Ballyclare town centre residential development approved after council decision overturned
A decision by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee to refuse a proposed residential development in Ballyclare town centre has been overturned by the Planning Appeals Commission.
The application by Colin Fletcher for the demolition of existing buildings on the site at 28 The Square and erection of 12 apartments has been given the go-ahead.
Commissioner Laura Roddy said: “The main issue in this appeal is whether the appeal development would provide sufficient parking.”
The commissioner’s report noted the council considers the proposed development is “contrary to policy on access and parking in that there is inadequate and inappropriate parking provision for the proposed development”.
It was stated the council considers the proposal “fails to comply with criterion which requires proposals to incorporate adequate and appropriate provision for parking and the storage and disposal of waste”.
The proposed development is for seven one-bedroom apartments and five two-bedroom apartments. It includes three parking spaces in total, including one accessible space.
The commissioner noted the council considers that an “under provision of 80% is not acceptable and has not been justified”.
The commissioner referred to a letter from Arbour Housing Association, which the appellant states, is the social housing provider which will develop and operate the proposed development, if approved. The correspondence states that there is a “high social housing need in this council area with a need for 64 homes in Ballyclare”.
It also indicated the uptake of parking spaces within social housing schemes is “lower than might be experienced in private developments”.
The commissioner’s report stated that parking surveys were completed on Thursday 16th February 2023 and Monday 20th February 2023, both at approximately 7.45pm, indicating that 40 to 41 out of the 89 on-street spaces were available within 200 metres of the proposed site.
She said the council has raised a number of concerns in respect of the parking surveys, which were undertaken in the evening, yet residents would also require parking during the day and that some of the available spaces are restricted to one hour parking during daytime.
Concerns have also been raised that some of the spaces are “too far away” from the location.
The commissioner said: “I accept the findings of the parking survey which demonstrate that there are approximately 40 free parking spaces within 200 metres of the appeal proposal which the users of the proposal could avail of.
“I also observed that parking was available within the Market Square Car Park immediately opposite the appeal site. While this is chargeable from Monday to Saturday (8.30am to 6.30pm) it nonetheless provides an opportunity for free parking overnight and on Sundays.”
She pointed out that the proposed location is in a “highly accessible area” which is well-served by public transport and is close to existing public car parking.
Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter