River Foyle offices and Tesco store to be subject to inquiry

TWO major developments in Londonderry were referred to the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) over the past two years with a request that it hold public inquiries into the proposals.

By The Newsroom

Published 18th Oct 2010, 20:33 BST

Updated 19th Oct 2010, 10:24 BST

The applicant behind a proposed Tesco superstore with accompanied car parking, landscaping and access on the Buncrana Road requested a hearing in July 2008.

Documents were subsequently forwarded to PAC by Planning Service in September that year with a view to an inquiry.

Last September the applicant behind a McCormick Properties Plc six storey building for office and ancillary uses on the bed of the River Foyle also requested a hearing.

Planning Service forwarded documents to PAC last October with a view to a public inquiry into the proposal.

The information was outlined in response to a query at the Stormont Assembly.

The Assembly Commission advised Planning Service had referred a number of major planning applications to PAC with a request that they hold public local inquiries.

The final decision on the scheduling of the inquiry or hearing and the timescale for reporting back to the Minister is a matter for the PAC.

Tesco