The debate concerning out-of-town developments as opposed to town centre developments has been brought sharply into focus in Northern Ireland as a result of a recent ministerial decision approving a significant extension to an existing out-of-town shopping centre at Spruce-field, situated eight miles from Belfast city centre and close to the town of Lisburn.
The planning application was processed under the special arrangements set out in Article 31 of the Planning (NI) Order 1991, which allows the Department of the Environment to take one of three options.
