What does an open storage area policy regulate?
This policy document sets out the policy for the development of open storage areas. "Open storage" can mean the keeping of any goods, material, merchandise or equipment not within an enclosed building, including incidental maintenance and repair of the material, which is being stored.

What are the objectives of such a policy?
They are:

To provide well-designed parking/storage facilities in appropriate locations, which can accommodate heavy vehicles, plant and machinery, boats, buses, coaches and trailers;

To stop encroachment for parking and storage which is not intended for these purposes;

To reduce the on-street storage and parking of these uses;

To ensure that environmental impacts are minimised and appropriate mitigation measures adopted.

What locations are acceptable?
Mepa will favourably consider the location of open storage facilities in any of the following locations:

Land zoned for industry/warehousing within temporary provision schemes, 1988 and/or approved development plans;

Disused quarries not identified for other purposes in approved development plans;

Land within the temporary provision schemes, near to land zoned for industry in temporary provision schemes, 1988 but not zoned for an alternative use;

Land outside development zones near to land zoned for industry in temporary provision schemes, 1988;

Land designated for open storage areas in local plans.

What characteristics should the chosen location have?
Land should be close to the arterial and distributor road network and to existing infrastructure including roads designed to take large vehicles. The permit may require the developer to improve to the road connecting the development to the arterial and distributor road network.

Development should be at least 100 metres away from residential areas and rural settlements identified in approved development plans. Where boat maintenance is carried out within site, the minimum distance is increased to a minimum of 300 metres.