Drive-through restaurant is refused in Downpatrick

Drive-through restaurant is refused in Downpatrick

27 January 2016

NEWRY, Mourne and Down Council has vetoed a proposal for a new drive-through restaurant in Downpatrick beside one of the town’s oldest churches.

The local authority’s planning committee has refused permission for the demolish the former DSC Cars complex in Church Street currently being used a furniture showroom to pave the way for the new restaurant. 

The proposal has also been rejected by the Department of Environment’s Historic Buildings Unit and Transport NI.

Permission was being sought by a development company to demolish the single storey garage which included an adjacent three-storey building to construct the new restaurant, close to Down Parish Church which enjoys protected status.

Developers were seeking permission to build the new restaurant and create parking for 28 vehicles beside the church, but planners expressed concern the proposal was “not of a scale, nature and design appropriate to the character of the area.” They ruled that if permitted, the proposal would interrupt important views into the conservation area at this part of the town.

Detailing their reasons for refusing permission, planners said if approved, the restaurant would “adversely affect” the setting of the nearby church as a result of the introduction of a building which does not make use of traditional or sympathetic building materials and techniques.

Planners explained the proposed restaurant would have been sited on the outer boundary of Downpatrick’s conservation area, and new development is ‘“expected to respect the character of the conservation area.”

They said the proposed development is not in harmony with, or complimentary to neighbouring buildings in terms of scale, massing, layout, design and finishes.

The planners add: “Given the nature of the proposed development it would be considered that such a proposal will adversely affect the conservation area through increased noise, nuisance and general disturbance.”

Department of Environment officials expressed concern about the proposed demolition, describing the proposal to bulldoze the existing garage as “unacceptable.” 

In their submission to planners about the application they argued the proposal would “change the character of the nearby church,” adding: “The building is not sympathetic to the church setting in terms of scale, massing and alignment.”

Roads officials said the proposal was contrary to planning policy and that if permitted, the proposed drive through restaurant would “prejudice the safety and convenience of road users” as the proposed access is located close to traffic lights where Church Street meets Saul Way.

Officials argued the slowing down and turning movements of vehicles entering and leaving the proposed restaurant access “would conflict with traffic movements at the junction.”