Sligo Chamber of Commerce is a strong supporter of Town Centre retail and investment, and has retained Urb on  a number of occasions to advise on planning issues in the town and environs.

The recession isn’t just hitting town centres hard.  Retail Parks originally permitted for ‘bulky goods’ warehouse retailing, are also under pressure, and seeking to diversify their offer into highstreet comparison and convenience retailing.  This is a trend that is recognised in the 2011 Draft Retail Planning Guidelines.

Urb has submitted a Referral to An Bord Pleanala on behalf of Sligo Chamber of Commerce as to whether one of the retailers who occupies this planning grey area, at the out-of-town Sligo Retail Park is in fact in breach of the ‘parent’ permission and the Retail Guidelines.  This is perhaps the most important Referral case since TX Maxx in Waterford, and is will be an important decision for retailing around the country (due around August).