Town Centres as Preferred Location for Retail Development

Regional planning policy recognises the importance of accessible and vibrant town centres and advocates that they are promoted as the appropriate first choice location for retailing and other complementary uses. The Council's Retail Strategy accepts and supports this approach and as a consequence, our Borough's town centres shall be the preferred location for future retail growth and investment and the principal focus for the development of other town centre uses and complementary services. To afford appropriate control over competing development a sequential test will be applied to retail development and town centre uses proposed outside these centres. In addition, the Council's Retail Strategy specifically recognises the need to carefully control future development at The Junction Retail Outlet and Leisure Park in Antrim to help maintain the vitality and viability of the nearby Antrim town centre.