern communication technologies within Europe. Newry is one of the regions to benefit from this quality Fibre Optic telecommunications network which facilitates companies who conduct a large proportion of their business through telecommunication channels to benefit from relatively low costs, overheads and broadband.

Electricity

Northern Ireland Electricity confirmed a £4m investment in Newry & Mourne District in July 1994 including the provision of an additional 33,000 volt line at Newry substation.

In November 1997, the staff of Northern Ireland Electricity in Newry were awarded the Charter Mark award for excellence in serving the public. Northern Ireland Electricity is the largest business unit in Northern Ireland to have gained a Charter Mark.

Industrial Estates

The Industrial Development Board provide industrial sites at the following locations within Newry and Mourne.

The main industrial estate is based at Carnbane and the IDB recently acquired an additional 30 acres at this site. A modern bridge has been built over the Clanrye River to provide access to this new area. Approximately 11 acres of potential industrial development land remains in the old Carnbane Industrial Estate. In addition a Private Properties Developer has recently acquired 40 acres of land adjacent to the Cambane site, which will facilitate further industrial development.

New Newry Business Parks

Private sector confidence in the economic future of Newry is reflected in the recent decisions by two local private sector investors to develop Business Parks in the Newry area.

Mr Laurence Breen of L&E Properties announced details of the final phase of the Carnbane Business Park on 19 March 1998 when he confirmed a 45,000 sq ft facility at a cost of £1.7m, supported by LEDU incorporating units of size 3,000 sq ft to 8,000 sq ft. This phase which is now complete. Local Newry company, Newry Building Supplies Limited are also planning a new 20 acre Business Park at Greenbank Industrial Estate to be named Loughview Business Park. In addition, the Newry Building Supplies Group has recently built Carneyhaugh House, a new 5,000 sq ft office facility on the Rathfriland Road.

A new business park on the former Gasworks site has recently been completed and is the location for among other organisations Intertrade Ireland.

Office Accommodation

Newry has a broad spectrum of ready available office space to cater for a variety of business needs at the right price and of the right quality. In addition it is believed that plans are at an advanced stage to construct a Call Centre in the Newry area.

Translation Services

Language Express, a local Newry based company provides a professional and highly efficient translation interpreting and market research service to meet the ever increasing demand for translation and interpreting both from and into foreign languages.

The services are designed to assist companies already working and those wishing to develop into the European and Worldwide Market.

Language Express covers all areas of specialisation and can return translations on an urgent basis via fax, disk and E-mail.

Services include, Translations/Interpretation all fields, representation at trade fairs.

The latest in information technology is used to reproduce clients' documents in their original format, eg manuals, tables, reports, charts etc.

New Newry Court House

A magnificent new Newry Court House which blends the old Trevor Hill building with the Modern costing more than £10m to construct was officially opened on Friday 29 November 1996.

The Lord Mackay of Clashfern, the Lord Chancellor, performed the Opening Ceremony in the presence of a distinguished gathering including Members of the Judiciary, the Legal Profession and Public Representatives.

The Old Courthouse designed by local Architect, Thomas Duff, was completed in 1841 and is a Listed Building.

In developing the new complex the listed exterior has been preserved with modern court facilities provided at the same time.

The Court House upon which construction commenced in 1992 has five court rooms and for the first time Newry will have a Crown Court, returning Jury cases to the town for the first time in more than 20 years.

There is accommodation for Judiciary, Jurors, staff, lawyers, specialised services and litigants.

Newry Flood Alleviation Scheme

The Rivers Agency, an Executive Agency within the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland announced details of proposals for a £4.5m scheme to protect the town of Newry from flooding from all but the most extreme events. Technical, environmental and economic constraints have all been considered in developing the scheme. The Minister for Agriculture Lord Dubs launched the public consultation process on Tuesday 24 March 1998. The work is nearing completion.

Guide to Industrial Estates

A comprehensive guide to Industrial Estates in Newry and Mourne is available from the council by contacting the Enterprise Development Unit