What's happening with Castlebawn

Tell everyone whats going on around the area, Church, Gigs, showbands, Queens Hall etc,

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What's happening with Castlebawn

Post by BASEL » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:16 am

Does anyone know who it is thats against the proposed Castlebawn shopping complex. it has been put on hold again as it has to go to a public inquiry. it is Castlebawn who are paying for the new road system + it will bring about 2000 jobs to the area so who is objecting to it & WHY...ray


Ray wants to know, he left this post in the wrong section, so i have moved it here


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What Is Castlebawn

Post by Ronski » Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:05 am

What Is Castlebawn
Castlebawn is a proposed £250 million shopping centre and retail park in Newtownards County Down a joint venture between Eastwood Property and R&A Group. The ambitious proposals which promises to create up to 2,000 jobs will extend the town centre and edge of centre southwards in a three-stage development known as Castlebawn. The development could be completed by 2009.The development includes a bypass from portaferry road to comber road. And will link via a new round to a future extension of the bypass. This will link to the roundabout at the beginning of main road to belfast. This will allow traffic to bypass ards town centre and will help ease traffic problems in ards.


From The Belfast Telegraph 3rd Febuary

Shopping complex inquiry 'could scupper 2600 jobs'

Over 2,600 new jobs are being jeopardised by the government's ongoing failure to grant planning permission for a £200 million shopping complex, angry developers claimed today.

The decision to refer plans (IE: Department of Environment’s decision.)for the Castlebawn commercial outlet in Newtownards to a public inquiry has denied local people much needed employment opportunities, according to the company behind the project.

Castlebawn Ltd said 2,000 jobs would have been created at the 75-acre retail park, with an additional 600 construction workers needed to build the first phase of the development, a Tesco store.

Fearghal Eastwood from Castlebawn Ltd said he fully expected the application to be approved after they complied with a requirement to build a new £5 million access road to the site, which stretches from the town centre to the nearby airfield.

"We were shocked to learn that despite years of close consultation with all the statutory bodies, local businesses, public representatives and investors that Castlebawn is nonetheless to go through a public inquiry." he said.

"While we remain committed to Castlebawn everyone in the area should be aware of the fact that up to 2,000 new jobs which will be provided by the project remain in limbo as a result of this decision. In addition to these up to 600 construction jobs to build the Tesco unit alone are also frozen.

"We are disappointed that we have fulfilled and continue to fulfil the requirements asked of us by the various public authorities including the investment of £5m in the relief road which will be completed in a matter of months and which forms part of the agreement to develop the Castlebawn site."

He added: "The Castlebawn plans are key to the regeneration of the town and the area. The town centre around Court Street is in decay and our plan would quickly restore it, creating a very attractive and successful retail and cultural operation including a museum to celebrate the priory and other significant sites in Newtownards."

If approved, the development would be built in three phases, starting with the Tesco superstore on the site of the town's old abattoir.

This would be followed by the construction of the 300,000sq ft Castlebawn Shopping Centre and finally the 167,000sq ft Castlebawn Retail Park, which would accommodate bulky goods retail outlets.
Last edited by Ronski on Wed Feb 18, 2009 10:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by BASEL » Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:35 am

Thanks Ronski i'll email your reply to Ray :smiley_bigthumbup: , how you getting it dude?
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Post by Ronski » Wed Feb 18, 2009 10:08 am

Had a wee gander on the net Basel. :1w drunck 1
Last edited by Ronski on Wed Feb 18, 2009 11:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Master Plan Map

Post by Ronski » Wed Feb 18, 2009 10:51 am

Image

To see more map's click below

http://www.castlebawn.co.uk/site_maps.html#
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UPDATE ON CASTLEBAWN

Post by Ronski » Wed Feb 18, 2009 11:17 am

Shops complex delays 'put 2,600 jobs at risk'

Wednesday, 4 February 2009

More than 2,600 new jobs are being jeopardised by planning delays for a £250m shopping complex, the developer behind the major investment has claimed.


Fearghal Eastwood had hoped to lay the first stone at Castlebawn in Newtownards this spring but the project could be delayed by several months, if not years, after the DoE ruled its fate will be determined by a public inquiry.

Mr Eastwood had expected the application to be approved after complying with planners’ requirement to build a new £5m access road to the site.

He said: “We were shocked to learn that despite years of close consultation with all the statutory bodies, local businesses, public representatives and investors that Castlebawn is nonetheless to go through a public inquiry.�

Castlebawn, which remains committed to the development, said 2,000 jobs would have been created at the 75-acre retail park, with an additional 600 construction workers needed to build the first phase of the development, a Tesco store. Local MP Iris Robinson has written to her First Minister husband to voice her concern. She said: “Having been involved with the Castlebawn project since 2001 I have witnessed the developer jump through every hoop that was requested.�

Mrs Robinson added: “The people of Newtownards have been waiting for the Castlebawn development for years and just when we thought there was light at the end of the tunnel, the project is sent for public consultation; and in so doing has placed everything that we have been working towards in jeopardy.�

The DoE is headed by Mrs Robinson’s senior party colleague, Sammy Wilson, who himself has voiced criticism of planners.

Newtownards has suffered a series of job blows in recent weeks following the closure of Woolworths and children’s clothes store Adams.

Marks and Spencer’s Simply Food store has also been earmarked for closure.

The Planning Appeals Commission yesterday said it was awaiting clarification and documentation from the DoE before it could advance the Castlebawn application.

A DoE spokesman said: “Planning Service can confirm that it is in the process of responding to correspondence from the PAC. All relevant papers will be with the PAC within the next week.�
Last edited by Ronski on Wed Feb 18, 2009 2:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Ronski » Wed Feb 18, 2009 11:25 am

Bosses fume over projects stuck in planning limbo
Belfast Telegraph By Linda McKee
Tuesday, 17 February 2009

Business leaders have hit back angrily after Planning Service said there was no longer a backlog in planning applications.


They listed the projects that have rested in “development hell� over the years as the economic boom evaporated and the country sank into recession — some still waiting for the green light from planners after as much as eight years.

It comes as the Telegraph launches its campaign to get Northern Ireland moving again by pushing forward projects that could kickstart the economy.

The DOE told this newspaper there is no longer a backlog in planning applications, yet business leaders questioned why it takes so long to get a project approved here, compared to the rest of the UK.

Janice Gault, chief executive of Northern Ireland Hotels Federation, cited three major tourism developments that have been languishing for two or three years — the Wellington Park project, which would see the Belfast hotel demolished and replaced with a mixed use development, the Favour Royal project, a resort-style destination in Aughnacloy, and a hotel and chalet development in Co Down.

“These have taken two or three years and cost the developers a considerable amount of money,� she said. “There is a backlog. I don’t know how long, but there is a backlog.�

“It needs to be a lot simpler. People in business would be prepared to pay more for a faster service,� Ms Gault said.

Meanwhile, a spokesman from a major international chain, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the Telegraph of the frustration of seeing projects in England being approved in a fraction of the time they are here.

“There are two kinds of planning application there — major and minor — and the time period is eight weeks for a minor scheme and 13 weeks for a major scheme,� he said. “An application would take about a year to go through in Northern Ireland.

Iris Robinson, MP for Strangford, says the Castlebawn retail development in Newtownards has the potential to provide up to 2,000 jobs, on top of the 600 construction jobs required to build the Tesco store alone — but has been in limbo for years.

“Having been involved with the Castlebawn project since 2001, I have witnessed the developer jump through every hoop that was requested of them as part of what had already been a very protracted and frustrating application process,� she said.
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Post by BASEL » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:45 pm

You've been busy lol
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Post by ray sloan » Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:50 pm

thanks ronski.. thats a great bit of info..ta again..ray
ray sloan

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Post by Ronski » Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:29 am

Thank's Ray :1w drunck 1 :1w
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Post by Rossco » Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:56 am

Good post Ronski :cool: maybe some people who have involvement with shops and cafes in the town centre and shopping centre are opposing this. Just my thoughts here no proof to back it up so maybe some will say I shouldn't even post this. Anyway I have always thought that if CastleBawn is built it will be the death of Ards town centre business (whether good or bad that's up to you) and the shopping centre. Tesco's have already signed up to Castlebawn so that would go from the shopping centre alone. Then you would have the cafes,fast food outlets built in Castlebawn (think food court in flagship only bigger) so the town centre shops and cafes would take a huge hit when you think about it (who could be bothered going up the street when EVERTHING is there in Castlebawn?) Same as the shopping centre. I think because of this some people have and will always move against Castlebawn project. Hence why it is taking so long with hold-ups in the project quite alot.
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Post by Ronski » Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:27 pm

Comment's About Castlebawn - Taken From Belfast Telegraph

Comment
I think though, the key point of this article is that this development has been in the works since 2001, which is a disgrace on the part of planners. Seriously, how long can it take to work something out? If the planners are going to refuse planning permission, it should not take 8 years to figure it out, especially when they have already let the developer pay for the new road. Whatever you think of the development itself, people should be crying out at the sheer waste of time and money due to feet dragging by the planning authorities. Why do things like take so long?
Posted by C Murphy | 05.02.09, 13:34 GMT

Comment
Yet another out of town shopping centre. The town centre is weak due to out of town centres like this. NI does not need anymore retail space. Just look at House of 'Failure' in Belfast. Now Castle court is weak and Donegall place is empty. Robbing Peter to pay Paul !! Put the money into the town centre. Revamp the existing shops and protect the jobs there by creating character instead of another 'Lego' town with stupid high rents that even the big stores cant afford to pay. Don't let the town centre become another NI ghost town !!
Posted by William | 04.02.09, 22:11 GMT

Reply
to William, half of this development IS the town centre (again you clearly don't live in Newtownards) and the other half is just on the edge. It is not an out of town development as such and is needed on top of what already exists in N'ards. The sheer size of the population coming to shop from surrounding areas warrants this development - it will be used on top of the existing shops.


Comment
Retail developement creates no real jobs. Only the increase of spending power can increase retail jobs. Other things being equal we must expect any new enterprise to be more efficient than that which it replaces - and be quite sure it is replacement of the weakest. The new jobs are mostly part time and the total retail employment decreases. New jobs - with reduced conditions - no doubt caused the demise of Woolworths.
Posted by john campbell | 03.02.09, 20:47 GMT

Comment
Does Ards really need another shopping centre? Given that it already has one, and that it's pretty close to Bangor and Belfast, it seems a bit unneccessary. Would be good to see them using some of the money to revamp the town centre instead - what about buying the old Woolworth's building and using that for something a bit different - an indoor farmers' market or something? At least it would be something that's not already out there.

Having said that, the new road sounds good - a handy shortcut for those going from the penninsula to Belfast.
Posted by Sharrie | 03.02.09, 14:52 GMT

Comment
whats the point in building more retail outlets when others are closing? Its this greed+ consumerism that made the creadit crunch-recession!
Posted by Michael | 03.02.09, 13:17 GMT

Reply
To Sharrie and Michael,
You obviously don't live in Newtownards or you would realise how much we need a proper new shopping centre. Ards Shopping Centre is tiny and woefully unsuitable for the hundreds and hundreds of shoppers that come from up the Ards peninsula and from all over North Down to shop there. It is a complete nightmare to navigate at the best of times. The Tesco is dumpy and small with a mediocre selection. The southern edge of the town centre was purchased and boarded up years ago for this development and as the planning has taken so long, has now become a derelict part of town. The delay on this development is choking the life out of N'ards. We live in the area and don't even bother half the time and just shop in Belfast after work, as it is such a nightmare to navigate.
I really hope that Iris Robinson and Sammy Wilson (as per the other article on this) can knock some sense into the DOE over this and get it sorted ASAP! The whole thing is a disgrace.
Posted by C. Murphy | 04.02.09, 16:09 GMT

:1w :1w b1 b1 drunck 1 drunck 1 :1w :1w
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Post by Ronski » Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:27 am

PENDING

Click on the link and see the status, you can opt to pay to see more info if you register.


LINK - http://www.planningonline.co.uk/pol/pol ... castlebawn

Use the map and zoom in to get some more info by clicking on the balloon's there you will see what is still pending


Another interesting Link to planning service for Castlebawn
http://www.planningni.gov.uk/index/poli ... merce2.htm

Interesting reading in the above link about the area's that in question is pending

In this link you can download a pdf map of the Castlebawn site, you need Adobe Reader 8 or above and suit's if you have Broadband connection ie: 4910KB for a fast download


:1w :1w :1w b1 b1 b1 b1 b1 :1w :1w :1w
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Post by Ronski » Sun Dec 13, 2009 12:46 am

Tesco superstore gets the go-ahead


Approximately 400 jobs are to be created in Newtownards after plans were approved for a new Tesco food superstore at the Castlebawn Development.


Environment Minister Edwin Poots approved the plans which will see the creation of 200 retail jobs, a further creation of 200 construction jobs and a total investment of £18 million.

Minister Poots said the new food store would help “rejuvenate the area of the former Ards Abattoir, bringing not only a modern food and convenience goods outlet, but also much needed economic investment�.

“This approval will provide construction jobs along with the £18m investment in the immediate future, and secure some 200 permanent retail jobs,� Minister Poots said.

“This is another fine example of what can be gained from engaging in pre-application discussions where key issues can be identified at an early stage allowing the application to pass through the statutory planning process quickly.�

Gary Mills, director for Tesco in Northern Ireland, said his company was “delighted� with the news.

“We are delighted that this store, which will bring with it up to 200 new high-quality, flexible jobs for Newtownards, has been given approval,� Mr Mills said.

“It is also excellent news for the construction industry as this development will create employment for around 200 people in the building trade over a 12-18 month period, which I imagine will be welcome news for the industry in the run-up to Christmas.

“We are grateful to Planning Service and the Minister as we know that a planning application for a store this size is a huge piece of work, and we appreciate the speed at which this development has been processed through the pre-application route which has resulted in this very welcome approval.�

The application site forms part of the overall Castlebawn Development, which currently has planning approval for a mixed use development including retail warehousing, leisure and business park, car parking, new road infrastructure and a pedestrian access to the development from Court Street.

Councillor Simon Hamilton said: “The creation of hundreds of jobs both during construction and after completion is a much needed boost to our local economy at this time,� he said.

“We already have a unique independent retail offering in Newtownards and I hope that this and other potential developments will serve to place Newtownards firmly on the map as a quality retail destination in Northern Ireland.�
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Post by BASEL » Mon Dec 14, 2009 5:28 pm

the whole thing is moving along too slowly, if you ask me and also what about all the people who do not drive, its a long walk down the portaferry road, especially if your a pensioner or a disabled person
To resist the influence of others, knowledge of one's self is most important.

Draw from your past....... but don't let your past draw from you

Yama, The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was..... is lost. For none now live who remember it.

For all your Computer needs www.btlogic.co.uk

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