Planning Application Progress
Update at 4 December 2006

The application was submitted on 9 May 2006, on the day that the Sustainable Development Strategy for Northern Ireland was launched. As expected, given the scale of the proposal, it was designated as 'major' on 10 August 2006 and is now being dealt with at Planning Service Headquarters in Belfast.

At the moment, the Planning Service is still obtaining responses from the 24 agencies and organisations who are being consulted on the large application package. The first response back - and likely to be one of the most important - was from the RSPB who confirmed their 'in principle' support for the aims of the proposal and its 'laudable sustainable development principles'. Members of the design team have since had a follow up meeting with the RSPB to explore some of the detailed comments on mitigation and there is a commitment for joint working with our ecological consultants.

EHS (Protecting Historic Monuments), the Crown Commissioners, Environmental Unit, Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, DARD Environmental Policy Team and Rivers Agency have all reported back - some with detailed comments but none expressing an 'in principle' objection. The Planning Service Retail Uinit, EHS Land and Resource Management and Roads Service have asked for further information to help with their responses.

By the end of November over 40 emails and letters of support had made their way to the Headquarters file from Magheramorne, Larne, East Antrim and even parts of England! These supporters recognise the many benefits of the scheme and the opportunity to deliver something special at this unique site. Only three letters of objection have been submitted - all raising issues which have been considered fully and addressed in the Environmental Statement accompanying the application.

We are continuing to monitor the Planning Service file and will provide regular updates over the coming months as Planning Service start to gather their thoughts on the proposal.