Developers must pay for by-pass

Developers must pay for by-pass

1 March 2017

PART of Downpatrick’s proposed new eastern distributor road linking the Belfast and Ballyhornan roads will have to be built by developers.

The news has been confirmed by Stormont Minister Chris Hazzard who last year appointed consultants to carry out a feasibility study into the proposed route, designed to help ease traffic congestion in Downpatrick town centre.

His decision effectively overturns a ruling by the Planning Appeals Commission a number of years ago that developers spearheading new housing developments at Ardenlee Gardens and Ardfern off the Saul Road would not have to help build the road.

Many residents and businesses have been campaigning for the distributor road to be given serious consideration as a means to alleviating congestion throughout Downpatrick and also as a vital piece of infrastructure to allow the local economy to flourish. 

The decision by Mr Hazzard has been welcomed by the Saul Road Residents’ Association which met with the Infrastructure Minister last week.

Most significantly, Mr Hazzard said part of the new distributor road will be constructed by the developer of the Ardfern site, with the entrance to the proposed development provided off it. There will be no direct access from the proposed housing scheme on to the Saul Road.

The roads minister has also ruled that any new housing development between Ardfern and the Ballyhornan Road will require developers building further sections of the distributor road.

With regard to the proposed section of the distributor road adjacent to Ardenlee Gardens, Mr Hazzard confirmed this is being examined as part of the ongoing feasibility study, but has revealed the developer in this case will not have to build this section of roadway as he does not own the land earmarked for its route.

However, the roads minister is insisting that prior to any new homes being built adjacent to Ardenlee Gardens, vegetation must be planted at the proposed development site 12 months beforehand to keep the existing development more private. He has also confirmed a proposed pedestrian access linking the new development with Ardenlee Gardens will not proceed as part of the development plan.

Declan McGrady, chairman of the Saul Road Residents’ Association, has welcomed Mr Hazzard’s decision and confirmed the feasibility study being carried out by consultants on the distributor road will include a traffic study which commenced this week and is due to be completed by March 13.

“We have been campaigning to have the planning applications for the Ardenlee and Ardfern sites reviewed and possibly amended,” he explained. “We have never been opposed to the proposed mixed housing developments, but wanted to see a common approach taken to their determination by planners.

“To that end, we set out on a journey some years back ably assisted by a number of politicians including South Down MP Margaret Ritchie, Mr Hazzard, Colin McGrath MLA and councillors Naomi Bailie, John Trainor, Gareth Sharvin and Cadogan Enright.”

Mr McGrady said residents met with Mr Hazzard last year to raise their concerns about the proposed housing developments which he agreed to make the final decision on, taking the matter out of the hands of local planners.

“Mr Hazzard assured us he would give the respective applications his full attention and subsequently initiated a feasibility study into the development of the eastern distributor road that would circumvent the new development at Ardenlee. This study is currently ongoing,” continued Mr McGrady.

The residents’ group chairman said the amendments to the planning applications and the requirement for developers to build part of the new road were outlined during a meeting organised by Mr Hazzard last week.

Mr McGrady added: “Subject to the amendments and ministerial confirmation that water and sewerage facilities are adequately resourced, the Saul Road Residents’ Association is content to ask Mr Hazzard to sign off on these two planning applications and we thank him for his assistance on these matters. As the issues have reached a suitable conclusion, I will be stepping down from the Residents’ Association with immediate effect and would like to thank residents for their assistance and patience.”