A major planning hurdle has been cleared towards the construction of an integrated medical village in Rathfriland.
The medical village on Newry Street, will comprise a medical centre with a GP surgery and associated facilities, such as a pharmacy, physiotherapist, podiatrist, dentist and optician.
There are also plans for a 140-bedroom nursing home, four retirement homes, 14 assisted-living apartments, five townhouses and car parking.
Now that the developer, the MJM Group, has submitted a detailed construction management plan as part of the planning application, a major condition is now deemed to have been discharged.
As part of the plans, No 89, 91 and 95, Newry Street, will be demolished.
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Planning approval was granted in February 2020, with a number of conditions attached, given the scale of the project, and some other conditions have already been discharged.
Conditions included parking for vehicles of site operatives and visitors; routes for construction traffic; prevention of mud being carried onto the road; location of soil heaps and management of dust on site; and arrangements for turning vehicles.
The ABC planning report states: “Car parking will be located within the site curtilage to the construction access route, and to the rear of [the] Presbyterian Church.
“The main construction access and haul route into the site runs from Back Road directly into the middle of the site. A turning head will also be provided.
“Site visitors, construction plant and vehicles will be required to follow and use designated pedestrian and traffic routes, turning and parking areas.
“Where required, a banksman will be used to direct any delivery vehicles involved in reversing manoeuvres.
“All delivery lorries/vehicles will be required to use the wheel wash set up near the exit point, to reduce the risk of mud being carried on to public roads. The use of a road sweeper will be implemented if necessary.
“In relation to any areas of soil exposed due to the construction works, the exposed ground should be reinstated as soon as possible after the construction works are completed.
“If run-off is considered likely, then a small dam or other barrier (…) should be used to prevent run-off to the water course.
“Stockpiles of soil or sub soil will be monitored, to ensure that in prolonged periods of dry weather [they don’t] cause a dust-generation issue.
“Damping down of haul roads and site access roads may also be required during dry spells of weather.
“The main construction access and haul route into the site runs from Back Road directly into the middle of the site. A turning head will also be provided.”