Four apartments at 657-659 Shore Road, Whiteabbey, Newtownabbey

Summary of planning committee decision

Decided by Antrim And Newtownabbey Planning Committee on 18 May 2026.

LA03/2025/0787/FRefused

The site

The site is an L-shaped plot between the Shore Road and the A2 dual carriageway, occupied by a two-storey apartment block.

“The application site is located at 657-659 Shore Road which is within the development limits of the Uroan Area (Newtownabbey) as defined within the Belfast Urban Area Plan (2001). The site is also within the development limits of Metropolitan Newtownabbey and within the Whiteabbey Area of Townscape Character (ATC) as designated under zoning MNY 38 as defined within draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan, published 2004 (dBMAP).”

“The site is an L-shaped plot located between the Shore Road and the A2 dual carriageway (Shore Road) and has a frontage onto both roads. The site is occupied by a two-storey L-shaped apartment block with a smooth render finish and a flat roof design.”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended refusal because the second bedroom in the first-floor southwestern apartment would have no outlook, causing unacceptable harm to future occupiers.

“The proposal is contrary to paragraph 4.12 of the Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 and Policy DM 28 of the Antrim and Newtownabbey Plan Strategy in that the proposal would result in an unacceptable impact on the amenity of future occupiers as no outlook is provided to the second bedroom of the first-floor southwestern apartment.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A senior planning officer introduced the proposal and a speaker addressed the committee in support as the agent.

The committee vote

Members voted unanimously to refuse permission, with 11 votes in favour, none against and no abstentions.

“On the proposal being put to the meeting 11 Members voted in favour, 0 against and 0 abstention, it was unanimously agreed that planning permission be refused for the following reason: 1.The proposal is contrary to paragraph 4.12 of the Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 and Policy DM 28 of the Antrim and Newtownabbey Plan Strategy in that the proposal would result in an unacceptable impact on the amenity of future occupiers as no outlook is provided to the second…”

Minutes

Sources

  • Antrim And Newtownabbey Planning Committee minutes, 18 May 2026
  • Agenda and papers (council website)

Source: Plota analysis of Antrim And Newtownabbey's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.

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At the meeting

Date
Monday 18 May 2026
Recommendation
Officers recommended refusal
Committee decided
Refused
Vote
11 for refusal, 0 against
Minutes
The council's minutes
Meeting
Agenda and papers (council website)
Application
The application (council website)

Source: Plota analysis of the minutes.

This committee's year

67 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 6 against officer advice.

Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.

Every decision by this council's committees →