New guidance for Pre application discussion for Planning Applications

Opinion
The Environment Minister has launched simpler, clearer planning guidance that it is hoped will save applicants time and money. The Environment Minister launched, simpler, clearer planning guidance that it is hoped will save planning applicants time and money, yesterday at an event at the Construction Employers Federation. It is proposed that this will also help deliver the Minister’s vision for a better environment and stronger economy. Lending support to the belief that the two do not have to be in opposition. The revised planning guidance on Pre-application Discussions opens up the process to a broader range of development proposals, provides guidance on the type of matters to be addressed and the information required. The importance of engaging with local communities before applications are submitted is also highlighted. This is not…
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Planning approval for £6.5million redevelopment of Ards park

Opinion
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has announced planning approval for a £6.5million transformation of leisure facilities at Londonderry Park in Newtownards. The redevelopment and improvement proposals include the replacement of shale pitches with floodlit synthetic pitches, new main pavilion and changing facilities, new cricket pavilion, increased car parking and associated development. Ards Borough Council is investing £6.5million into the redevelopment of Londonderry Park.
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Minister launches planning reform consultation

Opinion
The Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan, has launched a 12 week consultation on proposals for planning reform and its transfer to new councils. The Minister is seeking views on the improvements he intends to introduce in planning as a result of the new two-tier system in Northern Ireland. Under the review of public administration (RPA), responsibility for the majority of planning functions will transfer to the new councils in April 2015 who will operate as the local planning authorities for their areas. The changes will see the return of local accountability to the planning system. Councils will be responsible for developing their own local development plan setting the context for development proposals in the future. They will also determine the vast majority of planning applications with only a small percentage…
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Ministers launch consultations on developer contributions for affordable housing

Opinion
Social Development Minister and Environment Minister have launched public consultations on proposals that aim to increase the supply of affordable housing. Developer contributions would require developers to provide a proportion of newly-proposed housing developments (over a certain threshold) as affordable housing. The DSD consultation on ‘Developer Contributions for Affordable Housing’, which can be found at http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/consultations.htm, sets out the policy behind developer contributions and seeks the public’s views on the introduction of such a policy in Northern Ireland and on the suggested level of contribution. The DOE consultation on the ‘Draft Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22) ‘Affordable Housing’, which can be found at http://j.mp/T9pE6v, details how developer contributions could be delivered. Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland said: “The timing of the introduction of a developer contributions scheme in Northern Ireland…
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Planning Application approved for Caffe Nero in Bangor

Archive, Case studies
A Planning Application submitted by Pragma Planning for a new Caffe Nero coffee shop on Main Street, Bangor has been Granted by DoE Planning. The Planning Application was submitted by Pragma on behalf of Caffe Nero on 5 December 2011 and was for a new coffee shop on Main Street, Bangor. This represents the 4th new store for which Pragma Planning has obtained Planning Permission on behalf of Caffe Nero. The Planning Application was approved under Article 28A of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 on 21 March 2012.
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Minister announces that planning approval is to be granted for redevelopment of 41-49 Queen Street

Archive, Case studies
In a statement published on DoE’s Planning Portal it has been announced that following an exhaustive assessment of all issues from every angle, DOE Planning has taken the decision to grant planning permission for ground floor retail units and residential development on the upper floors In making this difficult decision The Environment Minister has concluded that it is, with regret, the better way to proceed. The existing building on the site is vacant apart from the part occupied by Athletic Stores and despite a rigorous and lengthy marketing campaign by the owner and his agent no alternative use could be found for the building which contains a number of significant structural problems. The new development will replace it. The Minister has exhaustively considered options to save the existing building which…
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New business park for Newtownabbey?

Archive, Case studies
A Planning Application for a new mixed business park is taken forward to Newtownabbey Borough Council with a recommendation to approve. The planning application which is on next weeks planning schedule has been a long awaited one but will give consent for Office, Indistry and Storage and Distribution uses in a range of sizes of units which will assist in the provision of employment to the wider Newtownabbey area and should be welcomed. This planning permission together with a proposed approval for Brett Martin in Mallusk shows a commitment to providing additional floorspace in a range of locations suitable for modern business uses. It also shows a renewed willingness on behalf of decision makers to facilitate business start-ups and expansion of existing large scale enterprises in the Newtownabbey area.
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New Business Park gets Planning Permission.

Archive, Case studies
Planning Permission granted for new business park in Newtownabbey. Pragma Planning in conjunction with Kennedy Fitzgerald Architects and Aecom have on behalf of COMTEC obtained planning permission for a new business park on Church Road Newtownabbey. After protracted negotiations with Road Service during which information had to be reporduced on multiple occasions planning permission has finally been approved by Newtownabbey Borough Council. This planning permission ensures that the development which is for over 100,000 sq ft of mixed business uses have ensured that Newtownabbey is firmly on the employment map with a range of building sizes and types that allow great flexibility to business occupiers in this highly accessible location.
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Back to the future for Derry drinks company

Archive, Case studies
Pragma Planning have assisted Exitoso on behalf of Niche Drinks in submitting a planning application on the old Leckpatrick Diary on Rossdowney Road. At the end of the 19th century and well into the early 20th century, Derry was a world leader in whiskey production, and the Watts Distillery at Abbey Street was the largest distillery in Ireland. Now local cream liqueur manufacturer Niche Drinks aims to revive that once proud tradition and are intent on building a new distillery in the town. Niche Drinks, formerly St. Brendan’s Irish Cream Liqueur Co., have been manufacturing and exporting cream liqueurs from their site at the old Leckpatrick Dairy on Rossdowney Road for almost 30 years, but as Managing Director Ciaran Mulgrew pointed out, keeping the site up to modern day production…
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Planning Approval for Ards Shopping Centre

Archive, Case studies
Environment Minister Alex Attwood announced yesterday his decision to grant planning permission for a £50 million extension to the Ards Shopping Centre in Newtownards. Pragma has been involved in this proposal for several years and has provided specialist retail planning advice to the owner over that time including gaining planning approval for several Certificates of Lawful Development. The development will reinvigorate and breathe new life into one of the oldest shopping centres in Northern Ireland providing certainty for its future. Planning Permission for this major retail development should result not only in significant job creation in the town but also provide a much needed boost for the local construction industry. The planning permission is for a two storey extension providing 22,263 sqm of gross floorspace (11,800sqm net retail floorspace) including…
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