Temporary open space at Land immediately east of 41 Hamilton Road, Bangor
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Ards And North Down Planning Committee on 4 Aug 2026.
What was proposed
The application sought a further two-year temporary permission to retain the site as open space.
“DEA: Bangor Central Proposal: Retention of open space (Two year time extension to temporary permission LA06/2024/0182/F). Location: Land immediately east of 41 Hamilton Road, South of 1 Springfield Ave (Site of former Hamilton House and Sea Scout Hall), Bangor…”
Officer report
The site and surroundings
The 0.32-hectare grassland site has paths, a bench, three access points and residential surroundings in Bangor town centre.
“The application site is located to the direct east of no.41 Hamilton Road, within the Town Centre of Bangor and the proposed Bangor Central ATC under d raft BMAP. It consists of a 0.32ha plot of grassland, with two small pathways and a bench. It slopes upward towards Hamilton Road and has three points of access – two from Springfield Avenue to the north, with stairs, and one from Hamilton Road to the south.”
“The surrounding area is predominantly residential in character, with two storey terraced, detached and semi-detached dwellings, as well as the Royal British Legion directly abutting the site to the west.”
Officer report
Officers’ recommendation
Officers recommended approval because previous temporary open space permissions were acceptable and a further period would allow a replacement scheme to be submitted.
“The principle of development and retention of the site as a temporary area of open space was determined by the Council as being acceptable under previous…”
“Under LA06/2020/0113/F, which involved the demolition of the original buildings on the site, it was accepted that there were significant costs to the Council in maintaining and securing the site due to antisocial behaviour which had resulted in a detrimental impact on neighbouring residents. Therefore, the buildings were demolished and the site retained as open space as a temporary design solution.”
Officer report
Consultation and representations
Consultation was not required and no representations were received.
“Consultations – synopsis of responses: Consultation not required.”
Officer report
The committee’s decision
The committee adopted the recommendation and granted planning permission for the temporary use.
“The Head of Planning advised that the site needed to be safeguarded as essentially it remained a brownfield site within a settlement and town centre. She added that it was hoped it would not continue indefinitely. At this stage the Chairman commented that the site had previously been on the market and had failed to find a buyer. Councillor Cathcart proposed, seconded by Councillor McClean, that the recommendation be adopted and that Council grants planning permission.”
Minutes
The permission’s limit
The temporary use was approved for two years, because permanent retention could harm the character and amenity of the proposed townscape area.
“This temporary use is approved for a period of 2 years only from the date of decision.”
“Reason: This type of temporary use is such that permanent retention would harm the character and amenity of this draft Area of Townscape Character.”
Officer report
Sources
- Ards And North Down Planning Committee minutes, 4 August 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Ards And North Down's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Ards And North Down
- Date
- Tuesday 4 August 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- View application →
- All decisions
- Ards And North Down committee decisions →
This committee's year
32 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 1 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.