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The chairperson of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council planning committee has had to step away from a controversial application after re-posting an MLA’s social media objections.

A special meeting was held to discuss the planning application.

Objections were made to the application for new housing on the grounds it could cause potential environmental harm to Northern Ireland’s only regional park – Lagan Valley – and an area of outstanding natural beauty.

However, a planning officer’s report states: “It remains the recommendation of officers that this application should be approved.”

The Chairman of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council's Planning Committee has stepped aside due to a conflict of interest over a controversial planning application. Pic credit: McAuley Multimedia

In chambers, a barrister representing the developers, argued that committee chairperson, Castlereagh East Alderman Martin Gregg had previously re-posted an ‘X’ (Twitter) post by South Belfast MLA and Alliance party deputy whip, Kate McNicholl.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) contacted Alderman Gregg for comment.

He responded: “I’ve had to step back from the meeting as the KC (King’s Counsel) acting for the applicant says that I re-shared a Twitter post that Kate Nicholl put up for a petition asking to protect biodiversity at this site.

“In order to protect myself and the integrity of the committee I had to step away from influencing any decision on this application.”

The post from Ms McNicholl showed her support for the objectors who “are fighting development frenzy”.

Castlereagh East Councillor Samantha Burns has now taken over Alderman Gregg’s position in regards to the application as vice-chair of the planning committee.

Downshire West Councillor Alan Martin also had to excuse himself from the meeting over a conflict of interest as he is on the board of Lagan Valley Regional Park.

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council is set to present its long-awaited LDBTQIA+...

A comprehensive 90 page document from the main objectors, ‘Quarterlands Group’, lodged with LCCC, cites various environmental and biodiversity concerns.

The planned housing by Banbridge based company, ‘Quarterlands Road Ltd’ is for the construction of 17 dwellings in a mix of 15 detached and two semi-detached dwellings with associated parking, landscaping, site works and access arrangements from Quarterlands Road in Drumbeg. A total of 380 objectors include Friends of the Earth, Lagan Valley Regional Park Planning Sub-Committee, SDLP leader in waiting, Claire Hanna MP and current Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) Mayor Kurtis Dickson (Alliance).

Council Planning Committee chair removed amid Tweet/ X repost conflict of interest