Agenda and minutes

            Apologies were reported on behalf of Alderman Rodgers and Councillors M. E. Campbell, A. Newton, L. Patterson and Webb.

            No declarations were reported.

            It was reported that correspondence had been received from various statutory bodies, agencies and other organisations in respect of the undernoted:

            Notification from the Roads Service of:

·          the intention to provide an accessible/blue badge parking bay at 23 Woodvale Drive;

·          the Draft Order, Statutory Notice and related maps in relation to the M1/Trunk Road T3 and the M1-M2 Link;

·          the Draft Order, Statutory Notice of Intention and associated maps in relation  to the Abandonment of Public Rights of Way at Sliabh Dubh Glen and Sliabh Dubh View; and

·          the Statutory Rule and associated maps in relation to the M2/Trunk Road T7 Order (Northern Ireland) 2013.

            Copies of the letters, maps and orders relating to the above-mentioned matters were made available at the meeting for the information of the Members.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided.

            The Committee was advised that correspondence had been received from the Area Planning Manager in respect of an appeal which had been lodged in relation to the non-determination of a planning application for the redevelopment of the site at the above-mentioned location to provide a 14 storey building, which comprised of a replacement public house and bookmakers with an office above.

            The Area Planning Manager had advised that the Department had recommended that the proposal be refused on the grounds that:

·        insufficient information had been provided as required under Article 7 (4) of the Planning General Development Order (Northern Ireland) 1993;

·        the proposal was contrary to Planning Policy Statement 1, in that its scale and massing would impact adversely upon the character of the area;

·        the proposal was contrary to Policy CC012, High Buildings of the Belfast Urban Area Plan, 2001, in that the proposal did not relate sympathetically to its immediate surroundings, including the listed Crown Liquor Saloon;

·        the proposal was contrary to policy BH11 of the Department’s Planning Policy Statement 6, Planning, Archaeology and the Built Heritage, in that the development would, if permitted, affect adversely the setting of the Crown Liquor Saloon by reason of its detailed design which was out of keeping with that listed building, in terms of form, scale, mass and proportions;

·        the proposal was contrary to Policy BH12 of the Planning Policy Statement 6, Planning, Archaeology and the Built Heritage, in that it would, if permitted, have an adverse impact on the setting, character and appearance of the City Centre and Linen Conservation Areas by reason of massing, proportion and form; and

·         the proposal was contrary to Planning Policy Statement 3, Access, Movement and parking, AMP6, in that the applicant had failed to demonstrate that the surrounding road network could safely accommodate the development.

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided.

            The Committee was advised that correspondence had been received from the Department of the Environment indicating that it had decided to issue a Notice of Opinion to Approve in respect of the proposed major mixed use development at the above-mentioned location.  The correspondence indicated that the Department had taken into account all of the relevant planning matters in respect of the proposal and, after due consideration, had approved the application. 

            The Committee noted the information which had been provided. 

            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 29th October until 11th November, was noted by the Committee.

            The Committee noted a list of decisions which had been issued by the Planning Service between 29th October and 13th November 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:

            The Committee considered further the undernoted planning applications and adopted the recommendations of the Divisional Planning Manager thereon: