John Lewis Plan Faces Further Delay

A public inquiry into a controversial department store plan near Lisburn has been put back until the Autumn.

Over six years since the plan was first mooted, the probe aims to look into the proposals for a flagship John Lewis store.

However, it opened on Monday only to be adjourned on its first day - without hearing any of the evidence.

Opponents of the proposed retail expansion at Sprucefield, near Lisburn, won the right to mount a new legal challenge on Friday.

Rival traders claim the Department of Environment should have placed newspaper adverts about the scheme.

Now, the department is to readvertise part of the planning application next month, which means it is now likely that the inquiry will not resume again until October

This comes as a blow for the hard-pressed construction sector, as if approved, the building work would have provided a much-needed fillip for the beleaguered industry.

MP for the area, Jeffrey Donaldson said that the point of a public inquiry was to allow all objectors and people to voice their opinion on the scheme.

"These opponents are not acting on behalf of the public, really they just want to stop John Lewis coming to Northern Ireland," he said.

"This is a major investor, it would create over 1,000 jobs in Northern Ireland and the message going out is that Northern Ireland is closed for business."

However, Glyn Roberts, Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association Chief Executive, said his members object to the location of the store.

He said: "We welcome the inquiry and all sides get their day in court and to have their say."

The trading association argue that the department store along with 19 other stores would increase out-of-town shopping.

"Our preference would've been for a town centre location but I think a decision needs to be made and the traders, and John Lewis need closure," Mr Roberts added.

The owners of the retail centre have been trying to get approval for the store since 2004.

(BMcC/GK)