Planners to look again at housing proposal

Planners to look again at housing proposal

24 July 2013

PLANNERS are to re-examine a proposal for a controversial social housing scheme in Newcastle.

Oaklee Housing is seeking permission to build 15 apartments and a house at the former South Eastern Regional College premises in Donard Street in the resort.

The housing scheme is being opposed by all Newcastle politicians, residents and business owners in the vicinity of Donard Street who agree that the suggested development site isn’t suitable for social homes.

Last week, Newcastle councillor Carmel O’Boyle and Laura Devlin, who is a constituency manager for South Down MLA Sea Rogers, met with local planners to discuss the Oaklee proposal.

Councillor O’Boyle explained that when the Roads Service was first consulted about the Oaklee application, it submitted a roads report to planners that was over six years old and did not reflect the present road configuration at the Donard Street end of Newcastle.

“When this was challenged and a delegation met with Environment Minister Alex Attwood, he ordered that a new report should be provided,” she continued. “Since this meeting, the Roads Service has found another report that was apparently written a year ago.

“Why this report was not submitted in the first instance remains a matter of conjecture and I will certainly be asking for an explanation for this.”

Councillor O’Boyle said in the meantime, the Planning Service intend to revisit Oaklee’s planning application “in the light of this newer information.”

She added: “This planning application raises more questions than answers and we are a long way off drawing this matter to a conclusion.”

Mrs. Devlin informed senior planners about the many complaints Mr. Rodgers had received about the proposed social housing scheme which is viewed as “totally unsuitable” for this part of Newcastle.

She added: “The SDLP remain totally opposed to a proposed development of this scale in Donard Street and is pleased that the Planning Service is going to discuss the application again.”