An application for the erection of 53 residential units, including 43 houses and 10 apartments was to be heard this month
The Cabin Hill area at Upper Newtownards Road
A decision on a major residential development at the former site of a prep school in the Upper Newtownards Road area of East Belfast has been delayed after a fire on the site.
An application for the erection of 53 residential units, including 43 houses and 10 apartments, at Cabin Hill, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 was supposed to be heard this month, but has been pushed back after a fire at a building on the site.
The site is the grounds of the former prep school Cabin Hill, and is partly occupied by several derelict school buildings, including a listed building. The application also involves plans for the creation of access, internal roads, landscaping and associated works. The applicant is Fermac Properties and Tealstone Developments Limited.
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At the February meeting of the Belfast City Council Planning Committee at City Hall, DUP Alderman James Lawlor successfully proposed deferring the application for a month. He said: “I understand there was a fire at the site on (February 15). There has since been information provided to officers, but I don’t think members have been given time to appropriately consider that, including an asbestos report.”
A Planning official said: “Officers became aware there had been a fire at the site, and we have been contacting the applicant, who confirmed the building in question was one of the outbuildings at the back of the site, which is proposed to be demolished anyway.
“They submitted an asbestos report, (ie) an environment report, which confirms there was no evidence or sign of asbestos. This site has planning permission to demolish the building in question anyway.”
The application has been recommended by planning officials at City Hall for approval. The planning report on the application states: “The proposal is within the development limits of the city and is a sustainable location for new housing. (It) would result in a loss of a small area of open space, but additional open space is to be provided as part of the scheme.
“As such, the principle of housing at this location is acceptable. The density of the proposal is less than the guidance band but taking account the low density of the surrounding area and the previous permission for conversion of the listed building to apartments, this is on balance acceptable.
“The overall design, height, scale, massing, layout, and road configuration is considered to be acceptable and compliant with planning policy. There is a Tree Preservation Order on the site, but adequate mitigation measures would be in place to ensure no trees are lost or damaged during the construction phase if planning permission is granted.”
It adds: “No affordable housing is proposed on the grounds of viability. The applicant’s viability assessment has been appraised by an independent quantity surveyor who concurs with the assessment.”
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