New blow for social housing proposals

New blow for social housing proposals

20 April 2016

THE Planning Appeals Commission has sounded the death-knell for a social housing scheme in Crossgar.

Trinity Housing failed with its appeal against a veto by local planners of a scheme for seven two-bedroom apartments on a half acre site at the Downpatrick Road.

In a detailed report, Appeals Commissioner Brigid McGlinchey said the main issues in the appeal were whether Trinity’s proposal would provide a “quality, residential development.” 

She said while there is an identified need for social housing in Crossgar, the well-being of prospective tenants “cannot take precedence” over the impact Trinity’s proposal would have on the character of the Downpatrick Road area and the amenity of existing residents.

The Commissioner said her conclusion is that the need for social housing in Crossgar is not outweighed by the damage to local character and to the residential amenity of adjoining properties.

Trinity —  which is now part of Choice Housing — purchased the Downpatrick Road site over eight years ago and has submitted a number of planning applications over the years in a bid to develop the Crossgar site and replace an existing dwelling. To date, it has only secured formal planning approval for one new home.

The Commissioner said the development of seven apartments would be “out of character” with this section of the Downpatrick Road and that Trinity’s proposal “would set an undesirable precedent for more intensive development on other sites along this road frontage and elsewhere in Crossgar.”

The Commissioner also agreed with assertions by objectors about noise and disturbance issues relating to proposed parking provision at the proposed development. 

She said she considers the consequent increase in noise and disturbance associated with multiple vehicle movements would have an unacceptable impact on the amenity of the existing dwellings.

“Though the mature boundary vegetation if retained and augmented would provide screening, it would not effectively mitigate any adverse effect in terms of the increased noise and disturbance. I therefore consider that the proposal would unacceptably impact on the residential amenity of the existing dwellings,” she continued.

The Commissioner said she does not believe Trinity’s proposed scheme would provide a quality and sustainable residential development and that while compliance with planning policy is in the public interest and a matter of acknowledged importance, “the failure of this proposal to meet the requirements of policy outweighs the presumption in favour of permitting sustainable development.”

She added: “Notwithstanding the identified need for social housing, the well-being of prospective tenants of the appeal proposal cannot take precedence over the impact the proposal would have on the character of the area and on the amenity of existing residents. My conclusion is that the need for social housing in Crossgar is not outweighed by the damage to local character and to the residential amenity of adjoining properties.”

A spokeswoman for Choice Housing confirmed the organisation has received the Planning Appeals decision but has no comment to make at this time.