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Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry has said he is "confident" that the planning permission for the South Eastern Regional College's (SERC) new performing arts centre is valid.
Earlier this week, an investigation was launched into the development after concerns were voiced by Bangor residents. The residents contacted the BBC after a £12m funding announcement for the new theatre was made on 24 October 2013. They claimed that SERC's planning permission for the site had expired by that time.
On the Planning NI website it stated that planning permission for the theatre was approved in 2008 and expired on 23 October 2013, but SERC has said all work started on time and that approval is still valid.
In a statement on Thursday evening, the DoE said: "If work was carried out at this site within five years of the application being approved then everything is fine.
DOE planning today carried out an inspection of the site which established that the vehicular access to the development has been constructed in accordance with planning permission.
"DOE planning now just need the relevant paperwork supplied to it to confirm when this work was actually carried out which, in turn, would confirm that a breach of planning control did not take place."
On Friday morning, Mr Farry added: "I would stress that when dealing with developments that have the potential to enhance the local economy and the education offer to our young people, local political representatives act in a responsible manner and seek to ensure that they are informed of all the facts before seeking to undermine the potential for development.
"I understand that the DOE planners have an obligation to investigate planning conditions. The College assured my Department that planning permission never expired as all work commenced on time and all conditions had been met to claim lawful commencement.
"Planning Service officials inspected the site today and confirmed that works had been commenced in line with planning permission. My officials are now liaising with the DoE to provide the formal evidence of the dates when those works commenced."
(JP/IT)
