Phase 5 Outline planning approval

15th May 2009

We are delighted to announce that our Quays Phase 5 mixed use application was granted approval by Planning Service in early March. This proposal is for a retail extension to the existing shopping centre, a multi-storey car park, a hotel and permission for a new access road onto Drumalane Road. This is very exciting news for Parker Green and the Quays Shopping Centre. Although this permission is outline in nature it will allow for a further detailed application to be submitted for consideration. The Planning Department has been focusing a great deal of time on these proposals together with the Design, Retail and Surveying Departments in order to produce a most ambitious and exciting development scheme for the site. So watch this space! One other related strand of work in tandem with expansion plans for The Quays has been research into Work Based Travel Plans and Sustainable Travel Strategies. As a condition on our outline permission we are obliged to provide a package of measures in the form of a Sustainable Travel Plan which would set about to positively influence travel patterns to and from our shopping and leisure centre by staff and customers alike. The Planning team have met recently with representatives from Travelwise NI of DRD Roads Service and public transport providers Translink among others, who in turn have expressed great enthusiasm around the prospect of being involved in such a plan. We are confident that through continued collaboration an innovative Sustainable Travel Plan will emerge for the Quays which could pave the way as best practice with regards to mixed use retail led development and be but the first of its kind for Newry City and also for Northern Ireland.