14 July 2006
DAVID CAIRNS PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR TOWN AND CITY CENTRES
Regional Development Minister David Cairns today issued the Draft Planning Policy Statement 5 (PPS5), for Retailing, Town Centres and Commercial Leisure Developments.
The draft PPS5 which sets out policies for retailing and commercial leisure developments in cities, towns, other centres and settlements throughout Northern Ireland will now go out for a four month consultation period. It will influence the future pattern of retailing by redressing the balance between out of town and town centre shopping.
The Minister said: "The policy addresses a number of key issues including sustaining and enhancing town centres, the promotion of sustainability, accessible locations, quality of design and offering consumer choice.
"The proposed PPS5 will promote the town centre as the first choice for the location of commercial leisure developments, making an important contribution to the vitality and viability of town centres.
"I encourage everyone with an interest in these matters to comment on the policy, which in effect will guide the location of retail development in Northern Ireland, for the foreseeable future."
This Planning Policy Statement will ultimately replace PPS 5 Retailing and Town Centres, published by Department of the Environment (DOE) in 1996.
Copies of draft PPS 5 and its accompanying documents are available from www.drdni.gov.uk/shapingourfuture
Any comments should be received by 3 November 2006 and forwarded to:
Kathleen O'Neill
Department for Regional Development,
Regional Planning and Transportation Division,
Room 3.01 Clarence Court,
10-18 Adelaide Street, Belfast,
BT2 8GB
or e-mailed to paulinemcparland@drdni.gov.ukNOTES TO EDITORS:
The new draft PPS5 will be a material consideration for DoE Planning Service in determining planning applications for all retailing developments.
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