PLANNERS are recommending that a proposal for a major new housing development comprising 127 new homes at an 18 acre site on the outskirts of Ballynahinch should proceed.
Their recommendation to approve plans for a mixed development comprising a range of detached, semi detached and townhouses on the Lisburn Road will be discussed at next week’s meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s Planning Committee.
This particular committee has not met since March as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and to comply with social distancing requirements, the planning meeting will be held at Newry Leisure Centre next Wednesday.
In papers submitted ahead of the meeting, the proposed development site — which comprises a number of fields — is described as “irregular” in shape, with the recently constructed Lime Trees, Edengrove and Kinedale developments in close proximity.
Planners say that the site earmarked for the new homes is located on the “inner edge” of Ballynahinch’s development limits, with the area zoned for housing in the Down Area Plan.
It is also confirmed in the planning papers that initially, plans were lodged to build 148 homes, but the figure was subsequently revised after planners expressed concern.
The Department for Infrastructure is also content that the proposed housing scheme can be accommodated within the existing roads network.
Northern Ireland Water said there is available capacity within the existing sewerage system to cope with the planned new homes, while planning permission has been granted for a new sewage pumping station on adjacent land.
The papers indicate that the planning application was submitted in March 2015 and that a number of objections to the proposed development were lodged.
Other objections to the proposed housing scheme centre around traffic and access arrangements, claims that the application had not been properly advertised and insufficient neighbourhood notification.
Objectors also pointed to the lack of a so-called planting buffer and the “lack of effort” to integrate an open space area adjacent Ballynahinch River into the proposed development.
Another objector highlighted the scheme’s “inappropriate density,” arguing that it is greater than other developments closer to the town.
The detail of a noise impact assessment submitted to planners has also been questioned, but Newry Mourne and Down Council environmental health officials have expressed satisfaction with the document.
The planning papers reveal that an acoustic mound has been incorporated in to the proposed development, with landscaped proposed throughout to mitigate any noise impact on adjacent land uses.
In addition, the papers confirm that there is a Tree Preservation Order covering the site and while a number of trees have already been felled, this issue is the subject of an enforcement case.
Planners say the proposed development is “appropriate to the character and topography of the site” and that “adequate provision is made for public and private open space and landscaped areas as an integral part of the development.”
They also state that where appropriate, planted areas of discrete groups of trees will be required along site boundaries “in order to soften the visual impact of the development and assist in its integration with the surrounding area,” with adequate provision made for parking.
Planners say that the development will not have an “unacceptable, adverse effect on existing or proposed properties in terms of overlooking, loss of light, overshadowing, noise or other disturbance”.
Next week’s planning committee meeting takes place two days after the local authority’s annual meeting when it is expected that Rowallane councillor, Robert Burgess, will be confirmed as the new committee chairman.