Campbell announces major research on retailing

Regional Development Minister, Gregory Campbell has announced plans to carry out comprehensive research in relation to strategic planning considerations surrounding large-scale retail developments in Northern Ireland.

The research will be carried out on behalf of the Department for Regional Development by Roger Tym and Partners, the company which emerged from the recent competition.

Mr Campbell said: "The purpose of this important piece of research will be to provide up-to-date and independent information on which to base the new regional planning policy guidance for retail and town centres.

"Northern Ireland has experienced a major upsurge in shopping development in recent years and it is important to assess impacts and consider how the retail market might develop during the next 10 years.

"I am aware too of the increasing desire from many quarters to review existing retail planning policy and I believe that this independent and comprehensive research project is an essential first step in this process.”

The existing planning policy for retail and town centres is contained in policy PPS5, which was published in 1996. Since then there has been an unexpectedly high number of major planning applications for retail development in Northern Ireland. There have been a total of 87 major applications in 5 years, resulting in a "backlog" of retail interest in

Northern Ireland.

The review of the retail policy will be done in an open and co-operative manner, including full consultation with the Assembly, local government, the retail sector and the public. When completed, the final research report will be made available for public scrutiny and comment from all key stakeholders.

Mr Campbell added: "The commencement of the review of the retail planning policy is an important step following the Assembly’s agreement of the Regional Development Strategy and is evidence of my Department’s determination to move ahead quickly with its implementation." (CL)