Grocery store at Unit 2, Riverside Retail Centre, Dunhill Road, Coleraine

What was proposed

The application sought to change Unit 2 from bulky non-food retail to a grocery retail unit.

“251126 Executive Summary • Planning Approval C/1995/0720 was granted permission on 23/05/97 for Demolition of existing buildings and erection of a food store and 2 non-food retail stores within Class 1 of the Schedule to the Planning (Uses Classes) Order (NI) 1989 with automatic teller machines, coffee shop, off licence alteration of existing site roads and associated car parking.”

“RELEVANT HISTORY 3.1 C/1995/0720 Riverside Retail Centre, Dunhill Road, Coleraine Demolition of existing buildings and erection of a food store and 2 non-food retail stores within Class 1 of the Schedule to the Planning (Uses Classes) Order (NI) 1989 with automatic teller machines, coffee shop, off licence alteration of existing site roads and associated car parking.”

Officer report

The site

Unit 2 is at Riverside Regional Centre, outside Coleraine town centre, with customer parking at the front and a service yard behind.

“251126 Drawings and additional information are available to view on the Planning Portal: https://planningregister.planningsystemni.gov.uk/simple-search 1.0 RECOMMENDATION 1.1 That the Committee has taken into consideration and agrees with the reasons for the recommendation set out in section 9 and the policies and guidance in sections 7 and 8 and resolves to Approve planning permission subject to the conditions set out in section 10.”

“251126 2.4 The site is not zoned for development within the Northern Area Plan 2016. The proposed site is within the development limit of Coleraine but outside the town centre area of Coleraine. The NAP 2016 states on Volume 1 Page 34 “The Riverside Centre, Coleraine, has developed with a particular commercial role accommodating a range of retailing commonly found in out of town centre sites.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the proposal was considered acceptable and its town-centre impact could be mitigated by a five-year agreement for the Iceland store.

“251126 8.54 It goes onto state that having regard for each criteria, and taken together, there is no significant harm caused by the retail impact of this proposal. The Planning Department accepts this rationale subject to an agreement securing the continued trading of Iceland within the town centre. This is to allow the continuity of convenience choice in the town centre. The agreement is under preparation.”

“CONCLUSION 9.1 The proposal is for the change of use of Unit 2 Riverside Retail Centre, from a non food bulky goods retail unit to a retail unit for the sale of convenience goods (Groceries). The proposed change of use is considered acceptable having regard to the Northern Area Plan 2016 and other material considerations.”

Officer report

Retail and town-centre effects

The assessment considered need, retail impact and alternative sites, and accepted the sequential test and economic benefits subject to protecting town-centre convenience choice.

“251126 Town Centre and the Sequential Test 8.28 Paragraph 6.280 of the SPPS states that a sequential test should be applied to planning applications for main town centre uses that are not in an existing centre and are not in accordance with an up to date LDP. A sequential test is therefore a requirement for this development proposal. Under paragraph 6.281 it states that main town centre uses should be considered in order of preference of: 1.”

“The NAP actively discourages any out of centre retail development in these towns and notes that the town centres are vulnerable to suburban retail development in some of these towns. Having reviewed the town centre of all settlements there are no alternative sites that would accommodate the proposal. The Planning Department accepts the findings of the sequential test as set out in the Planning and Retail Statement.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A senior planning officer presented the application, and the agent spoke in support, describing the store, jobs, staff security and investment.

Members’ questions

Members asked about the advertising period, possible further planning issues and the timing of the jobs and store opening.

“The Head of Planning clarified any further material planning issues raised as a result, would come back to Planning Committee.”

“E Loughrey stated he had been at the Planning Committee Meeting last month and was available to answer questions. The application was for the food warehouse, Iceland. They would keep the store on Railway Road for at least 5 years, there would be 2 benefits to Coleraine, a long term benefit and a food warehouse, 40-50 jobs, security for the existing staff, and an investment of £1.5m.”

Minutes

The vote

The motion to approve was proposed and seconded, then passed with 13 votes for, no votes against and no abstentions.

“251126 SD/IO Seconded by Councillor Watton - That the Committee has taken into consideration and agrees with the reasons for the recommendation set out in section 9 and the policies and guidance in sections 7 and 8 and resolves to Approve planning permission subject to the conditions set out in section 10.”

“The Chair put the motion to the Committee to vote. Members voted For; Members voted Against, 0 Members Abstained. The Chair declared the motion carried and application approved.”

Minutes