Planning Committee Gives Green Light for New Boardwalk Access at Tyrella Beach

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is further enhancing access at Tyrella beach to ensure the award-winning Blue Flag facility is available to people with disabilities.

The Planning Committee has approved plans to provide a new pathway linking the beach with the amenity building which opened last August.

The wooden boardwalk will allow people with a range of abilities to access the beach, with the recommendation to approve the new pathway confirmed during a meeting of the Council’s Planning Committee on 25 February. The continuing improvements at Tyrella are part of the Council’s commitment to deliver a fully inclusive beach, following the success of a similar initiative at Cranfield beach.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell said, “The new boardwalk development at Tyrella beach will allow more people to access this fantastic facility. The Council has invested heavily at Tyrella, which is one of the district’s award-winning beaches and one of our most prized tourism assets. The Blue flag award recognises the beach’s excellent cleanliness, safety, water quality and environmental management.”

Cllr Campbell said the additin of the wooden boardwalk to improve beach access will ensure Tyrella is more inclusive, accessible and welcoming for everyone.

“The continued investment at Tyrella copper fastens the Council’s commitment to ensure the beach is all inclusive. I am delighted planning approval has been secured for this latest development at one of our most popular visitor facilities,” he said.

The opening of the beach’s new amenity building was the first in a series of investments designed to enhance visitor experiences, promote accessibility and protect Tyrella’s unique natural environment.

As part of the investment, the old beach building was removed, helping to restore valuable sand dune habitat and support Tyrella’s designation as an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI). Alongside the upgraded facilities, the Council has introduced a conservation grazing programme following a Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) ecological assessment, which identified excessive vegetation and litter as threats to biodiversity.