Mark Durkan, DOE Minister

Planning is always a fractious issue in Northern Ireland’s retail sector.

The majority of town and city centre retailers across the country have faced the prospect of out of town developments coming to the area. Some planning applications have been passed – such as the recent retail developments at Carnbane in Newry and Strabane – whilst others have been turned down by the Department of Environment.

The man charged with making these often extremely divisive decisions is Minister Mark H. Durkan.

Since becoming Environment Minister he has presided over planning decisions that have riled retailers, most recently in Newry and Strabane.

Talking to NR about these recent decisions and the wider issue of out of town developments, Minister Durkan said: “I stand over both those decisions which I believe were made in the public interest when all the issues were considered and balanced.

“As Environment Minister, I and my Department are required to consider all relevant planning considerations before making a decision on individual applications. The planning applications in Strabane and Newry were mixed use developments which contained major retail elements.

“My decisions in both those cases took into account not only the potential impact on the vitality and viability of existing centres, but also the economic and environmental benefits associated with other elements in the proposals.”

The biggest gripe that local high street retailers have is that out of town developments are diverting footfall away from their business thanks to customer benefits such as free parking.

Many would much rather see retail developments planned for city and town centres so that the customers are still shopping on the high street.

Asked whether he believes that the high street can co-exist successfully with out of town developments, the Minister said: “I recognise that many of our high streets face difficult challenges at the present time. The planning system has a key role to play in allowing these centres the opportunity to retain and develop their retail base.

“However, I also believe that this does not mean a moratorium on all out of town retail development where it can provide appropriate complementary retail offer.”

There has been much criticism of the ‘lack of continuity’ in DOE retail planning decisions and many retailers would argue that some decisions have been detrimental to their livelihoods.

Retailers in Magherafelt welcomed the Minister’s decision to refuse four major retail applications in the town.

At the time the Minister acknowledged that Magherafelt “has a strong and vibrant town centre, with one of the lowest levels of retail vacancy in Northern Ireland”. However, the same cannot be said of retailers in Newry and Strabane.

“These are complex and often controversial applications and my Department’s decisions often displease either town centre traders or major retail developers, depending on the outcome in each case,” explained Mr Durkan.

“I and my Department are charged with making decisions that are considered to be in the overall public interest and this can be challenging, particularly in major applications involving multiple considerations and interests. Clearly I am always seeking to improve policy and practice in all aspects of the planning system, including retail development.”

He added: “That said, I believe that I and my Department have consistently made robust planning decisions in recent times when dealing with this type of application.”

*Pictured top is Minister Mark H. Durkan

*To read the full interview, subscribe to Neighbourhood Retailer on the home page.