It has been recently reported that the popularity of coffee shops is expected to continue to rise over the coming years with spending in coffee shop chains expected to reach £4.5 billion by 2024. A few years ago planning permission was refused for a coffee shop and hot food bar at the site of the former police station on Mountjoy … Read More

The Old Mill Court residential development in Sion Mills is up for a couple of prestigious built environment awards. Two weeks ago it was reported in UH that it was nominated for the Royal Town Planning Institute award for Planning Excellence. However it has also been short listed for a Social Impact Award along with a couple of other local … Read More

Stage 1 of the Inquiry into the A5 Dual Carriageway scheme will open next Tuesday 18th February at the Strule Arts Centre. The Planning Appeals Commission, which has been appointed by the Department of Infrastructure to conduct the inquiry, announced the details for the hearing and a published its timetable for Stage 1 of the inquiry on the 20th of … Read More

A recent study indicates that urban environments that work best for children work well for everyone. The design of our environments including the provision of and access to green spaces, parks and leisure facilities, can influence children’s levels of physical activity and improve their ability to negotiate their environment independently. Government guidance indicates that children over five and young people … Read More

That was a question I was asked a couple of times in the past number of weeks in relation to a recent addition to our built environment, and it is, I expect  a question all planners get asked from time to time with respect to developments that do not quite meet everyone’s expectations. My article of 18 January finished with … Read More

A few months ago I dispelled any myths around planning permission not being required for farm buildings. For those circumstances in which you do need planning permission here is what to look out for to help get your planning application successfully through the system. Whilst there are many factors for the planning authority to take into account when assessing an … Read More

In the past couple of weeks the Planning Appeals Commission has amended conditions attached to outline planning permission for two separate rural dwellings, which had limited the overall size of each house. The more recent of the two cases was with respect to outline planning permission for a farm dwelling and a domestic garage in Newtownbutler. The appeal was in … Read More

There is an objective when planning development to ensure accessibility for all, with the needs of people with disabilities and others whose mobility is impaired given particular consideration. The planning legislation requires that for certain types of development the developer must prepare a “Design and Access Statement” as part of their planning application.  Amongst other things, a Design and Access … Read More

If plans to turn the property known as “Provincial House” on High Street Omagh into a boutique hotel come to pass, such a development could do a lot to regenerate the area. 15 – 17 High Street Omagh, is a grade B listed building dating from the late 1800’s. Now vacant, it was a former bank and according to the … Read More