Planners back Newcastle social housing proposal

Planners back Newcastle social housing proposal

25 November 2015

PLANNERS are recommending that a controversial social housing scheme in Newcastle town centre should proceed.

Choice Housing is seeking permission to demolish two former further education buildings to construct 15 apartments and one house on land at Donard Street. But a number of local residents, politicians and some members of the town’s business community are opposed to the scheme.

The approval recommendation is to be discussed by Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s Planning Committee today, but before any debate takes place, members of the committee and planners will be in Newcastle to visit the site.

In a report prepared ahead of today’s meetings, planners say the social housing proposal complies with policy guidance contained within the Regional Development Strategy and also meets requirements under the Down Area Plan in relation to apartment development in Newcastle.

Planners say the scheme will not result in “unacceptable damage” to the local character, environmental quality or residential amenity of this part of Newcastle and they are “satisfied with the proposal.”

The report describes the overall layout of the social housing scheme as “acceptable” and confirms Transport NI is satisfied with the proposed parking provision and access arrangements. Roads officials say any increase in the volume of traffic using Donard Street “would not cause any significant traffic progression problems.”

The planning report also confirms that while the Environment Agency had initially recommended the social housing scheme should not proceed as a result of concerns about the capacity at the resort’s sewage treatment plant, the situation has now been resolved as a result of a major upgrade at the harbour facility.

Planners also point to correspondence on file from the Minister of Social Development stating that Newcastle has a “high housing need” and who refers to the proposed scheme by Choice Housing.

In addition, planners make it clear they do not consider the proposal will have a negative impact on Donard Street as the impact of the proposed new buildings will be less than the two existing further education buildings. Planners insist the Donard Street site is suitable for social housing provision and that two apartment blocks will not adversely effect the residential amenity of existing properties.

Newcastle councillor, Laura Devlin, is one of a number elected representatives concerned about the controversial social housing scheme being given the green light at this part of the town.

In a written submission to planners, she said while she supports social housing, she argues the Donard Street location “remains inappropriate for a development of this size and scale.”

Councillor Devlin urged planners to consider the lack of private and public amenity space associated with the planned new homes, pointing out that one of the proposed amenity sites faces a taxi rank which operates well into the early hours of the morning.

Turning attention to concerns around parking provision, councillor Devlin said provision is being made for 15 spaces, arguing that in line with a Transport NI stipulation of 1.5 cars per house, the number proposed for the Donard Street scheme “falls drastically below what is required.” She is also challenging the applicant’s assumption that the new tenants may not all have cars.

The councillor also believes the proposed scheme will have an impact on traffic flow in the town centre and admitted she has “grave concerns” about the application which she believes “warrants a full interrogation by the Planning Committee.”