THE first phase of works on the £4 million redevelopment of Warrenpoint Port is due for completion this year.
Construction work on the redevelopment of the port's landmark Town Dock House started this week as part of the major regeneration project.
The building will be returned to its former use as the main harbour office, re-establishing a direct interface between the port and the town centre.
The Town Dock House works, which are due to be complete before the end of the year, also include a complete refurbishment of the existing building and an extension which will provide additional office space and board room facilities.
The first phase of development is part of a £4m capital investment programme announced last year, that includes the reconfiguration of internal port infrastructure, a new road layout, and additional plant and equipment.
Clare Guinness, CEO of Warrenpoint Port welcomed the commencement of the first phase of the investment programme.
“As a key local employer, Warrenpoint Port has long-established historic links with our town and the surrounding area. The redevelopment of Town Dock House, an iconic building at the heart of our town centre, will build on those links and provide a major regeneration boost that we can all enjoy," she said
“Demand for our services is growing year-on-year. By continuing to invest in our facilities, we can ensure the port is best placed to capitalise on that growing demand for the benefit of port users, our customers, our community and the wider economy.”
Eamon Larkin, director of Newry-based architecture Milligan Reside Larkin, which designed the scheme, added:
“It is an exciting project to be involved in as it will add to the vitality of Warrenpoint town centre and complement other recent developments in the area.”
Building work on Town Dock House will be carried out by Newry-based firm Killowen Contracts and is expected to last for six months.
Warrenpoint Port handled a record 3.6 million tonnes of cargo last year, with the total value of goods moving through the facility surpassing £6.5bn for the first time.
The 2018 success follows four successive years of growth at Warrenpoint, largely attributed to the success of its core roll-on roll-off freight service and the diversified range of bulk goods the port handles, including timber, steel, animal feed, and cement, with imports to and exports across the world including Spain, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Ukraine, and the Americas.
