Agenda and minutes

            Apologies were reported on behalf of Aldermen Campbell, McCoubrey and Smyth and Councillors Beattie and Carson.

            The minutes of the meetings of 5th and 19th September 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 October, subject to the omission of those matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee.

            No declarations were reported.

The Committee was reminded that it had received previously a deputation from residents of the Lennoxvale/Sans Souci Park area of Lower Malone in relation to their concerns regarding proposals which had been submitted by The Queen’s University of Belfast to demolish 2 detached properties and to replace them with 3 residential blocks for students, and that, at its meeting on 15th August, it had been informed that further contact had been received from the Sans Souci Residents’ Association which had requested another opportunity to address the Members regarding revised plans which the University had submitted in relation to the proposal.  Accordingly, the Chairman welcomed to the meeting Ms. A. Andress, Ms. R. Magee, Mr. M. Patton and Ms. E. Sung.

Ms. Andress outlined the concerns, on behalf of the Sans Souci Residents, in that the application proposed the development of 7 bulky, 4.5 storey blocks of purpose built student accommodation which would be intended to house 172 students, the development of which would be intrusive and densely urban and would entail cumbersome roof installations and plant unit, car parking, infill and piling together with high level area lighting and Closed Circuit Television systems. 

Ms. Magee provided an overview of the concerns of the Lennoxvale residents in relation to the potential environmental problems such as noise nuisance, litter and anti-social behaviour which would be detrimental to the suburban character of the area.  Mr. Patton reminded the Committee that the Lennoxvale area had many unique and important features which made a significant contribution to the Malone Conservation Area and that the proposed development would not conform with guidance which had been laid down in the Department of the Environment’s Planning Document entitled “A Design Guide for the Malone Conservation Area” in that the 2 buildings which made important material contributions to the character and appearance of Lennoxvale and the Malone Road would be demolished, together with several other features of such an area being affected. 

                                 Ms. Sung concluded by summarising the Residents’ concerns in relation to the impact on the existing drainage systems and potential surface water flooding and associated risks.

The Residents’ Association answered a number of questions put by the Members and they then left the meeting.

The Members noted the information which had been presented and noted also that the Planning Service was not in a position to indicate when the application would be brought back to Committee for consideration at this stage.

            It was reported that correspondence had been received from the Roads Service in respect of the notification of the proposed introduction of taxi ranks at Botanic Avenue and High Street.

            A copy of the letter and maps relating to the aforementioned matter was made available at the meeting for the information of the Members.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 15th August, it had agreed to write to the Roads Service to seek clarification on the right of way of vehicles exiting the rear of the City Hall.  A letter, dated 23rd September, had been received from the Roads Service which informed the Committee that traffic exiting the City Hall onto Donegall Square South must enter the junction with due care and attention as traffic on the public highway had the right of way.

            A number of Members expressed concern at the content of the letter and the ongoing difficulties which were experienced by drivers exiting the rear of the City Hall and the use by buses of the normal traffic lanes in the vicinity of the building which exacerbated the problem.  Accordingly, it was agreed that the issues of concern would be raised with the Roads Service at its forthcoming meeting with the Committee.

            It was noted that no requests for deputations had been received.

            A list of new planning applications, which had been received by the Planning Service from 10th September until 23rd September, was noted by the Committee.

The Committee noted a list of decisions which had been issued by the Planning Service between 13th September and 25th September in respect of streamlined planning applications. 

A list of deferred items, which were still under consideration by the Planning Office, was noted by the Committee.

            At the request of the Planning Service, the undernoted item was withdrawn from the schedule:

            Prior to the consideration of the above-mentioned applications, the Committee was reminded that the former Policy and Resources Committee, at its meeting on 20th October, 2006, had agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 47, to delegate full Council powers to the Town Planning Committee to refer to the Planning Management Board for adjudication only those disputed applications which received the support of a minimum of 75% of the Members in attendance, and voting, at the meeting.

            Accordingly, the Committee considered further the planning applications in relation to the demolition of an existing 4 storey commercial building and the erection of a new 7 storey building comprising of 56 small unit/studio apartments and 2 retail units at ground floor level, in respect of which the Divisional Planning Manager had offered opinions to approve and consent.

            After discussion, it was

            Moved by Councillor Webb,

            Seconded by Councillor M. E. Campbell,

            That the opinion of the Divisional Planning Manager, to approve the demolition of an existing 4 storey commercial building to enable the erection of a new 7 storey building comprising of 56 small unit/studio apartments and 2 retail units at ground floor level, be rejected on the grounds that the Committee was strongly of the opinion that a decision contrary to that proposed by the Divisional Planning Office should be made because of the nature of the large scale housing proposal in that:

·        it was unacceptable due to its scale, mass and design and it was out of character with the amenity of the area in the context of Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 7;

·        it could lead to an unacceptable precedent for further similar developments within the area when considered against PPS 7 and PPS 12; and

·        the application had generated significant political objections. 

            Accordingly, the Committee agrees that the application be referred to the Planning Management Board for consideration.

            On a vote by show of hands, nine Members voted for the proposal and two 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 further the undernoted planning applications and adopted the recommendations of the Divisional Planning Manager thereon:

            The Committee considered the 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 contained therein with the exception of those referred to below: