Sewer fears block housing development on empty field: Developer lodges appeal
A planning dispute over a Co Antrim housing project has been taken to provincewide authorities after a split council vote saw it blocked over sewer concerns.
The scheme would see 37 homes build on unused land next to a church in Toomebridge, and is the brainchild of developers JFM Construction.
The site used to be a field housing livestock, and is close to two pre-existing residential projects in the west of the village.
NI Water spoke out against the project, however, stating that sewers in the area wouldn’t be able to cope with the demands placed on them if the new houses were built.
At a recent meeting, Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors were split on the development; four voted to allow it to go ahead, while seven decided to block it citing the sewer issues.
Documents filed on behalf of the developer state that the project would see a mix of apartments and both detached and semi-detached houses built on the disused field.
Describing the move as “a high-quality development that respects the characteristics and surroundings” of the area, the documents add that the “reasonably low density” nature of the scheme would mean “generous public and private amenity space” would be built.
But NI Water were adamant that the “public foul sewer network cannot adequately service this proposal”.
The company stated that its assessments show the capacity of sewers in the area would struggle to cope, resulting in “significant risks of detrimental effect to the environment and detrimental impact on existing properties”.
NI Water state that new connections to the sewer network in that part of Co Antrim should be “curtailed”.
At a council meeting, politicians cited NI Water’s concerns as reason to stop the development, as well as worries about parking provision and a “loss of open space” if the project was built.
Speaking on behalf of the developers, Dermot Monaghan from consultants MBA Planning told the council meeting the site doesn’t meet the definition of open space, and would be a “sustainable location” for housing.
“There is an allegation that there is a shortage of parking within this development; there is no shortage,” he said.
“About 20% of the site will be public open space. It’s not open space at the minute; whenever this development is built, subject to planning approval, it will be available for use to the general public. There will be a link to the Toome Canal Walk – this will actually improve open space provision in Toome, it will not reduce open space provision.”
He also said blocking planning permission on parking concerns would be “outrageous”.
Council planners stated that while there would be “impact” from building the project, the area needs new houses and the scheme wouldn’t “warrant a refusal”.
But politicians decided to break with their own officials, blocking the development even though it was recommended that the scheme should go ahead.
JFM Construction has now lodged a case with higher provincewide authorities, the Planning Appeals Commission, in the hope of removing the block. That appeal has yet to be heard.