Another planning refusal over site

Another planning refusal over site

29 October 2014

PLANNERS are recommending that proposals for the construction of seven new social homes in Crossgar should be refused.

The news comes after it was revealed that the sale of land earmarked for seven two-bedroom apartments at the Downpatrick Road in the village is to be investigated by MLAs.

Trinity Housing already has approval for one new home at the Crossgar site and is seeking permission to increase the number of social units, but the Planning Service is refusing to grant permission.

Planners argue the scheme would result in “unacceptable damage” to and create conflict with the local character of an established area which consists of larger units in individual family occupation within larger plots.

Last week, the Recorder revealed Stormont’s Public Accounts Committee is to probe a decision in 2008 by the Department for Social Development (DSD) to award £835,000 to Trinity to purchase the Downpatrick Road site in Crossgar.

South Down MLA Chris Hazzard has called on DSD Minister Mervyn Storey to recover the public money awarded to the housing association via an advanced land purchase grant.

The MLA said he is concerned that almost seven years after the DSD money was made available, not a single brick has been laid at the Crossgar site and that it’s time the public funding was recovered.

Mr. Hazzard said the Public Accounts Committee is to investigate the Crossgar social housing issue following a briefing it received from the Audit Office.