MLA seeking review of homes proposal as dispute rumbles on

MLA seeking review of homes proposal as dispute rumbles on

9 May 2012

PLANNERS are being urged to undertake a “complete review” of an application to build a number of new homes at the Killyleagh Road in Crossgar.

South Down Assemblyman Jim Wells said the original application for 38 houses was subsequently reduced to 23. The most recent application for the proposed development site was seeking permission for 16 homes.

Mr. Wells said the initial application for the Killyleagh Road site was lodged in 2007 and was opposed by a large number of local residents who were concerned about the density of the proposed number of homes and the impact of the additional traffic it would generate.

The MLA said as five years have passed since the original application was lodged, he believes the Planning Service “needs to go right back to the start of its assessment process and carry out a series fresh consultations.”

Mr. Wells continued: “Local residents have recently shown me photographs of the traffic problems which have developed on the Killyleagh Road in recent years.

“The nearby secondary school generates a lot of vehicle movements and in the afternoon the entire area is often blocked by buses and cars as pupils leave for home.”

Mr. Wells said he believes that as the traffic situation “has changed so significantly since 2007” that earlier assessments of the number of vehicles using the Killyleagh Road are now out of date and must be updated.

He added: “I am also aware that the planning policy covering housing developments in urban areas

(PPS7) has changed significantly since 2007 and this has reduced the number of houses that would be acceptable on a site such as that under consideration in Crossgar.

“I consider that the Killyleagh Road is only suitable for five or six houses under the terms of Planning Policy Statement 7.”