Report due on riverbed office block

A REPORT on a major riverbed office development proposal in Londonderry city centre that will see a six-storey office block emerge from the Foyle if it gets the green light is currently being completed by the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC).
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Jun 2011, 11:33 BST

PAC recently completed a hearing on the proposed six-storey office building on the bed of the River Foyle and it is now preparing a report on the major development for the Department of the Environment (DoE).

The McCormick Properties’ proposal for Prince’s Quay in Londonderry city centre was knocked back under Article 31(3) of the Planning Order with the DoE stating that in its opinion the major planning application should be refused.

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The applicant disputed this and requested a hearing before the Commission.

The hearing opened and was completed on May 17, 2011 and the Commissioner is now preparing a report to the Department.

The major development is one of eight that the PAC has been processing in early 2011.

The Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) said the Londonderry development was one of four application subject to hearings in 2011.

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Responding to an Assembly Question the Department said other hearings were planned or had already taken place for retail proposals in Antrim, Castlereagh Road and Strabane, whilst public inuqiries were scheduled for retail proposals at Sprucefield and Newtonards and for a runway extension at Belfast City Airport.

OFMDFM stated:

“The retail proposals in Antrim and Strabane were withdrawn by the applicants when the Commission set out the arrangements for the Hearings and the submission of written evidence.

“The Commission has conducted hearings for the Castlereagh Road and Derry proposals in April and May 2011.

“Both hearings lasted 2 days. The Commission reported to the Department on the Castlereagh Road proposal at the end of April 2011 and will report on the Derry proposal shortly.”

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The Department added: “The Commission provides information on the intake and output of appeals on its website.

“It also provides information on the processing of major planning applications referred by Government Departments.

“This information is updated regularly.

“In addition, the Chief Commissioner’s Annual Report for 2010/2011 will be published in June 2011.”

Related topics:FoyleFirst Minister