Environment Minister Alex Attwood today approved planning permission for a £50 million development at the historic 'Castlebawn' site in Newtownards.

This is a further 'Article 31' (major planning application), one in an ongoing series of major planning announcements being made by the Minister.

The 20,000 square metre development will straddle the Ards Town Centre boundary with one quarter of the retail floorspace within the town centre itself.

The mall style element of the retail scheme will be created by converting and restoring existing 19th Century listed buildings on Court Street, part of a designated 'Area of Townscape Character' within the town centre which is badly in need of regeneration.

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The scheme will also incorporate, restore and enhance public access to the historic 'Bawn Wall' – a Scheduled Monument.

Mr Attwood said: "As with other Article 31 applications I have very carefully assessed this application. Given the existing major retail offering in Newtownards – including a Tesco and a recent approval to extend the Ards Shopping Centre – I wanted to be vigilant on how this application might impact on a town that has a great trading reputation, including in this time of double dip recession.

"I visited the site. I have assessed the edge of town character, literally, of the proposal, with part of the development within the town centre. I have been attracted by those elements of the scheme which will see the converting and restoring of an existing 19th Century listed building in Court Street, with the access this affords to the town centre itself. I am fully aware of the views of retailers. Taken together, the regeneration, restoration and retail gains of the application, have led me to conclude in favour of and approve the application.

"This was a judgement that I came to after much thought. It is the decision that, overall, is the better way to proceed. The fact that it is an edge of town/in town development is one that can also work to protect town centre retail."

(CD)