Newry fit-out giant’s bid for 200 new houses recommended for approval

MARINE fit-out giant MJM Group is set to get the go ahead to build 200 new homes in Newry.

The group, which recently completed the refurbishment of luxury cruise ship the Azamara Pursuit in Belfast and the acquisition of Co Antrim firm Topglass, has secured the approval of planning officials to launch a major residential project in the Watsons Road/Dorans Hill area of the city.

It includes 61 detached, 126 semi-detached and 13 townhouses. Five years in the making, the planning application has finally been signed off by officials at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

The local authority’s planning committee is expected to grant it the official seal of approval on Wednesday morning.

It has been a busy year for the MJM Group. In July, the Newry-based firm completed work on Royal Caribbean’s Azamara Pursuit, a project thought to be worth around £50m.

The company also announced in July its plan to create 30 new jobs at its headquarters before the end of 2018. It came just weeks after MJM announced the multi-million pound acquisition of Topglass.

The group was founded by Brian McConville, who in 2017 named Businessperson of the Year at the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards.

Last year the company reported a 50% jump in pre-tax profits to £7.5m.

MJM said its turnover increased to £62m during 2016, with employee numbers at that stage confirmed at 215.

The new housing project, which is essentially divided by Watsons Road, will also feature major roadworks, including a new roundabout at the junction of Watsons Road and Dorans Hill, with a new distributor road running through the development with side roads branching off into residential estates.

Both Watsons Road and Dorans Hill will also be widened, with a new footpath on Glen Hill.

A protected early Christian period rath on the site will be retained as an open space within a protected zone.

A report due to go before Wednesday’s planning committee reveals that there were 209 objections to the plan. Most, it said, were of a pro forma type, raising issues including inadequacy of the local infrastructure, road safety, lack of footpaths, street lighting, green spaces and community facilities.

Planners said all objections had been “fully considered” and — after assessing all relevant planning policies, as well as the consultations, area plan and site history — the report concludes: “It is considered that the proposal complies with all relevant policies and approval is recommended.”