Battling the planners in Bushmills

The applicant is Mr L. Halliday.

DUP councillor David McAllister said the Northern Ireland Tourist Board has thrown its weight behind the “five-star development” and he asked for a deferral for a month.

The proposal was seconded by DUP councillor Robert McIlroy and Council Chairperson, Cllr Price McConaghy, said he hoped the whole Council would back the applicant and Sinn Fein councillor Oliver McMullan said they would.

Planners say there are no over-riding reasons why the development is essential in a rural location and could not be located within a settlement and said the applicant has failed to demonstrate the tourist accommodation is farm based or that it meets a clearly identified tourist need.

Planners say the proposed site is unable to integrate into the countryside and would result in a suburban-style build-up.

Planners further said that if permitted it would adversely affect the setting of the Giant’s Causeway World Heritage Site and say insufficient information was submitted to enable determination of the planning application as the archaeological evaluation requested by the Department had not been made available.

Planners also said the applicant has not demonstrated that it is to be run in conjunction with the agricultural operations on the farm.