A planning application has been submitted to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to allow a furniture store to be rebuilt almost seven months after a devastating fire ripped through the original premises.
The accidental fire broke out in Greenbank Industrial Estate in Newry last July and resulted in the five-decades-old House of Murphy site being totally destroyed.
Newry Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Michael Savage, who attended the scene of the fire last summer, said he is “delighted” that an application has been made.
“This was a huge blow to a long-established business that has provided a retail outlet for decades in the greater Newry area,” he told the Belfast Telegraph.
“I am delighted the family has now lodged an application to rebuild the premises after what was a truly tragic event.
“We look forward to getting this now through the planning process and the chamber of commerce wishes the Murphy family well for the future.”
The business, first established in 1974, also has a store in Dundalk.
The planning paperwork has been lodged by Messrs Murphy on behalf of the House of Murphy which is seeking to rebuild a new store of the same size on the exact site where the now demolished premises were located.
However, the proposals reveal plans for more than double the 20-car parking spaces on site to 41.
Firefighters battle blaze at industrial estate in Newry. Photograph by Declan Roughan / Press Eye
Six appliances from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) as well as over 50 personnel helped extinguish the blaze which is understood to have started at the adjacent Formula Karting before spreading to other units.
Emergency crews subsequently recognised the contribution of farmers in the area who used slurry tanks to help tackle the flames.
Neighbouring business owners said they were “overwhelmed” by the support and outreach they received in the aftermath.
“Thanks a million to the emergency services and farmers that helped out. We appreciate everything,” they said.
“The outreach of help and support has been overwhelming.”
Formula Karting remains closed.
Last year, owners Jim and Gareth Feenan took to social media to express “great sadness” at pulling down the shutters “until further notice”.
“As we gather our thoughts and begin to pick up the pieces,” they posted on Facebook.
“We are very thankful and relieved that no one was injured in the fire.
“We wish to convey a massive heartfelt thank you to our dedicated staff and to our amazing farming family, friends, neighbours and community, who greatly assisted throughout, to the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, to the PSNI and to all the local businesses and charities who helped in any way.”
The business operators said the incident was “a major blow” to them personally and the wider community as they vowed to bounce back.
“Formula Karting is a family-run business operating for 33 years and we are indebted to you our customers, who have visited us from near and far and made it what it was,” the post concluded.
Your messages of support are a great comfort to us all. Our aim, hope and focus is to recover from this setback and move forward.”