BRITISH RETAIL giant John Lewis has expressed its “grave disappointment” after another legal hurdle was placed in the path of its plant to open its first Irish store.
John Lewis was initially granted planning for the 220,000sq ft, £40 million store before permission was overturned in 2006.
In the last four years, the proposed investment has been effectively stalled by a series of legal challenges by rival retailers and councils opposed to the development at Sprucefield in Lisburn.
The various legal wrangles have frustrated both former and current ministers with responsibility for the planning process in the North. The former environment minister Sammy Wilson fell foul of a High Court judge who this week criticised his interpretation of the planning process. Mr Wilson had asked an appeals commission to give high priority to cases with the potential for employment.
Yesterday, another High Court judge referred remarks by current Environment Minister Edwin Poots in a radio interview about planning to the attorney general.
The Minister had said he was unhappy that some businesses were employing the legal system to stall commercial developments to which they were opposed.
Mr Poots has insisted he did not intend to exert any undue influence or bias in respect of any planning application.
In light of the latest legal issue a public inquiry into the proposed Sprucefield development and the John Lewis store which was due to begin yesterday has been “cancelled until further notice”.
