Glengormley apartment block design proposal ‘not characteristic of the area’, say planners
A planning application for six apartments at 415 Antrim Road, Glengormley, was refused by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee at a meeting on Monday evening.
Planning officer Ashleigh Wilson told the committee the proposed site with a single storey dwelling is approximately 650 metres from the centre of Glengormley.
She noted ten letters of objection have been received relating to concerns over “detrimental impact” on the character of the area, potential overlooking, shadowing and dominance of neighbouring properties, increased noise levels and insufficient parking.
Addressing the meeting, applicant Paul Creagh said he has built 20 units and renovated ten houses in the area, which he believes, “all blend into surroundings so well, people think they have always been there”.
Mr Creagh went on to say he “disagrees strongly” with the recommendation to refuse and asked for a deferral.
The planned construction would take the form of a three-storey apartment block with two apartments located on each floor. It would be accessed via a new vehicular entrance onto Antrim Road with nine communal parking spaces to the front.
Mr Creagh pointed out an apartment block next door to the proposed development site is “very well-established”.
A report to councillors said: “The existing development pattern in the area is dominated by single storey or two-storey, detached and semi-detached houses. It is considered that the development is inappropriate to the character of the surrounding area in terms of its scale, design and appearance.
“The Antrim Road is dominated by single storey and two-storey buildings, whereas this proposal seeks to introduce a three-storey building that is not characteristic of the area.
“It is considered that this new apartment block is incompatible with its neighbouring development in terms of design, scale and appearance and will appear as being incongruous in the surrounding area.”
Mr Creagh pointed out although the proposed building would be three-storeys, it would be “just slightly bigger” than the current house on the site, adding he considers it to be a “well-designed modern piece of architecture”. He went on to say that objections can be addressed.
Threemilewater Ulster Unionist Cllr Stephen Cosgrove asked if the neighbouring property could be “mirrored”. Mr Creagh said he did not want to mirror it and would “prefer a more modern look”.
Responding to a query from Macedon Ulster Unionist Cllr Robert Foster, he stated that the number of apartments has been reduced from seven.
Barry Diamond, the council’s head of planning, said: “The issue of dominance still remains. The issue of character still remains. It is still the same building.”
Threemilewater Alliance Alderman Tom Campbell proposed accepting the recommendation to refuse the application, seconded by Glengormley DUP Cllr Alison Bennington.
Following a vote in which eight councillors voted in favour of the proposal with abstentions from two planning permission was refused.
Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter