Green light for blocks of flats opposite Carrickfergus Castle 'shows why planning system should change'

That is the view of East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson (Alliance), after a group of councillors on Mid and East Antrim Borough Council approved the blueprints in the face of a tsunami of opposition from the public.

The complex consists of three three-and-a-half storey white blocks of flats, and there have been roughly 1,000 objections to the plans, which fellow East Antrim MLA John Stewart (UUP) believes is the “most ever against a local planning application”.

The development would be slightly less than 200 metres (c.650ft) from the walls of the castle.

The move was approved by the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council planning committee a fortnight ago.

It needs no further ratification.

The blocks would go on top of the car park for the Holiday Inn and The Swift: a long-derelict waterside bar/restaurant.

It was voted through on the planning committee by seven votes to three: the three objectors being councillors Stewart McDonald (TUV), Aaron Skinner (Alliance), and Alan Barr (UUP).

The audio recording of the council meeting did not record who the seven in favour were, and the council did not provide this information when asked.

No councillors for Carrickfergus town itself sit on the planning committee.

A similar proposal for 34 flats on the site, which had generated 24 objections, was rejected by councillors in 2021, who overruled the recommendation of planning officials.

Alliance man Mr Dickson said that “this is an iconic site”, and whilst the new plans have official approval “they don’t have the approval of many people in the town”.

Whilst developers can appeal against any rejections to the Planning Appeals Commission, “there is no recourse for the public other than a judicial review” to overturn an approval decision – something Mr Dickson said is “very unfair, and not a level playing field”.

In the future he hopes to lodge a private members bill which would let the public petition the Planning Appeals Commission to overturn approval decisions, saying this case is “a very good example” of why such a change is needed.

The current plans were submitted in December 2024 by Massereene Developments Ltd.

The Department for Communuties’ Historic Environment Division okayed the current plans, so long as a condition was added so that “no aerials, masts, meter boxes, ventilation grilles, flues or other rooftop features” would be added to the roof without prior approval.

Typical of the objections received by the council to the plans was one from a Carol Simpson which said: “Please do NOT block the view of this iconic and unique Norman Castle.

“We’ve seen what happened with the developers blocking Titanic museum [a reference to the Loft Lines apartment blocks which now hide the feted building].

“If you DO decide to pursue living accommodation on this site at least make it low rise and sympathetic to the surrounding area.

“Don’t put profit for a few above preservation of the best thing Carrick can offer.”

A Madeline Jones wrote: “Carrickfergus is a beautiful wee town. The castle and its history should not be ignored.

“The Swift property should be used to boost the tourism in Carrickfergus and not to be used as apartment grounds. I highly object to this for our town.”

James Bowen echoed many others when he said flats “would be detrimental to the historic nature of the site” and “the area would be better served as an information point for tourists”.

When contacted about it by the News Letter, the deputy chairwoman of the committee, DUP councillor Angela Smyth, said that she did not want to comment.

The council said: “Every planning application allows for members of the public to make representations by submitting written comments during the consultation period.

"Members of the public, local councillors and MLAs can request speaking rights to directly address the planning committee prior to their decision.

"The Department for Infrastructure retains decision making authority for specific high-level matters.”