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Northern Ireland Planning Service

PPS 4 (Draft): Industry, Business and Distribution
Policy IBD 3

Policy IBD 3 Retention of Industrial, Business and Distribution Uses within Settlements
Proposals which would result in the loss of an existing industrial or storage/distribution use or land allocated in settlements for such purposes in development plans will only be permitted where:
  1. the proposal is a specific regeneration initiative to meet the needs of a particular locality and includes employment uses of an appropriate type and scale as part of a mixed-use development; or
  2. the present use harms the character or amenities of the adjacent area and overriding local benefits would come from the redevelopment; or
  3. the site and buildings are unsuitable for modern industrial or distribution purposes.
Proposals which would result in the loss of land allocated in settlements for a business park in a development plan will not be permitted.

Justification and Amplification

4.14 It is important that industrial and business land and buildings which are well-located and suited to such purposes are retained and only exceptionally will the Department consider the loss of such land and buildings to other uses. The Department is keen to support the diversity of the local economy and the retention of existing sites for industry and business is often necessary to achieve this aim.
4.15 The retention of business and industrial land in urban locations can not only make a substantial contribution to the renewal and revitalisation of towns but can also provide employment opportunities accessible to large sections of the urban population and the rural hinterland. The existence of redundant business premises and derelict industrial land can be an important resource for the creation of new job opportunities in areas of high unemployment, particularly small businesses, and can help reduce the demand for greenfield sites.
4.16 Planning permission will not normally be granted for the change of use, or the redevelopment for other uses, of sites or premises last used for industrial or business purposes. Redevelopment of existing industrial and business sites might include other uses, as a specific regeneration initiative to meet the needs of a particular locality.
4.17 The reallocation of existing industrial and business sites to other uses where necessary should normally be carried out as part of the development plan process.
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