Council to attend planning appeal hearing

Planners turned down applications for two separate schemes on the Magheralave Road and McKinstry Road and when the developers appealed, the Planning Appeals Commission decided that, due to their similar nature, they should both be heard together.

Lisburn Council has opposed both applications in the past and will send representatives to the hearing to reiterate that position.

Alderman Jonathan Craig stressed the importance of having the Council represented at the hearing and welcomed the support his proposal received from the council.

“This, I believe, will enhance the previous decision taken by the Planning Department with regard to these two applications where in both cases they were rejected on clear planning grounds,” said Mr Craig.

“Knowing the Planning Appeals process, I am sure that the applicants will use their legal teams to try reverse that decision. But I am reassured that now that the Council will have the right to support the Planners through formal representation.

“It is amazing to consider that between these two applications there were over 1,500 objections which in reality amounts to every almost every house in the vicinity of the applications opposing them. I am hopeful that despite this last attempt by the applicants that the will of the local community will be successful.”