§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date construction work commenced on the new building, roadworks, car park and entrance at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the Downpatrick-Ballynahinch road in South Down.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyConstruction work had already started on the building without the required planning permission in May 1989. A temporary access for which permission had been granted for a period of one year on 24 January 1989 had already been completed by May 1989. No new car parking facilities are proposed.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date or dates the planning department carried out inspections at the site of the building currently under construction at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the Downpatrick-Ballynahinch road in South Down.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyAn inspection was carried out on 16 May 1989 when Short Brothers plc was told that planning permission was required for the works already commenced. A further site inspection took place on 1 September 1989.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations were held between the local farmers, householders, etc. and the town and country planning service about the building under construction, new roadworks, new entrance and car park at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the Downpatrick-Ballynahinch road in South Down.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyPrior to 5 December 1989 the planning application received from Short Bros. plc was for a temporary access to the site for which planning permission was granted on 24 January 1989 for a period of one year. This application was advertised and processed in the normal way and attracted no local representations.
A planning application for the remainder of the works was made complete on 5 December 1989 and it will be advertised and processed in the normal way.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations were held between the management of Shorts aircraft factory and officials in the Department of the Environment town and country planning service and the Department of the Environment roads service about the building currently under 451W construction, the new car park, and the new entrance at the Lough Mann base situated on the DownpatrickBallynahinch road in South Down.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyFollowing a meeting on site in May 1989 with the divisional planning officer, Short Bros. contacted the Department on several occasions and obtained advice on the information required to allow for the proper processing of a planning application. The application was not made complete until 5 December 1989.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what inspections were carried out by the planning department at the site of the building under construction at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the Downpatrick-Ballynahinch road in South Down.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTwo site inspections were carried out, one in May 1989 and the other in September 1989.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what type of work will be carried out in the new building currently under construction at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the DownpatrickBallynahinch road in South Down.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyA current planning application describes the proposed development as an extension to the firm's storage and assembly facility at Lough Mann.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when was the planning application in respect of the new entrance and new car park at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the DownpatrickBallynahinch road in South Down submitted and when was approval issued.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyAn application for planning permission for a temporary access on to the DownpatrickBallynahinch road was received on 31 October 1988 and approved for a period of one year on 24 January 1989. No new car parking facilities were shown on this application.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when was the planning application made and approval issued in respect of the two signs erected on either side of the Downpatrick/Ballynahinch road adjacent to the new entrance at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the Downpatrick-Ballynahinch road in South Down.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyAn application for planning permission was not made for the erection of these signs. As Short Bros plc has undertaken to remove the signs by 24 January 1990, the DOE(NI) does not intend to take any action on the matter.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when was the planning application submitted and approved in respect of the new building under construction at the Shorts base at Lough Mann situated on the Downpatrick-Ballynahinch road in South Down; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyAn incomplete planning application was made on 8 September 1989, and completed on 5 December 1989. This application will be subjected to the normal consultation process before Down district council is asked to consider the DOE(NI) opinion on the proposal.