21 holiday units at Ballylinny Cottages, Bushmills

The site

The 1.3-hectare countryside site contains holiday cottages, apartments, shared facilities, a tennis court, a bungalow and two accesses.

“251126 • The proposed development has satisfactory access and parking. • The proposal complies with the SPPS, A Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland, PPS 21, PPS 16, PPS 15, PPS 6, PPS 3 and PPS 2.”

“The northern access serves the holiday cottages and the southern access leads to the bungalow and the former barn. Key views of the site are from the Causeway Road when travelling either direction. The site is surrounded by agricultural fields except for one dwelling (No. Causeway Road) located south east of the site. This site was bought by HBP (The Holiday Property Bond) which seeks to deliver high quality affordable holidays for life.”

Officer report

Why officers recommended approval

Approval was recommended despite conflict with Policy COU 4 because of the planning history, fallback position and acceptable tourism use, design and landscape effects.

“251126 Ireland) 1995 (as amended). The proposal would not be likely to have a significant effect on the features of any European site. CONCLUSION 9.1 The proposal is considered acceptable at this location having regard to the Northern Area Plan 2016, planning policies and other material considerations.”

“The photomontages demonstrate the differences between the existing arrangement, the extant approval (if implemented), and the proposal. It is considered that it would be difficult to discern any significant change between the proposal and the extant approval (the fallback position) due to the comparable architecture and the appropriate design, scale and finishes of the cottages.”

Officer report

What residents said

The neighbouring property owner attended the consultation event and indicated they were content with the proposal.

“Community Consultation Report 4.4 The Community Consultation Report was submitted as part of the planning application, received on 5 th June 2025 which is more than 12 weeks after the Proposal of Application Notice was received, as required by the legislation. The Community Consultation Report is structured as Introduction; The PAN and Community Consultation Undertaken; Feedback Received; and Conclusion.”

“251126 opportunity to view them, discuss the proposal, seek further information and provide feedback. Comment forms were also available for providing written feedback. This public consultation drop-in event was advertised locally in the Coleraine Chronicle on 10 th October 2024. The PAN stated that all properties within 200 metres of the site would receive notification of the proposal and the public event at least 7 days in advance of the event.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent and project architect spoke in support, saying the smaller units would be absorbed into the landscape; there were no questions for them or officers.

The committee vote

Councillor Watton proposed approval, Alderman Scott seconded it, and members voted 12 for, none against and one abstention.

“Proposed by Councillor Watton Seconded by Alderman Scott - That the Committee has taken into consideration and agrees with the reasons for the recommendation set out in section 9 and the policies and guidance in…”

“251126 SD/IO sections 7 and 8 and resolves to APPROVE planning permission subject to the conditions set out in section 10. The Chair put the motion to the Committee to vote. Members voted For; Members voted Against, 1 Member Abstained. The Chair declared the motion carried and application approved.”

Minutes

The decision

The committee approved planning permission subject to conditions, agreeing with the stated reasons, policies and guidance.

“RESOLVED - That the Committee has taken into consideration and agrees with the reasons for the recommendation set out in section 9 and the policies and guidance in sections 7 and 8 and resolves to APPROVE planning permission subject to the conditions set out in section 10. 6.2”

Minutes