Planners urged to defer new apartments plan

Planners urged to defer new apartments plan

18 December 2024

PLANNERS are being urged to defer a recommendation to approve the demolition of a row of terraced housing in Saintfield to make way for a new housing development.

The recommendation to approve the construction of 14 three-storey apartments at the Fairview area is to be discussed at today’s meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s Planning Committee.

Eight objections have been lodged in opposition to the proposal with the buildings earmarked to be razed to the ground positioned outside, but adjacent to the town’s conservation area.

Rowallane councillor, Callum Bowsie, has issued an eleventh hour appeal to planners to defer their approval recommendation, labelling the planned demolition as “reckless and unacceptable”.

Cllr Bowsie —who is the president of Crossgar Historical Society —  said the terrace buildings are “clearly of historical value” to the Fairview area of Saintfield, potentially going back 250 years. 

He said there is an abundance of planning policies that seek to protect the character of townscapes, with applications regularly denied for the demolition of much younger unlisted buildings to protect the character of a street. 

“The antiquity and character of this row of housing is clearly of significance even from a layperson’s observation,” he continued.

“I have told planners that it would be reckless and unacceptable to allow the demolition of the only remaining old buildings in Fairview Green, from where the village of Saintfield developed commercially from the 18th century.”

He said while Main Street is included in Saintfield’s conservation area, the boundary fell a few feet short of including this last row of old buildings which are in line for demolition. 

Last September, Cllr Bowsie wrote to planners requesting Saintfield’s conservation area be reviewed with the view of including the buildings at Fairview Green.

He continued: “I was informed that such a review would take place at some stage and 15 months later there appears to have been no progress on this review and now an application to demolish these buildings is about to be approved.

“I have learned this week that my representation on this matter has been overlooked by planners and thus has not been included in the case officers report apprising the planning application.”

As a result, Cllr Bowsie said he was asking that the planning recommendation for approval is deferred.

Cllr Bowsie confirmed he was also working with Stormont’s Historical Environment Division on the issue, insisting his stance should not be viewed that he is against development of the Fairview Green site. 

“Old buildings being abandoned is no good reason to demolish them, regardless of whether they are listed,” said Cllr Bowsie.

“Notwithstanding the eight objections to these plans, there is no reason why any apartments can’t be designed to be incorporated into the existing façade of note.”

Cllr Bowsie added: “Similarly, it’s not about being against social housing either – though personally I’d prefer to see sheltered housing here – it’s about protecting our built heritage and the buildings that give Saintfield the historic character it has.”

In planning papers made available ahead of today’s meeting, one objector claimed the level of social housing in the town has contributed to an increase in anti-social behaviour.

The objector argues that what Saintfield requires is more so-called assisted living accommodation for the elderly.

Another objector said the social housing proposal was not suitable for what is a quiet, residential area, with another said the area in front of the buildings earmarked for demolition is used by staff who work in local businesses to park and these spaces will be lost.