Planning update

Date published: 22 November 2017

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The Department for Infrastructure has taken decisions on six planning applications including approval for Ebrington Square Maritime Museum, and a decision not to issue a Stop Notice for sand extraction at Lough Neagh.

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The Department has carefully considered each application and is cognisant of its statutory duty to process planning applications and reach decisions on planning related matters. On that basis, the Department believes that it is in the public interest to take these decisions without further delay.  The Department will continue to apply these principles to other decisions as and when they are ready to be taken.

Notices of Opinion to approve planning permission have issued for a reserved matters application for a Maritime Museum at Ebrington Square and also for a new vehicular/pedestrian access off Limavady Road via a new signalised junction.  Both applications are part of the wider ongoing regeneration at Ebrington.

A Notice of Opinion to approve has also been given for an extension to the existing inert waste landfill facility at Hightown Waste Management Site, Upper Hightown Road, Newtownabbey.

Notices of Opinion to refuse planning permission have issued for a tourist destination resort at Gublusk Bay, Killadeas, County Fermanagh and for a proposed Solar Farm near Kells, County Antrim.   

Planning permission has also been refused for an extension to the existing Lagan Construction Group facility at Pond Park Road East in Lisburn.  The Department’s decision concurs with the conclusions and recommendations from the Planning Appeals Commission, following a hearing in October 2016. The report is now available online.

The Department has carefully considered the Lough Neagh Court of Appeal Judgement, concerning sand extraction from Lough Neagh. The Court of Appeal referred the matter back to the Department so that a determination may be made on whether or not to issue a Stop Notice. The Department has determined, based on the knowledge of the sand traders’ activities and up to date environmental information now before it, that it is not expedient to issue a Stop Notice at this time. Sand dredging may continue subject to the implementation of and adherence to mitigation measures and working conditions. The Lough Neagh Sand Traders have accepted all working parameters.  The Department reserves its power to reconsider its position and serve a Stop Notice at any time.

Notes to editors: 

Pond Park

  1. Planning application S/2011/0659/F was submitted on 15 August 2011.  The applicants are Lagan Construction Group. The site is located on Pond Park Road East, Lisburn. The application is a retained application under Section 29 of the Planning Act (NI) 2011 and was processed by the Department for Infrastructure’s Strategic Planning Division.
  2. The application was for engineering works incorporating the extraction of rock over a five year period to facilitate the extension of the existing storage area. Also the construction of a replacement workshop, a fabrication shed and the installation and operation of a replacement concrete plant, aggregate storage bays and retention of a settlement lagoon.  The Department received 41 letters of objection in relation to the application.  The PAC report can be found through Public Access on the Planning Portal: www.planningni.gov.uk using the reference number S/2011/0659/F.

Ebrington

  1. Reserved matters application LA11/2016/0937/RM was submitted on 1 November 2016.  The applicants are Derry City and Strabane District Council. The site is located at Ebrington Square, Derry ~ Londonderry. The application was processed by the Department for Infrastructure’s Strategic Planning Division.
  2. The proposal is for a change of use, alterations and extension of former military buildings 45/46 and 49 Ebrington Square to provide a Maritime Museum and Archive Centre, parking and landscaping.  This development is a part of the wider Ebrington development framework approved under the previous outline planning permission (OPP) reference A/2015/0001/O. No objections were received in relation to the application.
  3. A reserved matter application LA11/2017/0541/RM was submitted on 1 June 2017.  The applicants are The Executive Office.  The site is located at Ebrington Square, Derry ~ Londonderry.  The application is for new vehicular/pedestrian access off Limavady Road via a new signalised junction to provide new internal street with associated landscaping, services and boundary treatment works.

Hightown quarry and landfill

  1. Planning application U/2014/0096/F was submitted on 4 April 2014.  The applicant is Laura McLaughlin. The site is located at the existing Hightown Waste Management Site, Upper Hightown Road, Newtownabbey. The application is a Regionally Significant application under Section 26 of the Planning Act (NI) 2011 and was processed by the Department for Infrastructure’s Strategic Planning Division.
  2. The application was for a quarry and inert landfill: regularisation of, and further quarrying of, hard rock quarry lands and progressive restoration by landfill with inert wastes only. With associated storage areas and proposed new storage building.  The Department received one letter of objection and three letters of support in relation to the application. 
  3. This application is separate from the recently approved Residual Waste Treatment Facility at Hightown Quarry on the Boghill Road, Ballyutoag in Co. Antrim.
  4. This application is situated approx 1.5 miles away from the approved Residual Waste Treatment Facility at Hightown Quarry on the Boghill Road, Ballyutoag in Co. Antrim

Solar farm, Kells

  1. Planning application LA03/2015/0234/F was submitted on 26 June 2015.  The applicants are Elgin Energy Esco Ltd. The application is a Regionally Significant application under Section 26 of the Planning Act (NI) 2011 and was processed by the Department for Infrastructure’s Strategic Planning Division.
  2. The site is located near Kells at Lands extending NW and SE of Whappstown Road, Moorefields, Castlegore, Ballymena.  Lands to the SE of Whappstown Road surrounding No. 11 Whappstown Road and approximately 100 metres south of No. 19 Whappstown Road, 150 metres west of No. 20 Speerstown Road and 290 metres northwest of No. 93 Tildarg Road.  Lands located NW of Whappstown Road beginning approximately 120 metres north of No. 16 Whappstown Road, 20 metres east of No. 7 Ross Lane and 190 metres southeast of No. 6 Craigstown Road.
  3. The application was for the construction and operation of a solar farm. Development comprises photo-voltaic panels on mounting frames; 1 No. substation; 30 No. Inverter stations; 23 No. CCTV cameras (3m high poles); 2.45 metre high perimeter fence; upgrading of 2 No. existing accesses onto Whappstown Road; internal service tracks; 2 No. temporary construction compounds; and additional landscaping to augment existing.  The Department received 1054 objections in relation to the application.

Gublusk Bay, Killadeas

  1. Planning application L/2011/0359/F was submitted on 8 April 2011.  The applicants are Townland Properties Ltd. The application is a Regionally Significant application under Section 26 of the Planning Act (NI) 2011 and was processed by the Department for Infrastructure’s Strategic Planning Division.
  2. The site is located at Gublusk Bay, Killadeas, Co. Fermanagh. 
  3. The application was for a tourist destination resort comprising: 100 berth floating marina, split level 83 bed hotel (3 storeys and mezzanine floor) with function room, leisure facilities, spa, conference room, bar and restaurant, 68 self-catering courtyard apartments (2 and 2 1/2 storeys high), 10 self-catering lodges (1 1/2 storeys high), single storey RNLI station with slipway, single storey reception building with restaurant, site shop, marina facilities and WW2 heritage exhibition.  All with associated landscaping, services, right hand turning lane, parking, pumping station and waste-water treatment plant.  The Department received 28 letters of objection and 1 petition of objection in relation to the application.

Lough Neagh

  1. The Court of Appeal judgement delivered on 28 June 2017, quashed the decision of the former Environmental Minister within the former Department of the Environment not to issue a Stop Notice to cease the dredging of sand from Lough Neagh. The Court of Appeal referred the matter back to the Department for its immediate attention and determination on whether or not to issue a Stop Notice. Following receipt of the judgement, officials immediately commenced a process of reviewing the information currently available, including the up to date environmental information, and have determined that it is not expedient at this time to issue a Stop Notice subject to the implementation of mitigation measures and working conditions.
  2. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office on 028 9054 0007 or email: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.
  3. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra  

 

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