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| 'Fatal blow' for John Lewis store at Sprucefield | 'Fatal blow' for John Lewis store at Sprucefield |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| By Jim Fitzpatrick BBC NI economics and business editor | By Jim Fitzpatrick BBC NI economics and business editor |
| Controversial plans for a John Lewis store in Northern Ireland may have been dealt a fatal blow by a new planning policy. | Controversial plans for a John Lewis store in Northern Ireland may have been dealt a fatal blow by a new planning policy. |
| The development at Sprucefield, which includes 19 other retail units, was first suggested nearly nine years ago. | The development at Sprucefield, which includes 19 other retail units, was first suggested nearly nine years ago. |
| Environment Minister Alex Attwood has confirmed a new area plan will limit further development at Sprucefield to "bulky goods" like furniture. | Environment Minister Alex Attwood has confirmed a new area plan will limit further development at Sprucefield to "bulky goods" like furniture. |
| However, John Lewis said it remained committed to a store at Sprucefield. | However, John Lewis said it remained committed to a store at Sprucefield. |
| Mr Attwood said he was committed to putting "Belfast first" in "difficult times". | Mr Attwood said he was committed to putting "Belfast first" in "difficult times". |
| "This is consistent with the revised Regional Development Strategy 2035 which aims to strengthen Belfast as the regional economic driver and the primary retail location in Northern Ireland," he added. | "This is consistent with the revised Regional Development Strategy 2035 which aims to strengthen Belfast as the regional economic driver and the primary retail location in Northern Ireland," he added. |
| "My decision today will support that, as evidence indicates a high vacancy rate. | "My decision today will support that, as evidence indicates a high vacancy rate. |
| "I intend to take a precautionary approach to retailing. | "I intend to take a precautionary approach to retailing. |
| "I also want to see Lisburn city centre and other town centres in the (Belfast) metropolitan area taking additional retail floor space. | "I also want to see Lisburn city centre and other town centres in the (Belfast) metropolitan area taking additional retail floor space. |
| "Sprucefield will play a key role as a regional centre which will complement rather than compete with Belfast and existing city and town centres. | "Sprucefield will play a key role as a regional centre which will complement rather than compete with Belfast and existing city and town centres. |
| "That is why I have decided to restrict future retailing at Sprucefield to bulky goods only." | "That is why I have decided to restrict future retailing at Sprucefield to bulky goods only." |
| The DUP MP for Lagan Valley, Jeffrey Donaldson, said that he regretted the line the minister was taking. | The DUP MP for Lagan Valley, Jeffrey Donaldson, said that he regretted the line the minister was taking. |
| He said that if the development did not go ahead at Sprucefield, it was likely that John Lewis would site their store in the Irish Republic. | He said that if the development did not go ahead at Sprucefield, it was likely that John Lewis would site their store in the Irish Republic. |
| "We need to get real here and this notion that the choice is between Belfast and Sprucefield is not right," he said. | "We need to get real here and this notion that the choice is between Belfast and Sprucefield is not right," he said. |
| "Talk to John Lewis, they want a large outlet in Northern Ireland, they want it in Sprucefield where there is a catchment area of two million people, Belfast hasn't got that. | "Talk to John Lewis, they want a large outlet in Northern Ireland, they want it in Sprucefield where there is a catchment area of two million people, Belfast hasn't got that. |
| "Their next choice for a location is Dublin, not Belfast." | "Their next choice for a location is Dublin, not Belfast." |
| A John Lewis spokesperson said the company would take time to consider the minister's statement. | A John Lewis spokesperson said the company would take time to consider the minister's statement. |
| "We, however, remain fully committed to opening a full-line department store at Sprucefield," he said. | "We, however, remain fully committed to opening a full-line department store at Sprucefield," he said. |
| "Over the last nine years our consistent and clear position has been that the only suitable location for a John Lewis department store in Northern Ireland is at Sprucefield." | "Over the last nine years our consistent and clear position has been that the only suitable location for a John Lewis department store in Northern Ireland is at Sprucefield." |
| Objectors have said the scale of the Sprucefield project would damage town centres, supporters have said it will bring jobs. | Objectors have said the scale of the Sprucefield project would damage town centres, supporters have said it will bring jobs. |
| The planned development at Sprucefield was said to have been one and a half times the size of the Castlecourt shopping centre in Belfast. | The planned development at Sprucefield was said to have been one and a half times the size of the Castlecourt shopping centre in Belfast. |
| Resumption | |
| But the developers behind the stalled Royal Exchange Scheme in Belfast are still hoping to persuade John Lewis into the city. | But the developers behind the stalled Royal Exchange Scheme in Belfast are still hoping to persuade John Lewis into the city. |
| The latest Sprucefield plans are set to be considered by the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) in April. | The latest Sprucefield plans are set to be considered by the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) in April. |
| It will consider if there are any obstacles to the resumption of a public inquiry and to discuss dates. | It will consider if there are any obstacles to the resumption of a public inquiry and to discuss dates. |
| A planning application for the 500,000 sq ft development was first made in 2004. | A planning application for the 500,000 sq ft development was first made in 2004. |
| Although it is most associated with the department store John Lewis, the application has been made by the developer Sprucefield Centre Ltd. | Although it is most associated with the department store John Lewis, the application has been made by the developer Sprucefield Centre Ltd. |
| It is a joint venture between the Australian property firm Westfield and the local developer Snoddons. | It is a joint venture between the Australian property firm Westfield and the local developer Snoddons. |
| John Lewis have committed to being the anchor tenant at the development. | John Lewis have committed to being the anchor tenant at the development. |
| The project has faced a series of legal challenges from some Lisburn traders who fear it could damage city-centre shopping. | The project has faced a series of legal challenges from some Lisburn traders who fear it could damage city-centre shopping. |
| Rival retail landlords have also opposed it. | Rival retail landlords have also opposed it. |
| Mr Attwood said on Friday that he wanted to stress that he was not "reopening the debate on any policy issues". | Mr Attwood said on Friday that he wanted to stress that he was not "reopening the debate on any policy issues". |
| He also said he was not attempting to prejudice the outcome of the public inquiry in April. | He also said he was not attempting to prejudice the outcome of the public inquiry in April. |
| "That planning application remains to be considered carefully following the PAC inquiry report," he added. | "That planning application remains to be considered carefully following the PAC inquiry report," he added. |
| "All the relevant issues within the public inquiry report will be interrogated carefully before a final ministerial decision is made." | "All the relevant issues within the public inquiry report will be interrogated carefully before a final ministerial decision is made." |
| Hugh Black, Victoria Square's centre manager, said he believed Mr Attwood's decision confirmed that Belfast city centre would remain as the primary regional shopping hub for Northern Ireland. | Hugh Black, Victoria Square's centre manager, said he believed Mr Attwood's decision confirmed that Belfast city centre would remain as the primary regional shopping hub for Northern Ireland. |
| "Planning policy which bolsters city and town centre environments is exactly what is required for Belfast city centre and the environment minister's statement clarifies a position that makes sense and is in line with good planning practice across the rest of the UK and the developed world," he said. | "Planning policy which bolsters city and town centre environments is exactly what is required for Belfast city centre and the environment minister's statement clarifies a position that makes sense and is in line with good planning practice across the rest of the UK and the developed world," he said. |
| "It is very important to stress that this is not an anti-John Lewis decision, indeed the chief executive of our anchor tenant, House of Fraser, has said that he would welcome a John Lewis store in Belfast city centre since that would be consistent with other city centres in the UK." | "It is very important to stress that this is not an anti-John Lewis decision, indeed the chief executive of our anchor tenant, House of Fraser, has said that he would welcome a John Lewis store in Belfast city centre since that would be consistent with other city centres in the UK." |