Planners in U-turn over extension to local factory

Planners in U-turn over extension to local factory

4 July 2012 - by David Telford

THE Planning Service has withdrawn approval for an extension to a factory in Downpatrick which has already been built.

The decision was taken last week, four months after planners initially approved a retrospective application for the factory at Finnebrogue.

The Planning Service says drawings it was provided with were “not reflective of the development on the ground at present to enable them to properly determine the application.”

Planning official Annette McAlarney told Down councillors that after recommending in February that retrospective approval should be granted for the Finnebrogue plant, the Planning Service was made of aware of a number of “inconsistencies.”

She explained this resulted in planners carrying out an investigation which revealed the building on the ground at Finnebrogue was “over and above” that for which planning permission was being sought.

Mrs. McAlarney said the drawings did not tally with what was on site and confirmed that a new application was lodged recently to address this particular issue and that it will now have to be examined.

Councillor Cadogan Enright urged planners to “get real with planning law” and said he supported the recommendation to refuse retrospective permission for the building at Finnebrogue.

Councillor Billy Walker said planners have been provided with additional information about the factory and suggested jobs at the complex, which employs around 100 people, could be at risk if planning permission is not secured.

“I am confident that when planners examine the additional information they have been provided with they will approve this particular application. I for one have no intention of voting to put people out of work,” he added.

Councillor Dessie Patterson said the Finnebrogue issue “needs to be sorted out” and made it clear he would not want to see the business moving out of the district.

Councillor Willie Clarke said the Finnebrogue business caters for a niche market and said it’s important “not to send out a negative message that the local authority is opposed to job creation.”

He suggested the owner of the Finnebrogue plant has been “frustrated” by the planning process and felt he would have lost out if he had not carried out the work at his factory.