A new Local Planning Office in Newtownards is to open on 23rd March.

DOE Planning for the Ards and North Down council area currently operates from Rathkeltair House, Downpatrick.

From Monday 23rd March, Planners from the DOE Area Planning Team will relocate to council offices in Newtownards.

Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said: "Planning reform is about bringing forward improvements to the planning system, improvements that will bring planning closer to the public and make it easier for the public to access and participate in the planning process. This is part of the wider local government reform programme which will ultimately deliver local councils which are more effective, more efficient and more responsive to the needs of their local business and community.

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"We are now just a matter of weeks away from the transfer of planning functions to councils. The relocation of the Local Planning Office for Ards and North Down Council to Newtownards is one of the final steps in our preparations and marks the completion of another important stage in the process."

(CD/MH)