Agenda and minutes

Apologies were reported on behalf of the High Sheriff (Councillor L. Patterson) and Councillors Hutchinson and Mullan.

            Councillors Garrett and Haire declared an interest in respect of item 21 on the Schedule of Applications, in that they were both on the Board of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 6th March, it had agreed to receive deputations from the Fold Housing Association and from the Finaghy Road North/Black’s Road Residents in connection with the demolition of the existing buildings and the proposed mixed-use development, comprising of 244 social and private affordable residential units, with access from the Black’s Road, including associated public open space/linear park; community centre and class B business units, together with parking and access from the Finaghy Road North, at the above-mentioned location.  It was reported that Mr. J. McLean, Chief Executive Officer, Ms. E. Patterson, Director of Housing and Ms. L. Magill, Development Manager of the Fold Housing Association were in attendance and they were admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Chairman.

            Mr. McLean provided an overview of the background to the Fold Housing Association and outlined examples of family housing provision by that organisation within the City.  He explained the extent of the development proposal and gave a comparison between the original application, which had received planning approval in September, 2009, and the Fold Housing Association’s proposed scheme, which was under consideration currently and would lead to reduced density and increased open space at the site.  Mr. McLean proceeded to outline the employment and future investment opportunities, together with the potential for residential use within the proposed development and he summarised the consultation activities which had taken place to date. 

            Mr. McLean answered a range of Members’ questions in relation to the decontamination of the site, the economic balance of the proposal and the percentage of proposed social as opposed to private housing provision. 

            The Chairman thanked the representatives from the Fold Housing Association and they then retired from the meeting. 

            It was reported that Mr. P. Crossan, Mr. R. Rodgers, Mr. C. Duffy, Ms. B. Early and Ms. B. Devlin, representing the Finaghy Road North/Black’s Road Residents, were in attendance and they were admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Chairman.

            Mr. Crossan outlined the objections and concerns of the Residents in terms of the proposed permanent loss of the site for economic development; access and transport issues; the layout, siting, design and external appearance of the proposal; and the potential impact on the neighbourhood and the environment.  He provided supporting documentation in relation to the Regional Development Strategy 2035; the Draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015; clarification of Planning Policy Statement 4 in terms of the retention of zoned land and economic development uses; the planning history on the site and Planning Policy Statement 12 in relation to housing in settlements.  Mr. Crossan referred also to the response to a question which was put recently to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment in terms of the reluctance to lose land which was being used, or was last used, for industry to non-industrial use.

            The Chairman thanked the representatives of the Finaghy Road North/Black’s Road Residents and they then left the meeting. 

            The Committee noted the information which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

            (Mr. K. Sutherland, Urban Development Manager, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Committee considered the undernoted report and endorsed the proposed response to the Department of the Environment which was contained therein.

“1      Relevant Background Information

1.1      The Department of the Environment (DOE) published Draft SPPS for 12 weeks public consultation ending on 29 April 2014.

1.2      The aim of the document is to consolidate the existing Planning Policy Statements (PPSs) (up to 20 documents) with a single Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) in order to provide a more accessible, shorter, clearer, focused statement of regional policy.

1.3      The DOE aims to publish the final SPPS to correspond with the transfer of planning powers to local councils in April 2015. When published in final form the SPPS must be taken into account by the new 11 councils in the preparation of local development plans (LDP) and is a material consideration in planning decisions. 

1.4      This is a key policy document for the future operation of the planning functions by the 11 new councils from April 2015. A summary of the main issues is outlined in Appendix 1 and the Councils proposed draft response to draft SPPS is attached in Appendix 2 for consideration.

2         Key Issues

2.1      New Core Planning Principles

           Draft SPPS outlines 8 new core planning principles to underpin delivery of the planning reforms set out in the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. They are:

·        Furthering Sustainable Development;

·        Improving Health and Well-being;

·        Creating and Enhancing Shared Space;

·        Delivering Spatial Planning;

·        Observing a Plan-led System;

·        Supporting Good Design, Positive Place-making and Urban and Rural Stewardship;

·        Enhancing Stakeholder Engagement and Front-loading; and

·        Enhancing Local Democracy and Accountability. 

2.2      The recognition given to the need for a clear statement of core planning principles and that they are of fundamental importance to the delivery of planning and the two-tier planning system is broadly welcomed. A number of slight amendments to the wording are suggested in the appended response. The inclusion of noise and air quality management as elements of the Core Planning Principle – Improving Health and Well-being is suppported alongside the recognition of noise impacts as a material planning consideration.

2.3      New Development Plan System

           The draft SPPS outlines more detail on the new Development Plan system which will be the responsibility of the new councils in April 2015. A two stage approach is suggested which will involve:

·        A Plan Strategy which must set out the Councils objectives in relation to the development and use of land in its district and its strategic polices for the implementation of the objectives; and

·        A local polices plan after the plan strategy has been adopted which must set out the Councils local polices consistent with the plan strategy.

2.4      SPPS will be a critical element in the reformed two-tier planning system.  The objective set out in the Ministerial Foreword for documents which ‘will set the direction for new councils to bring forward detailed operational policies within future local development plans’ and which will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

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

An acknowledgement from the Strategic Planning Division in respect of the Committee’s response in relation to the George Best Belfast City Airport Planning Agreement Modification Process.

Notification from the Planning Appeals Commission advising that an appeal against an enforcement notice had been received in relation to an alleged unauthorised erection of a lean-to extension to the rear of premises on land at 169 to 173 Antrim Road.

An acknowledgement from the Roads Service in relation to the request from the Committee for the removal of the yellow line on the Crumlin Road at the former Court House.

            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.

            It was reported that correspondence had been received from the Area Planning Office in relation to the above-mentioned matter which had indicated that, having considered all the relevant factors, the Planning Service remained of the opinion that the application, in respect of a proposed extension and alterations to the nursing home to increase occupancy from 36 bedrooms to 46 bedrooms and ancillary accommodation with external car parking and landscaping, including temporary opening of former access onto the road for use during the construction, was acceptable and that a decision to approve would be issued within the near future.

            Arising from the discussion in that regard, the Planning Service undertook to notify the Committee of incidents in the future when further representations were received and considered in relation to specific cases. 

Noted.

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

            The Committee noted a list of new planning applications which had been received by the Planning Service from 25th March until 7th April.

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

            The Committee noted a list of decisions which had been issued by the Planning Service between 26th March and 10th April in respect of streamlined planning applications.

            At the request of the applicants, the undernoted items were withdrawn from the schedule:

            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:

            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: