Development Committee 15 December 2004
From Nigov
E3800
Wednesday, 15th December, 2004
Contents |
SPECIAL MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Members present: Councillor Crozier (Chairman); and Councillors Adamson, M. Browne, Crowe, Lavery, McCarthy, O'Reilly and Stoker.
Also attended: Councillors D. Browne, Convery, Hartley, Kennedy, Maginness, McClenaghan, Moore, O’Neill, Rodgers H. Smyth and Toan.
In attendance: Mr. P. McNaney, Chief Executive; Mr. C. Quigley, Director of Legal Services; Mr. G. Millar, Head of Urban Development; Mr. K. Sutherland, Planning and Transport Policy Manager; and Mr. J. Goodall, Senior Committee Administrator.
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Molloy and Ní Chuilín.
Authority to Attend Meeting
The Senior Committee Administrator advised the Committee that, in calling the meeting, the Chairman (Councillor Crozier) had considered that it would be beneficial if all Members of the Council were to be authorised to be in attendance. Accordingly, he sought authority for the attendance at the meeting of all the Members of Council.
The Committee granted the authority sought.
Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan
The Head of Urban Development reminded the Committee that the draft versions of the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan and the accompanying Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan had been launched on 30th November. Copies of the general overview and the Belfast volume of the Plan had been circulated to all Members of the Council. He pointed out that, despite the Council having lodged an objection, the response period to the draft Plan remained at eight weeks with a closure date of 25th January, 2005. To facilitate the formulation of a Council response, an Officer Working Group had been established and would be meeting with representatives of each Council Department.
It was reported that Messrs. T. Clarke, A. Adair and A. Meenagh of the Department of the Environment Planning Service were in attendance and they were admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Chairman (Councillor Crozier).
Mr. Adair reviewed the background to the establishing of the Plan, its format and the area covered by its proposals. He outlined the guiding principles which had been utilised in developing the Plan and stated that its framework encompassed the undernoted areas:
- housing
- employment
- retailing/offices
- transportation
- urban environment
- the natural environment
Mr. Adair stated that Belfast City Centre would be the primary location for shops and offices. He provided details of the methods which would be employed to stimulate regeneration, urban design and environmental protection. To improve transportation within the City two new railway stations and two new footbridges across the River Lagan would be provided. In addition constraints on parking within the central area of the City would be introduced. The proposals in relation to the Belfast Harbour area would be governed by a masterplan, while eighteen thoroughfares throughout the City would be designated as arterial routes. Of the 316 hectares which had been zoned for housing in the outer Belfast area, 78 would be designated for social housing provision, while there would be limited expansion into the designated Green Belt. In that area, 47 hectares of additional land would be zoned as employment locations, measures would be introduced to improve the built heritage and provision would be made to protect the natural environment.
Mr. Adair concluded by highlighting the benefits which would accrue to the City from the implementation of the Plan. He outlined the steps to be undertaken prior to the Plan's adoption. These would include the receipt of representations, consideration of objections and display of objections and counter objections prior to the holding of a Public Inquiry.
Mr. Clarke responded to a question from a Member by pointing out that housing need projections and demand had been based on the most up-to-date information available. However, the specified level of provision could be adjusted as further needs were identified. In relation to the importance which had been applied to objections, such as those which had been made in respect of the Inner Box Road, he stated that all objections would be assessed at the Public Inquiry stage.
The Committee was advised that the masterplan which had been cited within the document in respect of the Titanic Quarter was being established by commercial developers, with the Plan merely establishing a broad framework.
Attention was drawn to the fact that the Plan contained no measures to improve the situation which had been brought about by high levels of student accommodation in areas such as the Holylands. Mr. Clarke explained that the recently introduced regulations in respect of houses in multiple occupancy had not been in operation during the formulation of the Plan. However, with the implementation of these measures, the Planning Service would be in a position to respond to objections in respect of the perceived over-provision of student accommodation.
After further discussion, during which Mr. Clarke dealt with a number of other pertinent and related matters and indicated that all available methods would be employed to propel the Plan towards the Public Inquiry stage and the subsequent implementation of its contents, the Chairman (Councillor Crozier) thanked the members of the deputation for being in attendance and for the information which they had provided.
Chairman
