Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Alderman Smyth and Councillors M. E. Campbell, Hanna, McCabe and McNamee.

            The minutes of the meetings of 28th May, 7th, 19th and 21st June were taken as read and signed as correct.  It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 2nd July, subject to the omission of those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee.

          No declarations of interest were reported.

            The Committee noted that no requests for deputations had been received.

            The Committee was advised that correspondence had been received from the Divisional Planning Office referring to an appeal which had been lodged under Article 33 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 in relation to the development of an apartment complex consisting of two hundred and seventeen units at the above-mentioned location.

            The correspondence indicated that, under Paragraph 5.7 of the Revised Procedures for Appeal Hearings, the Divisional Planning Office had advised that the Department’s view on the proposal was to refuse permission on the following grounds:

1.     that the proposed development was unacceptable in that insufficient information had been submitted regarding contamination, noise and air quality, to enable the Department to make an informed decision on the proposal;

2.     that the proposal was contrary to Policy QD1 of PPS 7 ‘Quality Residential Developments’ in that it failed to demonstrate the creation of a quality and sustainable residential environment, and that the scale, form and appearance of the proposal would result in overdevelopment of the site; and

3.     that the proposed development was unacceptable in that 0.33 hectares of the site was zoned for social housing in the draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan and it had not been demonstrated that the proposed scheme made adequate provision to meet identified housing needs in the area.

            After discussion, the Committee noted the information which had been provided.

            The Committee was advised that correspondence had been received from the Divisional Roads Manager, Mr. J. Irvine, in relation to those questions which had been raised by individual Members at its meeting on 28th May, 2012.

            A Member pointed out that the response provided by the Roads Service was unsatisfactory in that it did not provide a full explanation of each of the concerns which had been expressed by the individual Members of the Committee.

            Arising from the discussion, the Committee agreed that the Roads Service be reminded, at its next presentation on the organisation’s progress report, of the importance of responding in full to the individual queries raised by Members.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 6th October, 2011, it had been advised that further notification had been received from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency which had indicated that, after a period of consultation and consideration, it had decided that the above-mentioned building would not be listed.  Concern had been expressed by the Committee that no political representatives from the Ballymacarrett area had been consulted by the Environment Agency on the listing of the building, and subsequently a letter had been issued to the Agency to express the Committee’s concern and to seek information regarding the extent of any further consultation undertaken in respect of the building.

            The Committee was informed that a response had been received on 27th June from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency which clarified the consultation process which had been undertaken and confirmed that the proper procedures had been followed in respect of the above-mentioned listing.

            A Member expressed concern at the delay by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency in responding to the Council and at the unsatisfactory explanation which had been provided regarding the consultation process in that the Committee had not been afforded the opportunity to consider the matter further prior to the final determination of the listing of the building by that organisation.  The Committee subsequently agreed that a further letter be issued to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency expressing the Committee’s concern in that regard.

Noted.

            The Committee noted a list of planning applications which had been received by the Belfast Planning Manager for the Council area for the period from 19th June until 23rd July.

            The Committee noted a list of deferred items which were still under consideration by the Belfast Planning Office.

            The Committee noted information which had been received regarding the dates for the holding of future appeals.

The Committee noted the outcome of planning appeals in respect of the following proposals:

1.     two bungalows and garages, each with individual access, at 45 Glencairn Road;

2.     the erection of a freestanding illuminated sign at 58 to 60 Ulsterville Avenue;

3.     the erection of one, ninety-six sheet advertising lightbox at the Timber Yard, Milewater Road;

4.     the erection of one, ninety-six sheet advertising hoarding at 60 Bradbury Place; and

5.     the erection of one freestanding, forty-eight sheet advertising panel and one freestanding ninety-six sheet advertising panel under temporary consent at lands at 26 Kennedy Way.

            The Committee noted a list of Streamlined Planning Applications’ Decisions which had been issued by the Planning Service during the period from 12th June until 24th July.

            The Committee considered further a planning application in relation to the proposed demolition of an existing estate agent’s building and the erection of a structure containing a new estate agent’s office with four apartments above, in respect of which the Divisional Planning Manager had offered an opinion to approve.

            After discussion, the Committee agreed, with two Members voting against, to adopt the opinion of the Divisional Planning Manager to approve the application.

            (As the decision was not unanimous it was subject to ratification by the Council.)

            Prior to the consideration of the above-mentioned application, the Committee was reminded that the former Policy and Resources Committee, at its meeting on 20^th October, 2006, had agreed, in respect of planning applications where significant opposition was evident, to delegate full Council powers to the Town Planning Committee to reject the Divisional Planning Manager’s opinion and refer such applications to the Planning Management Board for adjudication.  This was on the condition that 75% of the Members in attendance at the Committee meeting voted in favour of such a course of action.

            Accordingly, the Committee considered further the planning application in relation to an amended scheme with a reduced floor area for the replacement of an existing dwelling with a new building, which would provide supported housing consisting of fifteen units in total in the form of apartments and staff accommodation, in respect of which the Divisional Planning Manager had offered an opinion to approve.

            After discussion, it was

            Moved by Alderman Patterson,

            Seconded by Alderman Rodgers,

      That the opinion of the Divisional Planning Manager to approve the amended scheme, with a reduced floor area for the replacement of an existing dwelling with a new building, which would provide supported housing consisting of fifteen units in total in the form of apartments and staff accommodation, be rejected on the grounds that the proposal would have wider environmental impacts given that the nature of the proposed housing would be out of character with the residential amenity of the area; that the application had generated significant political and local/neighbourhood objections and that it would have a detrimental impact on neighbouring properties due to overlooking, loss of light and dominance.  Accordingly, the Committee agrees that the application be referred to the Planning Management Board for consideration.

            On a vote by show of hands fourteen Members voted for the proposal and none against and it was accordingly declared carried.  It was noted that since the application had achieved the required support it would be forwarded to the Planning Management Board for adjudication.

            The Committee considered a schedule of planning applications which had been submitted by the Divisional Planning Manager in respect of the Council area and agreed to adopt the recommendations therein, with the exception of those referred to below:

Location and Agent               Proposal                           Divisional Planning

                                                                                       Manager’s Opinion

39, 41 and 43 Priory               Four replacement,               Approval

Park,                                     three storey townhouses

Premier Building Design          with associated carparking.

                                             [Deferred at the request of

                                             Councillor Hanna to

                                             enable an office meeting

                                             to take place.]

112-114 Great Victoria Street, Redevelopment of vacant    Approval

Taggart Design                      lands to an unattended,

                                             twenty-four hour operating

                                             filling station. 

                                             [Deferred at the request of

                                             Councillor Mullan to enable

                                             an office meeting to take

                                             place.]

Macrory Memorial                  Change of use from church     Refusal

Presbyterian Church               building to two hot food

Duncairn Gardens,                 takeaways with alterations

M. C. Logan Architects           to front. 

                                             [Deferred at the request of

                                             Councillor L. Patterson to

                                             enable an office meeting

                                             to take place.]

Forge Integrated Primary        Alterations to existing          Approval

School, 40 Carolan Road,       car park and installation

Belfast Education and             of a pedestrian gate

Library Board                         incorporated into the

                                             boundary fence. 

                                             [Deferred at the request of

                                             Councillor Mullan to enable

                                             an office meeting to take

                                             place.]

Footpath at Limestone Road   Telecommunications           Approval

approximately 60 metres        development.

north west of junction of         [Deferred at the request of

Limestone Road and              Councillors Mallon and

Cosgrove Heights                   Maskey to enable an office

Mono Consultants                  meeting to take place.]

Footpath at Alliance                Telecommunications           Approval

Avenue opposite junction        development. 

of Alliance Avenue and           [Deferred at the request of

Etna Drive                              Councillors Mallon and

Mono Consultants                  McCabe to enable an

                                             office meeting to take

                                             place.]