Banbridge Newry & Mourne Plan 2015

Strategic Plan Framework: Industry, Business and Distribution

Industry and employment in the Plan Area is concentrated within the main hubs of Banbridge and Newry. However, the towns of Dromore, Kilkeel and Warrenpoint also have a significant industrial / employment base. The unemployment claimant count rate in February 2006, based on the working age population, was 1.4% for Banbridge District and 2.4% for Newry and Mourne. The equivelant rate for the whole of Northern Ireland in February 2006 was 2.8%.

The 2003 Census of Employment figures for the Plan Area, (excluding agriculture), indicates that out of a workforce of just over 38,000, approximately 14% were employed in manufacturing, 9% in construction, and 76% in services.

Regional Policy Context

The RDS provides a framework for sustainable economic growth across the region through the following SPGs and measures:

• promote a balanced spread of economic development opportunities across the Region focused on the ... urban hubs/clusters, as the main centres for employment and services and make provision for a generous and continuous supply of land for employment purposes (SPG-ECON 1);
• exploit the economic development potential of the key transport corridors (SPG-ECON 2);
• promote the regional gateways as economic development opportunities including strengthening Warrenpoint Port (SPG-ECON 3); and
• support the network of service centres based on main towns, small towns and villages in Rural Northern Ireland (SPG-RNI 3) by:
  • developing a network of strong main towns as the major locations providing employment, services and a range of cultural and leisure amenities for both townspeople and rural communities (RNI 3.1);
  • promoting the vitality and viability of town centres including fostering clusters of economic activities in and around the heart of towns (RNI 3.2); and
  • sustaining and consolidating the role of small towns and villages as rural service centres (RNI 3.3).

PPS 4 - Industrial Development sets out current regional planning policy. This PPS is currently being revised and a Public Consultation Draft PPS 4 - Industry, Business and Distribution was published in January 2003.

PSRNI contains the Department's regional policies on office development. These policies will be superseded by revised PPS 4 - Industry, Business and Distribution when it is issued in final form.

Directive 96/82/EC, known as the Seveso II Directive, was implemented in Northern Ireland by the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (NI) 2000 and the Planning (Control of Major Accidents Hazards) Regulations (NI) 2000. These are specifically concerned with the implementation of Article 12 of the Directive. This Article requires that the objectives of preventing major accidents and limiting their consequences, are taken into account in land-use planning policies and that, these objectives are pursued through controls. There is also a requirement to set up appropriate consultation procedures to facilitate implementation of these Regulations. Further information is contained within the Industry Technical Supplement.

The Plan does not identify new development sites for the use or storage of hazardous substances. The determination of planning permission for such proposals may entail the submission of an Environmental Statement, which may be accompanied by an application for consent to store hazardous materials on a site. Granting consent to store hazardous substances would establish a 'consultation distance' within which Planning Service is required to consult with Health and Safety Executive (Northern Ireland) and EHS on proposals for new development.

Details of such guidance and procedures for controlling development in relation to hazardous substances are contained in DCAN 12: Planning Controls for Hazardous Substances.

Existing Industrial Land

Major areas of existing industrial development within the main settlements are identified for information only in Volumes 2 and 3 of the Plan.

Within these existing industrial areas, planning applications will be determined in accordance with the provisions of the prevailing regional planning policy. Smaller areas of existing industrial development, not identified, are also covered by prevailing regional planning policy.

Land for Industry, Business and Distribution

Land has been zoned for industry in Volumes 2 and 3 of the Plan, as detailed under Allocation IND 1 below. Class B2: Light Industrial and Class B4: Storage and Distribution uses will normally be acceptable on land zoned for industry. Class B3: General Industrial uses will only be acceptable where the carrying out of any proposed industrial process is compatible with adjacent uses.

Class B1: Business Uses should normally locate within designated city or town centres. The Development Opportunity Sites zoned in Volumes 2 and 3 of the Plan could accommodate such development. Use for research and development, or as a call centre, may be acceptable at other locations within settlements including some of the land zoned for industry.

Industry, business and distribution uses may also be acceptable on some of the land zoned for mixed use development in Volumes 2 and 3 of the Plan.

No specific sites are zoned for industry in the villages and small settlements within the Plan Area except for extensions to existing industrial estates in Burren and Jonesborough. Demand for such use in the smaller settlements is likely to be limited. Applications for such uses will be assessed on their merits within the context of prevailing regional planning policy.

Where environmental concerns could potentially arise as a result of inappropriate employment use on a site, the range of suitable activities has been restricted through the use of key site requirements. However, the Department is mindful of the need to provide flexibility in employment provision to accommodate changes in the economy over the Plan period. Therefore, most sites will be suitable for a range of employment purposes, including manufacturing, storage and distribution, but excluding office and retail development.

Details of industrial land supply are contained in the Industry Technical Supplement

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