Homes approved despite 98 objections

The development, at Slieve Gallion Drive on the Magherafelt Road, Draperstown will consist of 12 detached dwellings and eight semi-detached dwellings.

Permission has also been granted for the development of site access, access roads, landscaping, car parking, driveways, garages and all associated site works.

The application was submitted by agent HERE Architects on behalf of applicant Viva Bingo Hall Ltd.

The committee was told the land sits within the development limits of Draperstown as defined by the 2015 Magherafelt Area Plan and while not zoned for housing, it is ‘white land’ that sits within a long established residential area to the west and east of medium density housing stock.

However, there have been 98 objections from residents, the majority of whom are located primarily within the adjacent housing area of Slieve Gallion Drive.

Sinn Fein councillor, Catherine Elatter spoke against the proposal.

“As outlined in the report, this proposed development is on white land and in the garden of an existing property,” said Cllr Elatter.

“None of the residents would ever have imagined that 20 houses would be built in the grounds of this particular residence. After much discussion the residents recognise the efforts made to try and minimise the effect on numbers 5 and 7 Slieve Gallion Drive.

“However, this does not reduce number 7’s concerns about the substantial impact this development will have on their daily lives.”

The planning officer explained that DfI roads covered a number of issues about access and sight lines and in November 2019 the proposal was considered satisfactory by the Department.

It was also explained that an addendum objection was submitted shortly before the meeting for members consideration.

Councillor Phelim Gildernew said he did not get the addendum and, as such, would not vote on the issue.

Cllr Cuthberston said that given the planning officer was happy that the points raised have been addressed and taken into consideration he was happy to propose the recommendation for approval.

The Chair of the committee, Councillor Sean McPeake said: “I personally think it is wise to give it some consideration here, given the ambugity”.

The planning manager Dr Chris Boomer agreed with this decision. “At the end of the day the important thing about the planning committee is that it is transparent,” he said.

Councillor Derek McKinney said that given one member of the committee had not received the relevant information then under the code of conduct “we are not in a position to move forward”.

“If each member has not had the opportunity to consider the information provided and Phelim [Cllr Gildernew] says he hasn’t then we are not, I don’t feel, in a position to move forward on this,” said Cllr McKinney.

However, Dr Boomer rejected this suggestion. “I don’t think we could do that,” said Dr Boomer. “The e-mail has been sent and it has been sent to the same people and he was on the list.

“On top of that he said if that is the case he wont vote. Therefore there is more than a quorum in the room to vote and decide on the application.”

Cllr Gildernew said he was happy with that.

Councillor Mark Glasgow then asked for the addendum to be read out and the Chair accepted this request.

Following the reading of the addendum, Cllr Sean Clarke expressed concern about agriculture vehicles travelling through the settlement and said “agriculture vehicles would be better removed from that type of settlement”.

The application’s agent explained that this issue was discussed in detail at the planning meeting and the use of such vehicles are very limited.

Cllr Rober Colvin said this is unlikely to have come up before as when people read residential development they do not expect agricultural vehicles to be travelling through it.

“This idea of intermittent use just won’t happen in practice and particularly where there is an alternative route available, I think the proposer should have included that now,” said Cllr Colvin.

Dr Chris Boomer asked if the application prejudiced the application in anyway by using the alternative access and was told “no” by the agent.

Given this, the planning manager said he would be quite happy to add a condition to the application prohibiting access to agriculture vehicles as the vehicles can access the land from another entrance.

“We require the one single boundary that is worrying people is fenced off but still allow for that access shown in the plans as it appears to be existing agricultural access anyway,” said Dr Boomer.

Cllr Colvin said it may be, but Council is about to put a whole lot of houses round the access and “that changes everything”.

However Dr Boomer suggested that it did not as it is not unusual for a housing development to have access to agriculture lands from the rear.

Cllr Robinson said that having listened to the whole discussion he was happy to second Cllr Cuthbertson’s proposal.

The Chair said he “inadvertently didn’t take Cllr Cuthbertson’s proposal” but explained that if he is making one he would accept it.

The proposal to accept the recommendation to approve was made by Cllr Cuthbertson and seconded by Cllr Wills Robinson with agreement from the rest of the chamber.

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