Court of Appeal ruling clears path for future retail planning policy in Northern Ireland - Attwood
Published on Tue, 7 Jun 2011
by comms@doeni.gov.uk.
Environment Minister Alex Attwood today welcomed the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of the Appeal against his draft policy on retail and town centres.
He stated that this ruling would allow a stable retail planning policy regime to be established, which can only be of benefit to the retail sector, the public and planners alike, and will also assist in assessing major retail proposals, such as John Lewis in Sprucefield.
The Minister was speaking following the Court of Appeal’s dismissal today of the Appeal against the Department’s draft PPS 5 Retailing, Town Centres and Commercial Leisure Developments.
Alex Attwood said: “This is good news for the future of retailing in Northern Ireland. I welcome the Court of Appeal’s ruling and will now study the implications of it for the future of retail planning policy.
“The way though is now clear for me to settle the future of retail planning policy for Northern Ireland. I trust this ruling will allow a stable retail planning policy regime to be established which can only be of benefit to the retail sector, the public and planners alike.”
Notes to editors:
- Draft PPS 5 sets out the Department’s planning policy for retail and commercial leisure developments throughout. It includes a policy on how retail development at the Sprucefield Regional Shopping Centre will be dealt with.
- The Lord Chief Justice (LCJ) Morgan delivered judgement in the matter of an application for Judicial Review by Central Craigavon Ltd
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