Plans for a £16 million Driving Test Centre and Operational Depot in Belfast have been recommended for approval.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council's Planning Committee have agreed to approve the proposal, which will see the facility built at 4 Hospital Road, Hydebank.

This Driver and Vehicle Agency scheme will include the development of associated offices, landscaping and site works.

Welcoming the recommendation, Councillor Jonathan Craig, Chairman of the Planning Committee, said: "Sustainability is high on the council's planning agenda and this proposal allows for the sustainable reuse of a former brownfield site. The test centre at Hydebank will be the first of an entire new infrastructure network to cover all of Northern Ireland, as it has been 40 years since the current network was built.  

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"The establishment of this regional facility will contribute significantly to the Lisburn Castlereagh economy with the employment of 175 staff at the offices and operational depot and a further 40 at the test centre. The location at Hydebank is strategic as it is adjacent to the arterial road network between Lisburn and Belfast.  

"In recent years there has been a higher proportion of people using DVA test centres; and the access to this new site will be suitable for a significant proportion of the population. The new test centre will deliver a quality regulatory service to residents of Castlereagh, Lisburn and Belfast ensuring all vehicles are roadworthy and meet future legislative requirements."

The new Test Centre is expected to take 20 months to complete.

(CM/MH)