Planning permission to redevelop a former Dungannon nightclub into apartments and retail units has been overturned by the High Court following legal action taken by local business people.
On Friday, January 23, the High Court overturned the original planning approval for the redevelopment of the former Fort Bar and Salt nightclub site on Scotch Street.
As a result, the application will now return to Mid Ulster District Council to be reconsidered from the beginning, including a fresh public consultation process.
The legal challenge was brought by local traders who raised concerns about the potential impact of the proposed development on Dungannon town centre.
Ulster Unionist Party Economy Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA has welcomed the ruling, describing it as an important reminder that local voices must be central to town centre regeneration.
“The quashing of planning permission to redevelop the Fort Bar site is a timely reminder that the voices of local traders must be heard,” she said.
“While redevelopment and regeneration of Dungannon town centre are welcome, local businesses were right to raise concerns that these proposals would have hollowed out existing retail space rather than strengthened it. The scale and nature of the proposed retail units were simply not suitable for Dungannon’s main shopping thoroughfare.
“Local business owners are the backbone of our high street, and the UUP will always work to support the small retail business sector which is currently facing unparalleled challenges.
The plans for Scotch Street’s redevelopment which have now been overturned
“I welcome the decision to reconsider this application from scratch and encourage residents and traders to engage fully in the new public consultation. Town centre regeneration must be delivered in partnership with local stakeholders and tailored to Dungannon’s real needs.”
The decision was also welcomed by ‘Our Town Our Belonging’, a group dedicated to increasing football participation and community engagement in Dungannon.
Following the judicial review in Belfast, the group said the outcome reinforced the importance of proper process in planning decisions.
“At the High Court in Belfast, the judicial review concluded with the Judge formally quashing the planning permission. The council raised no objections. Due process matters, and today’s outcome reinforces the importance of getting planning decisions right,” a spokesperson said.
“This decision creates the opportunity to work constructively with the developer and council to deliver properly planned, town-first development that strengthens our retail core and benefits the whole community.”
The overturned application related to plans to demolish the former Fort Bar and Salt nightclub, along with several adjoining properties at numbers 5–19 Scotch Street.
The proposed scheme, submitted by McGirr Architects on behalf of Centrum NI, had included three ground-floor retail units and 16 apartments above, across four storeys.
The plans were approved at a Mid Ulster District Council planning committee meeting in September, with planning officers describing the proposal as an opportunity to regenerate a derelict and long-vacant section of Dungannon’s primary retail core. Officers argued that the mix of retail and residential use would increase footfall, enhance the streetscape and contribute positively to the vitality of the town centre.
However, concerns were raised at the time by DUP councillor Clement Cuthbertson, who questioned the ratio of residential units to retail space and highlighted practical issues such as bin storage and collection in a busy town centre location.
Despite those concerns, the application was approved by councillors. That decision has now been set aside by the High Court, paving the way for the plans to be reassessed in full.
