Agenda and minutes

            An apology was reported on behalf of Councillor Mullan.

            The minutes of the meeting of 19th January were taken as read and signed as correct. It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 1st February, subject to the omission of those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee

            In respect of item LA04/2015/1462/A, that is, an application for replacement shop signs as part of the ‘Renewing the Routes Scheme’ on the Shankill Road and Peter's Hill, Alderman McGimpsey indicated that he was associated with a company which owned one of the properties referred to within the report. 

            The Committee agreed to hold a special meeting in the Lavery Room on Tuesday, 23rd February at 6:00 pm to consider a number of applications.

            The Committee noted the receipt of correspondence from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, which related to the extinguishment of a Public Right of Way to the rear of 58-60 Gainsborough Drive.

            The Committee noted that an area of land along the east coast of County Antrim, which incorporated Belfast Lough, had been deemed a Marine Specific Protection Area by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.  It was explained that that measure had been introduced specifically to protect birds and their habitats in accordance with a European Community Directive which had been introduced in 1979.

            The Committee noted the receipt of correspondence in respect of a number of planning appeals which had been submitted to the Planning Appeals Commission, together with the outcomes of a range of hearings which had been considered by the Commission.

            The Committee noted a list of decisions which had been taken under delegated authority by the Director of Planning and Place and the Town Solicitor between 12th January and 4th February.

            The Committee noted the contents of a report which gave an overview of the Department’s performance up to the date of the meeting.

            The Committee considered the following report, together with the associated Statement of Community Involvement, which was published on the Council’s website:

“1.0     Background Information

1.1       A Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) sets out when and how the City Council will engage the local community in both the preparation of planning policy and the determination of planning applications.

1.2       Section 4 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’) places a statutory duty upon the Council to produce an SCI.  The Planning (Statement of Community Involvement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 sets out the process by which this should be done.

1.3       These regulations prescribe the form and content of the SCI to be prepared by the Council and the procedures for its preparation and agreement by the Department. 

            The Regulations also make provision that allow a council to carry out a discretionary public consultation on the SCI if it so wishes.

1.4       The 12-week public consultation exercise on the draft Statement of Community Involvement was facilitated by means of a consultation exercise from which the Development Planning and Policy Team received eleven responses. The public consultation exercise attracted responses from a wide range of interests. Two responses were from Local Government interests; six responses were from the community/academia sectors; one response was from an individual and two responses were from businesses.

1.5       This report is broken into themes of the SCI being the preparation of the LDP and Community Plan, Development Management, Planning Enforcement and community involvement in Conservation Area and Simplified Planning Zone designation.

2.0       Key Issues

2.1       The purpose of community consultation process is to ensure that people:

(i)          Have access to information about how their area will develop;

(ii)        Put forward their own ideas about how their area develops and feel confident that there is a process for those ideas to be considered;

(iii)      Have an early and informed opportunity to express their views on the development of the area and have it considered before decisions are made;

2.2       In its broadest sense it is intended that we adopt a proactive and timely approach to community involvement through a process of providing clear information and encourage participation during plan preparation and planning application submission, assessment and determination.  The process must therefore be informative, user friendly, as inclusive as possible and conducted in an open and transparent way.  Every effort is to be made to engage the community, record views and provide feedback.

2.3       Good practice in community involvement embraces a wide range of activities and these depend on the purpose for which consultation is being undertaken and who is being consulted. 

            Preparation of the Local Development Plan

and Community Plan

2.4       Community consultation is an important element of preparing a draft Local Development Plan.  A local development plan is made at different stages, each presenting opportunities for community involvement.

2.5       The Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) will inform the general public and all stakeholders of how, where and when they can become involved in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6a

            (Mr. D. O’ Kane, Principal Professional and Technical Officer, attended in connection with this item.)

            This Committee considered the above-mentioned document, which provided additional advice regarding the Council’s ‘Purpose Built Managed Student Accommodation’ guidance and the ‘Planning and Place Advice Note’, and agreed that it be published online for the purpose of a public consultation exercise.

            The Committee endorsed, in principle, the contents of a guidance document, which would oversee the Council’s management, on an interim basis, of the powers set under Section 76 of the Planning Act (NI) 2011 for the delivery of developer contributions as part of planning agreements, a copy of which was published on the Council’s website.

            It was agreed that briefings in respect of the guidance note and the powers of the Council under Section 76 of the Planning Act (NI) 2011 would be offered to the party groups. 

            (Ms. L. Walshe, Senior Planning Officer, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee endorsed the contents of a Council Enforcement Charter which would assist the Council to deal effectively with breaches of planning legislation and enable it to react effectively where issues arose.  A copy of the Charter was published on the Council’s website.

            The Committee noted that the agenda item with related to Y/2014/0015/O, viz., a proposed development of a medical centre with associated development and on lands at 91 Ballygowan Road, had, at the request of the applicant, been withdrawn from the planning process.  

            The Committee considered an application for the erection of an apartment complex, which would consist of 75 apartments, a 13-storey frontage to Gloucester Street, and an 11-storey frontage to Chichester Street.  It was reported that the development would provide pedestrian access onto Chichester Street, together with a pedestrian and vehicular access onto Gloucester Street.  In addition, a basement and ground floor car park, reception area, bicycle stands, first floor swimming pool and gymnasium, for private use by residents, would be included as part of the development. 

            The Committee approved the application and, in accordance with Section 76 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2015, delegated power to the Director of Planning and Place, in conjunction with the Town Solicitor, to enter into discussions with the applicant to explore the scope of any Planning Agreements which might be realised by way of developer contributions.

            The case officer outlined the principal aspects of an application which sought permission for the demolition of an existing extension to the rear of 5 and 9-13 Warning Street, to permit the development of a hotel which would be adjacent to a listed building.  The application sought also permission for the change of use of the existing listed building, together with the proposed new extension, for use as hotel accommodation.  It was reported that the statutory consultees, including the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, had offered no objections to the proposal.

            The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions set out within the case officer’s report.

            The Committee considered an application for the construction of an eight-storey purpose-built managed student accommodation, which would consist of 156 studio rooms, a reception area and management suite, common room space, together with a bike and general storage area.

            The Committee received Mr. R. Mailey, representing the Donegall Pass Community Forum, who outlined a range of objections to the proposal.  Principally, the objections related to the design, scale and massing of the proposed building, together with its potential impact on the surrounding residential streets and the lack of car parking provision.

            Alderman R. Patterson and Councillor Craig, who both represented the District Electoral Area in which the application was located, addressed the Committee to outline their objections to the proposal.

            Mr. C. Hughes, representing Turley Associates, who acted on behalf of the applicants, Lacuna Developments and Watkin Jones, clarified a number of issues which had been raised by the objectors and answered a range of Members’ questions.

Proposal

            Moved by Councillor Hutchinson,

            Seconded by Councillor Bunting and

      Resolved - That the Committee, given the issues which had been raised regarding the size and scale of the proposed building, together with its potential impact on surrounding residential areas, particularly Packenham Street and the greater Donegall Pass area, agrees to defer consideration of the application to enable a site visit to be undertaken.

            The case officer reported that the above-mentioned application sought permission for the demolition of an existing building to enable the erection of a 12-storey mixed-use development with ground floor retail units, 407 managed student accommodation rooms, an associated reception/office facility, a gymnasium and other ancillary accommodation.  The development would, if permitted, incorporate a landscaped courtyard, plant and storage areas, car parking and cycle provision.

Proposal

            After discussion, it was

            Moved by Councillor Campbell,

            Seconded by Councillor Magee,

      That the Committee, given the issues which had been raised regarding the proposed size and scale of the development, together within its potential impact on surrounding residential areas, agrees to defer consideration of the application to enable a site visit to be undertaken.

            On a vote by show of hands, 13 Members voted in favour of the proposal and none against and it was declared carried.

            The Members received an overview of an application for the redevelopment of part of the former Belfast Metropolitan College Campus to enable the erection of a mixed-use development.  It was reported that the proposal would create a 476-bedroom managed student residential building, with ground floor retail units to the southern aspect of the site.  The student development, it was reported, would incorporate welfare facilities and ancillary accommodation and external areas, which would include landscaped courtyards and an enclosed car park.

            The Committee approved the application and, in accordance with Section 76 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2015, delegated power to the Director of Planning and Place, in conjunction with the Town Solicitor, to enter into discussions with the applicant to explore the scope of any Planning Agreements which might be realised by way of developer contributions.

            The Committee considered an application for the erection of a pedestrian and cycle bridge, which would incorporate combined cycle ramps, and which would span the River Lagan from the Ormeau Park Playing Fields in the east of the City to the Gasworks.

            A number of Members expressed concern that, whilst the Committee could only consider the application on its planning merits, and noted that the Council had met its statutory requirements in full, in so far as they related to public consultation, the erection of the bridge might encourage confrontation between rival groups of youths from both sides of the river.

            On a vote by show of hands, seven Members voted in favour of adopting the recommendation to approve the application, with six voting against, and it was declared carried.

            Accordingly, the Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions set out within the case officer’s report.

            The case officer reported that the application sought full planning permission for amendments to a previous planning approval to include changes to house types and modification to plot arrangements, including garages, landscaping and related site, and

access works for the first phase of development comprising 19 dwellings.  It was reported that, after assessment against prevailing planning policies, the proposal was deemed acceptable

            The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions set out within the case officer’s report.

            The Committee was informed that the application sought permission for the demolition of two storey returns and part of the interior of 22-28 University Street, to enable the change of use from one HMO house and four flats to eighteen flats, including alterations and new three and a half-storey extension.  It was noted that an original proposal for twenty-one units had been reduced to provide an appropriate form and layout. It was reported that proposal was deemed acceptable.

            The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions set out within the case officer’s report.

            The Committee considered an application for a change of use from a vacant hairdressing salon to a hot food bar, in respect of which no objections had been received by the Council.

            The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions set out within the case officer’s report.

            The Committee considered an application for a part change of use from a cafe/sandwich bar to a hot food bar, in respect of which no objections had been received by the Council.

            The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions set out within the case officer’s report.

            The case officer reported that the proposal sought permission to develop housing within the settlement limit for Belfast as designated in BMAP. It was explained that the principle of residential development had been established at the site in that the site, which had formerly been occupied by a residential home. It was noted that no objections had been received by the Council.

            The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions set out within the case officer’s report, and subject to the Director of Planning and Place being delegated power to append any further conditions which might be deemed appropriate on the receipt of any outstanding consultation responses.

            The Committee was advised that the above-mentioned application sought full planning permission for the erection of 12 dwellings with parking, landscaping and associated site works. It was reported that BMAP had designated the site as a ‘committed housing site’.

            The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions set out within the case officer’s report.

            The Committee was apprised of an application for the removal and safe storage of two stained glass windows on the ground floor of the City Hall. It was reported that they would be replaced by windows to commemorate the Spanish Civil War and the contribution made by women to the City of Belfast.  It was reported that the two windows which would be removed would be re-installed in the ground floor of the building.

            It was noted that any work carried out in respect of the application would adhere fully to the decisions which had been taken by the Council’s Diversity Working Group.

            The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions set out within the case officer’s report.

            The Committee considered an application for a replacement footbridge across the Glen River on lands adjacent to Burnside Close in Dunmurry. It was reported that statutory consultees had offered no objections to the scheme, subject to the imposition of standard conditions regarding illumination.

            The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions set out within the case officer’s report.

            The case officer outlined the principal aspects of four Council-linked applications which sought permission for the erection of replacement shop signs as part of the ‘Renewing the Routes’ Scheme. The applications related to the following:

1.     LA04/2015/1300/A - Woodbourne Crescent/Stewartstown Road

2.     LA04/2015/1459/A - Shore Road

3.     LA04/2016/0070/A - Oldpark and Cliftonville Roads

4.     LA04/2015/1462/A - Shankill Road and Peter's Hill

            The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions set out within the case officer’s report.

            The Committee considered a Council-linked application which sought permission for the erection of a boundary fence on a vacant corner site at Dayton Street, Townsend Street and Peter’s Hill, as part of the Renewing the Routes Scheme.

            The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions set out within the case officer’s report.

            The Committee considered an application which sought permission to undertake repair work at the Templemore Swim and Fitness Centre, which was a Listed Building.  It was noted that the work would entail the replacement of missing and defective slates, lead work, guttering, flashings, and downpipes.

            The Committee granted approval, subject to the imposing of the conditions set out within the case officer’s report.