Town Planning Committee 6 December 2007
From Nigov
Town Planning Committee Thursday, 6th December, 2007
MEETING OF TOWN PLANNING COMMITTEE
Members present
Councillor Lavery (Chairman); the Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Kelly); and Councillors Empey, Hendron, Long, C. Maskey, McCarthy, McCausland, Moore, O'Neill, Rodway, Smyth and Wilson.
Also attended
Councillors Humphrey and O’Reilly.
In attendance
- Mr. R. Boyd (Members' Support Officer)
- Mr. J. Heaney (Committee Administrator)
- Mr. P. Montgomery (Divisional)
- Mr. J. King (Planning Office)
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Campbell, Maginness, McClenaghan and Patterson.
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 22nd November were taken as read and signed as correct. It was reported that those minutes, together with the minutes of 24th October and 8th November, had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 3rd December, subject to the omission of matters in respect of which the Council had delegated its powers to the Committee.
Change of Date of January Meetings
The Committee Administrator reminded the Members that the next meeting of the Council was scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 2nd January, 2008. However, as this date was considered to be within the festive or holiday period, a recommendation would be submitted to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee suggesting that it might be more appropriate to hold the meeting of the Council on Monday, 7th January.
Accordingly, in order to keep clear the Committee schedule for the first week in January it was recommended that the Town Planning Committee put back by one week its meetings in January.
After discussion, the Committee agreed that, should the January Council meeting be rescheduled as suggested, the Town Planning Committee meetings in January be postponed by one week and that they be held on Thursday 10th and Thursday 24th of January at 4.30 p.m.
Routine Correspondence
It was reported that correspondence had been received from various Statutory Bodies in connection with the undernoted items:
Notification from the Roads Service of its intention to provide a disabled parking bay at 24 Parkmount Terrace.
Notification from the Roads Service of its intention to introduce waiting restrictions on Lisburn Road, Donnybrook Street and Eglantine Avenue.
Notification from the Roads Service of its intention to issue an Abandonment Order for the footpath between Katrine Park and The Vines.
Notification from the Roads Service of its intention to introduce traffic calming measures in the Sydenham Avenue area.
Notification from the Roads Service of the making of an Abandonment Order in relation to Ridgeway Street.
Notification from the Department for Social Development of the making of an Extinguishment of Public Rights-of-Way Order at 95-125 Alliance Parade.
Notification from the Department for Social Development of its intention to make an Extinguishment of Public Rights-of-Way Order over and along Beresford Street.
Copies of the Orders, letters and maps relating to the above matters were displayed at the meeting for the information of the Members.
The Committee noted the information provided.
Lands Adjacent to and including Castlecourt Shopping Centre
The Members' Support Officer advised the Committee that correspondence had been received from Planning Service Headquarters indicating that an application in relation to the extension of Castlecourt Shopping Centre, associated car parking and service areas, together with work to reconfigure Castle Court Shopping Centre and car parking facilities had been withdrawn.
The Committee noted the correspondence which had been received.
Roads Service Programme of Works 2007/2008
The Committee was reminded that a special meeting had been arranged to receive a presentation from the Roads Service on its Programme of Works, 2007/2008. The meeting had been held on 28th November although it had been inquorate.
Accordingly, the Committee Administrator submitted a report in respect of the meeting and the presentation from the Roads Service which highlighted the key aspects of the Programme of Works including the West M1/Westlink improvements scheme indicating that the initial stage viz., the reconfiguration of the Grosvenor Road Junction had been completed with the construction of the vehicular underpass at Grosvenor Road and the replacement road bridge being completed and open for traffic. The report highlighted also the M2 improvements, the widening of the Knock Road and a number of minor measures including the introduction of priority bus lanes on the Antrim Road, the erection of bus shelters throughout the City, the maintenance of bridges and structures and various other measures. It was pointed out that the Roads Service would be introducing other initiatives such as traffic calming measures and new taxi ranks for the City.
Several Members expressed their concern that at several locations throughout the City, such as Fisherwick Place, outside Jurys Inn, and at Wellington Place there was often severe disruption to traffic caused by buses, both private and Translink, double-parking thus restricting traffic flow. The Members, whilst acknowledging that such buses provide a necessary service to the City in terms of the tourist revenue they generate, suggested that it might be more appropriate if alternative arrangements could be made for parking and suggested greater use being made of the Europa Bus Centre.
After discussion, the Committee agreed that a letter be forwarded to the bodies responsible for regulating bus parking in the City, outlining the Committee's concerns and inquiring if alternative suitable parking arrangements could be put in place.
After further discussion, the Committee noted the information which had been provided.
Ministerial Announcements
The Members' Support Officer advised the Committee of the recent ministerial statements issued by Ms. Arlene Foster, M.L.A., Minister for the Environment, indicating her intention to bring forward proposals for a wide ranging reform of the planning system in Northern Ireland and to appoint an independent expert advisor.
The Minister had expressed the view that the planning system should deliver, for everyone in Northern Ireland, a more streamlined development plan process, together with a more effective development control system in order to improve efficiency and to create greater certainty about timescales.
The Minister announced also the appointment of Professor Gregg Lloyd from the University of Liverpool as an independent advisor on those measures which would be required to provide a long-term reform of the planning system and how best these might be implemented.
After discussion, during which several Members expressed the view that earlier and more effective communications between the Planning Service and applicants might result in a more streamlined service, the Committee noted the information which had been provided.
Planning Applications
Deferred Applications
The Committee noted that in recent months there had been an increasing number of occasions when Members had requested deferrals of applications which had been recommended for refusal. Concern was expressed that on several such occasions Planning Officers had been of the opinion that there would be nothing to be achieved by the holding of an office meeting since, in their view, to produce a successful application a new application for a totally revised proposal would have to be submitted.
A Member pointed out that it had been custom and practice, when a Councillor requested a deferral, that this would be agreed by the Committee and if such an arrangement were to be altered the Committee should review its policy in this regard.
After discussion, the Committee agreed that a special meeting to which all Members of the Council be invited be held to consider the Committee's policy on the deferral of planning applications.
THE COMMITTEE DEALT WITH THE FOLLOWING ITEMS IN PURSUANCE OF THE POWERS DELEGATED TO IT BY THE COUNCIL AT ITS MEETING ON 1st NOVEMBER, 1973
Reconsidered Item - Change of Opinion
The Committee resumed consideration of the undernoted planning application for which the Divisional Planning Manager had offered a change of opinion and, after discussion, agreed with his opinion thereon:
|Site and Applicant |Proposal |Divisional Planning Manager's Opinion | |Lands between 9 Loughview Glen and |Change of house type to remove dormer |Approval | |25 Loughview Meadows |windows from rear and lower ridge heights | | | |(amendment to originally approved scheme | | | |Z/1996/2925/R) | |
Reconsidered Items
The Committee resumed consideration of the undernoted planning applications and, after discussion, agreed with the Divisional Planning Manager's opinion thereon:
|Site and Applicant |Proposal |Divisional Planning Manager's Opinion | |117-119 Shandon Park, |Demolition of properties and construction |Approval | |Mr. R. Ditty |of one detached and two semi-detached | | | |houses | |
|Site and Applicant |Proposal |Divisional Planning | | | |Manager's Opinion | |Fountain House, |Display of 9.14 metre by 12.19 metre |Refusal | |17 Donegall Place, |temporary banner sign |1. The proposed display panel is contrary | |Deramore Property | |to Departmental Guidance Note - Control of | | | |Large Scale Advertisements and Planning | | | |Policy Statement No. 17 - Control of | | | |Outdoor Advertisements. The proposed | | | |signage would, if permitted, result in an | | | |unduly prominent feature in the street | | | |scene detracting from the appearance of the| | | |area and would be detrimental to the visual| | | |amenity by virtue of its size, appearance | | | |and form. | |35 Greenan, |Construction of two-storey dwelling to end |Refusal | |Mrs. A. Murray |of terrace |1. The proposal is contrary to Policy QD1 | | | |of Planning Policy Statement 7 in that, if | | | |permitted, the dwelling would create an | | | |adverse effect on the existing dwellings by| | | |way of overshadowing and lost of light. | | | |The new dwelling unit would also lack | | | |usable rear amenity space. |
Applications Withdrawn
The Committee was informed that the undernoted planning applications had been withdrawn:
|Applicant |Proposal | |Land behind properties 285-303 Albertbridge Road, |Erection of twelve apartments in four blocks | |Killultagh Properties Limited | | |127 North Road, |Demolition of dwelling and construction of a | |Mr. P. Wright |three-and-a-half storey building containing ten| | |apartments with car parking facilities to the | | |front and rear |
|Applicant |Proposal | |127 North Road, |Demolition of dwelling house and associated | |(Demolition within a conservation area) |outbuildings | |Mr. P. Wright | | |45-53 Glen Road, |Erection of three-storey apartment block with | |Orteta |eighteen units |
Noted.
Schedule of Applications
The Committee considered the schedule of applications which had been submitted by the Divisional Planning Manager in respect of the Belfast City Council area and agreed to adopt the recommendations submitted in relation to the applications therein, with the exception of those referred to below:
|Location |Proposal | |40-50 Park Avenue |Demolition of dwelling and erection of forty | |(even numbers only) |apartments and associated car parking | | |[Deferred at the request of Councillor Long to | | |enable an office meeting to take place] | |Pirrie House, |Proposed demolition of dwelling and erection of| |Pirrie Road |two detached and four semi-detached dwellings | | |with detached garages and associated site works| | | | | |[Deferred at the request of Councillor Long to | | |enable an office meeting to take place] | |52 South Parade |Single-storey extension to rear of dwelling | | |with balcony over the first floor level | | |[Deferred at the request of Councillor O'Reilly| | |to enable an office meeting to take place] |
|Location |Proposal | |53 Sandhurst Gardens |Change of use from a private dwelling to a | | |House in Multiple Occupancy with a two storey | | |extension to the rear | | |[Deferred at the request of Councillor Stoker | | |to enable an office meeting to take place] | | |It was noted that this item would be placed on | | |the agenda for the next meeting. | |135 Cavehill Road |Demolition of garage and erection of two-storey| | |dwelling attached to existing dwellings | | |[Deferred at the request of the Chairman | | |(Councillor Lavery) to enable an office meeting| | |to take place] | |5 Violet Street |Two-storey extension and dormer window to the | | |rear of dwelling | | |[Deferred at the request of Councillor Attwood | | |to enable an office meeting to take place] | |36a-38a Park Avenue |Demolition of three detached houses and | | |erection of twenty-four "lifetime" three-person| | |two-bedroom apartments including associated | | |site works | | |[Deferred at the request of Councillor Rodway | | |to enable an office meeting to take place] | | |Councillor Long to be notified if the | | |Divisional Manager intends to issue a change of| | |opinion | |77 Galwally Avenue |Demolition of dwelling and construction of one | | |two-storey apartment block to include four | | |apartments and one three-storey apartment block| | |to include six apartments | | |[Deferred at the request of Councillors | | |Patterson and McCarthy to enable office meeting| | |to be held] |
|Location |Proposal | |47 Hopefield Avenue |Erection of three apartments to rear of | | |building | | |[Deferred at the request of Councillor Cobain | | |to enable an office meeting to take place] | |265 Falls Road |Change of use from dwelling to café at ground | | |floor level including singe-storey extension to| | |rear and creation of apartments at first and | | |second floor | | |[Deferred at the request of Councillor Hartley | | |to enable an office meeting to take place] | |1 and 1a Primrose Street |Demolition of dwelling with the retention of | | |front façade and a rear store and erection of | | |three flats | | |[Deferred at the request of Councillor O'Reilly| | |to enable an office meeting to take place] |
Delegated Authority
The Committee noted a list of planning applications which had been approved on the delegated authority of the Committee at its meeting on 22nd of November.
New Applications
The Committee noted a list of planning applications which had been received from the Divisional Planning Manager for the Belfast City Council area for the period from 13th to 26th November.
Chairman
