Planners are to reconsider countryside home ‘refusals’

At the council’s consultative public services committee, Cllr Gerardine Mulvenna, seconded by Cllr Brian Dunn, sought a deferral in the case of William O’Kane, from Ballymena, whose outline request for a dwelling and garage on a farm at Largy Road, Carnlough, had a letter of support. Planners had said they believed the application “does not merit being considered as an exceptional case”.

Ballyclare man Mervyn McKinty’s proposed site for a farm dwelling and garage at Ballyvallagh Road drew four letters of objection and Planning Service was minded to refuse as it considered the proposed dwelling would result in loss of privacy and impact on residential amenity of a property close by.

On the proposal of Ald Winston Fulton, seconded by Ald Roy Beggs, decision was deferred.

In both cases, planners are to meet with the applicant, councillors and any objectors to consider additional information.

Ald Beggs was also granted a deferral in a case where the applicant believes planners have visited the wrong property.

A notice of refusal was issued on the application lodged by the estate of Mr S J McWilliam for a two-storey barn conversion, extension and renovation at Newlands Road, Magheramorne. Planning Service said the proposed dwelling “does not represent a sympathetic conversion of the existing buildings in that the form of the existing building has not been maintained and the proposed new extensions are not sympathetic to architectural style of the building in terms of scale, massing and design”.

Ald Beggs told Planning Service: “The applicant feels that you have looked at the wrong premises.” His request for a deferral was seconded by Cllr Mark McKinty and agreed by the committee.