AN attempt to block a major new business park on the outskirts of Newry has been dismissed at the High Court.
The city's chamber of commerce didn't want the £47 million development at Carnbane to go ahead.
But judge Mr Justice Treacy upheld the decision by environment minister Mark H Durkan to let the scheme proceed.
The proposal included a mix of industrial and business units as well as 14 homes, a coffee shop and a retail store.
The developers, Warrenpoint-based Hill Partnership said the park will provide more than 400 permanent jobs.
After planning permission for Carnbane was granted in May last year, Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade launched a High Court bid to have the planning decision quashed on the grounds that the Department of the Environment's Planning Service failed to properly access the impact such a development would have on both the environment and Newry City Centre.
However the judge said he was dismissing the challenge because none of the grounds of challenge had been established.
The judge said: "The court will not conduct an appeal against the planner's judgment. It will not substitute its judgment on the weight attached to the relevant factors in place of the planners judgment on that question.
"It will, however, review the legality of the planning process on the basis of the well understood principles of planning law where a case is made out that the planner has made an error of the reviewable kind."
Speaking on behalf of the Hill Partnership father and son team Laurence and Eamon Breen said they were delighted the review had gone in their favour.
“We are keen to get started as soon as possible on the site which will soon accommodate up to 350 construction jobs and then create 400 permanent part time and full time positions," they said.
Laurence Breen added: "The construction jobs will generate £7.1m in wages in the Newry area while the 400 part time and full time jobs will mean a further £6.9m in local pay packets.
“With this additional boost to the local economy we’ll hear the tills ringing throughout Newry.”.
However, Glyn Roberts, head of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) expressed his disappointment.
“This proposed out of town hypermarket is a major threat to the viability of Newry City Centre and will displace and destroy jobs from existing retailers. It will take millions of pounds out of the city centre economy and radically reduce footfall," he said.
“While today is a setback, we will continue to work with Newry Chamber of Commerce in supporting their city centre and ensuring it has a viable future."
