Agenda item

(Councillor Mullan, who had declared an interest in this application, withdrew from the table whilst it was under discussion and took no part in the debate or decision-making process.)

            Councillor Mullan indicated that she wished to speak on the matter and accordingly, the Committee agreed.

            The Committee considered the application which sought permission for a change of use from retail to a hot food outlet which included an odour extraction flue to the side.

            The case officer informed the Committee that, after the agenda had been published, the following additional information had been received from residents, which raised the following points:

·        The case officer reports indicated that the site was not in a designated area – however ignored the fact that it was adjacent to an ATC;

·        Planning History ignored the application for an unmanned filling station and street trading licences;

·        Material Considerations – appeal at Beechfield Street different;

·        proposal was for a change of use from an off licence to hot food therefore no intensification of use; 

·        Beechfield Street was not located on arterial route/ in ATC;

·        Beechfield Street was not adjacent to bus stops and schools;

·        Transport NI response – the proposal would result in an increase to on – street parking.  The Parking Survey had not been completed at appropriate times;

·        photographs submitted by objector showing congestion at peak operating times;

·        Environmental Health response raises cause for concern;

·        proposal was not considered sustainable as it was located close to schools and in an area over 100 other food outlets.  It would also cause vermin and litter and cause traffic intensification;

·        flue location would detract from character of the area; 

·        traffic in area had intensified with both commercial and residential uses increasing in number;

·        patrons would be tempted to park across residents drives;

·        insufficient neighbour notification;

·        a support letter from those who did not live in the vicinity;

·        existing traffic problems in this area and this problem would exacerbate them ; and

·        supporters of application did not live in the vicinity.

            The case officer outlined the response of the Planning Department to the aforementioned issues raised, as outlined in the Late Items Report Pack.

            The Committee received representation from Mr. P. O’Callaghan and Ms. C. Taylor, acting on behalf of residents. They outlined a range of objections to the proposal which related to the detrimental impact on residents, car parking, flow of traffic, streetscape, visual amenity, townscape character, problems with waste disposal of the proposed takeaway and drainage issues of the area. They suggested that the proposal was unsympathetic to the design and character of the area, had the potential to affect the Council’s local development plan and highlighted that there had been a large number of objections submitted,. They suggested that the proposal would create road safety issues, noise, and disturbance, together with odour issues. They also raised issues regarding the lack of neighbour notification for the application, unanswered objections, that parking surveys submitted by the applicant were questionable, and the number of hot food bars already in the area.

            Councillor Mullan outlined her objections to the proposal which included the planning history of the site, previous street trading licensing issues for mobile hot food vans at the location, traffic congestion and dangers at the junction, and parking problems at the site.

            After discussion, given the issues which had been raised regarding the traffic and impact on residential amenity, the Committee agreed to defer consideration of the application to enable a site visit to be undertaken to allow the Committee to acquaint itself with the location and the proposal at first hand. 

            The Committee also agreed that an accident report or safety record (Roads Service/ PSNI) together with a comprehensive traffic/congestion report (Transport NI) be obtained for consideration at the next meeting.