Orana hope for planning decisions by autumn

THE projectors behind a massive new development in the Waterside that will include a supermarket, hotel, cinema, medical facilities, offices, and on-site accommodation for staff will this month launch an interactive website encouraging community consultation and say they hope to have secured a green light from planners by the autumn.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Feb 2011, 09:58 BST

John Farmer, Chairman of the Orana Group, revealed the interactive web site would go live with further detailed community consultation this month February 2011, in a briefing due to be presented to Derry City Council yesterday afternoon.

It was also revealed the group has a decision target date of summer/autumn 2011.

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Orana is driving the GSB Guernsey Trading Limited and GML (NI) Ltd application for the huge development adjacent to Lisneal College on the Crescent Link.

Sainsbury’s has already signed up to the scheme and intends establishing a 12,860 square feet retail store and petrol filling station there.

The Premier Inn Hotel also wants to situate a 60 Bedroom Hotel, and a 200 seater family restaurant at the site. It is hoped it will be ready for use in 2013.

There are plans for medical facilities with strong links to Altnagelvin Hospital, a six screen cinema, high-spec. offices, a point of presence building, and a revolutionary new live/work home scheme based on models proved successful in Europe.

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Mr Farmer’s presentation revealed there will be approximately 600 permanent jobs created as a result of the initiative.

The development will result in 500 construction jobs whilst approximately 450 jobs will be indirectly engaged from the building supply and professional sector.

Yesterday’s presentation due before the Council Planning Committee was scheduled following a meeting in September that deemed the development to be “of major importance.”

The local Planning Service believes the development will “involve a substantial departure from the Area Plan; affect the whole of a neighbourhood; and consist of, or include, the construction, formation, laying out or alteration of a means of access to a trunk road or of any other development of land within 67m of the middle of such road, or of the nearest part of a special road.”

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It is expected the Planning Service will either call a public inquiry to be conducted by the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) or issue a Notice of Opinion to the applicant indicating how it considers the application should be determined before a decision is made on the proposed scheme.