Politicians row over Drumalla House redevelopment plan

Sinn Fein’s Oliver McMullan has queried MP Sammy Wilson’s role in Oaklee’s revised planning application, which received eleventh-hour support from Larne Borough Council last week as a funding deadline loomed. Mr Wilson has issued a robust defence of his actions.

The initial application for demolition of Drumalla House and its replacement with 18 social housing units drew two objections from neighbours at Shingle Cove, we understand. However, there were nine objections to the revised proposal.

As reported last week, Planning Service went to the monthly consultation meeting with the council saying it intended to issue an approval. A number of councillors hesitated to back the scheme, saying the opinions of residents should be heard. However, having been told the development was dependant on funding which would be lost if approval was not issued by the end of the month, they agreed to support it in return for an assurance that Oaklee would take all objectors’ concerns in to consideration.

Mr McMullan, who is Sinn Fein’s spokesman in East Antrim, said DUP MP Sammy Wilson had made representations to Planning Service on behalf of an objector - who complained that a proposed amenity site would be too close his home - while he was Environment Minister and in charge of the planning department.

“I said at the time that I felt the minister should not be interfering in planning issues and I still believe it was wrong of him to be involved,” he said.

“I am not saying there was anything underhand about it, but the fact is the minister made representations and the scheme was changed and now the rest of the residents are opposed to it. I know he is the MP, but he was also the minister responsible for planning and I do not think it is right for a minister to be showing favour in any planning case.”

Mr Wilson said two constituents had complained to him about the original scheme, adding that one had come forward too late.

In response to criticism of his lobbying of Planning Service while he held the environment portfolio, he said: “I find it curious that nobody has complained that in my role as Finance Minister I have been making representations on issues like building control and rates, all of which come under the control of my Department.

“The fact is that planning is part of constituency work and it has to be done. Mr McMullan may not like me doing my constituency work, but I will do it and it really doesn’t matter to me what Sinn Fein has to say about it.”

The MP denied that a larger number of people had been disadvantaged because of his lobbying. “That is not the case,” he said. “Firstly, none of the houses originally proposed has been lost and what has happened is that the proposed new houses have been brought forward in the scheme to give greater separation between them and the houses at Shingle Cove and a wall is to be built at the back of the site which will give greater privacy to the objector.”

Mr Wilson added: “Oaklee Housing Association has written to thank me for my work on behalf of the residents who objected and they were very good at amending the scheme because they want to accommodate those people who will, after all, be neighbours of the development they are proposing.”