1 June 2006
BANGOR'S QUEEN'S PARADE DEVELOPMENT TO BE ISSUED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION
A development scheme for Queen's Parade in Bangor will be issued for public consultation.
For the last six months, officials in the Department for Social Development (DSD) have been working with the developer, Karl Greenfarm Ltd, to resolve significant design difficulties in the initial proposals. New development proposals have been proposed by the developer and will now be issued by DSD for public consultation.
Announcing the news, Social Development Minister David Hanson said: "I announced last October that I believed there were significant difficulties with the scheme as originally proposed. We now have a new scheme on the table and I propose to issue it for public consultation, so that we can gauge the views of the people of Bangor on what I believe to be a viable and exciting opportunity for the town. I believe this presents Bangor with an opportunity to create an attraction that will be the envy of many other towns in Northern Ireland."
Following presentation to North Down Borough Council, the design proposals, including a model, will shortly be exhibited at a prominent position in the town.
The way is now clear for further detailed discussions between the Department for Social Development, the developer, Crown estates and the Council. The new scheme builds on much of what was in the earlier scheme but presents solutions to the architectural, parking and traffic issues which had been identified in the independent appraisal of the scheme conducted by RPS Planning & Environment. The revised scheme moves the car parking across Queen's Parade to underneath the existing Marine Gardens car park. It introduces a 650-space multi level underground car park which more than doubles the existing car park provision.
The new scheme also enables much improved traffic arrangements which will alleviate the flows of vehicles in and around the town centre. Although a traffic impact assessment still has to be submitted as part of the planning process, indications are that the new scheme will be in line with the Department of Regional Development (DRD) Roads Service policy.
Above the underground car park there will be a glazed winter garden which not only exploits the views of the marina and the coastal path to Pickie Park, but also provides year round usable covered public amenity space. Final uses for the winter garden have yet to be agreed by the developer and the Council but it is clear that it offers a great deal of flexibility and exciting opportunities which will enable Bangor to compete not only in terms of its retail offer but also as a year round visitor attraction.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
DSD were unable to support the previous scheme due to issues of design, car parking and the need to maintain traffic flows. For further information please contact the Information Office on 028 9082 9497.
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