The Department for Infrastructure has taken decisions on six planning applications including approval for Ebrington Square Maritime Museum, and a decision not to issue a Stop Notice for sand extraction at Lough Neagh.
The Department has carefully considered each application and is cognisant of its statutory duty to process planning applications and reach decisions on planning related matters. On that basis, the Department believes that it is in the public interest to take these decisions without further delay. The Department will continue to apply these principles to other decisions as and when they are ready to be taken.
Notices of Opinion to approve planning permission have issued for a reserved matters application for a Maritime Museum at Ebrington Square and also for a new vehicular/pedestrian access off Limavady Road via a new signalised junction. Both applications are part of the wider ongoing regeneration at Ebrington.
A Notice of Opinion to approve has also been given for an extension to the existing inert waste landfill facility at Hightown Waste Management Site, Upper Hightown Road, Newtownabbey.
Notices of Opinion to refuse planning permission have issued for a tourist destination resort at Gublusk Bay, Killadeas, County Fermanagh and for a proposed Solar Farm near Kells, County Antrim.
Planning permission has also been refused for an extension to the existing Lagan Construction Group facility at Pond Park Road East in Lisburn. The Department’s decision concurs with the conclusions and recommendations from the Planning Appeals Commission, following a hearing in October 2016. The report is now available online.
The Department has carefully considered the Lough Neagh Court of Appeal Judgement, concerning sand extraction from Lough Neagh. The Court of Appeal referred the matter back to the Department so that a determination may be made on whether or not to issue a Stop Notice. The Department has determined, based on the knowledge of the sand traders’ activities and up to date environmental information now before it, that it is not expedient to issue a Stop Notice at this time. Sand dredging may continue subject to the implementation of and adherence to mitigation measures and working conditions. The Lough Neagh Sand Traders have accepted all working parameters. The Department reserves its power to reconsider its position and serve a Stop Notice at any time.
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