Office development policy

Planning permission will be granted for new office development within the city centre. Outside the city centre, and within district and local centres, planning permission will be granted for office development that have a gross floorspace of not more than 400 sq. m. Use Class B1(a) shall only be permitted in a major or strategic employment location where it cannot be accommodated in a city centre location and it would otherwise result in the loss of significant inward investment. In addition to the above, proposals for public sector administration office development will be supported by the council within the designated office node at Stormont. No other type of office use will be permitted at this location. Planning permission will be granted for office development within the Queens Office Area provided that all of the following criteria are met: a. The gross floorspace does not exceed 200m²; b. The office use falls within Class A2 of the Planning (Use Classes) Order (NI) 2015; and c. The development is for university-related uses. Within the designated Queen's Office Area and within the identified Queen's University Campus Area, planning permission will be granted for Queen's University office development where both of the following criteria are met: d. The office use falls within Class A2, Class B1(a) and B1(c); and e. The development is for university-related uses. Development proposals for B1(a) general offices outside the above specified areas must comply with the sequential approach with those in excess of 1,000sq.m gross floor space accompanied with an impact assessment and an assessment of need as set out in policy RET2.