113-home housing development at Lands to the South of Flaxfield Wood and East of Enniskillen Independent Methodist Church, Tempo Road Enniskillen

Earlier planning history

The site had a pre-application notice, while nearby housing applications had either been approved or remained under consideration.

“LA10/2023/1532/PAN Pre Application Notice for a residential development on the lands.”

“LA10/2022/1043/F Housing development on lands immediately adjacent to and East of 53 Killynure Manor Tempo Road. Under consideration.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the proposal policy-compliant, well designed and capable of accommodating traffic without unacceptable effects on road safety or residential amenity.

“Policy HOU05 - Shaping Our Houses and Homes and Policy DE02 - Design Quality Policy HOU05 - Shaping Our Houses and Homes supports residential development proposals that demonstrate the creation of a quality and sustainable residential environment and meet a number of criteria. Policy DE02 - Design Quality is also material and supports development proposals which demonstrate a high quality built environment.”

“The proposal will enhance the positive aspects of the area's character, utilise high- quality design and layout, and develop a vacant zoned housing site creating a sense of local identity and distinctiveness. It will not cause unacceptable damage to local character, environmental quality, or residential amenity, and instead will reinforce the area's character. A variety of house types and sizes are proposed.”

Officer report

Access was the main issue

The main planning issue was whether access through Flaxfield Wood was suitable, particularly for road safety, traffic capacity and residential amenity.

“Representations It is noted that the majority of representations received do not object to the development of housing per se, but rather to the proposed access arrangements. Accordingly, a key issue in the assessment of this application relates to the appropriateness of the proposed access via Flaxfield Wood, and the associated implications for road safety, traffic capacity and residential amenity.”

“Having regards to the comments of DfI Roads, it has been demonstrated that there is the capacity to accommodate the type and amount of traffic generated, and access arrangements do not prejudice road safety or significantly inconvenience the flow of traffic. The additional traffic passing through the existing development will not have an unacceptable affect upon the residential amenity of existing residents.”

Officer report

Residents’ concerns

Residents objected to increased traffic, unsafe roads, congestion, parking pressure, construction impacts and the loss of a possible future railway route.

“Construction Traffic Impacts Concerns are raised about the impact of construction traffic, particularly heavy vehicles.”

“Protection of land for future use Residents are of the view that this land corridor should be protected for future railway provision and the Council should be supporting sustainable transport. This proposed development will block a critical future sustainable transport option.”

Officer report

Consultees’ views

DfI Roads supported the layout subject to conditions, while NI Water recommended refusal because of wastewater capacity and a private treatment plant was proposed.

“DfI Roads has advised that they are content with the proposed layout which will be subject to a determination under the Private Streets Order. Conditions are included in respect of this requirement.”

“NI Water has responded with advice and recommend refusal as there is no available capacity in the downstream wastewater infrastructure and no viable developer led solution ro achieve a fould connection. However the development proposes its own wastewater treatment plant. This will require a separate discharge consent issued by NIEA and regulated under its policy. This is considered to be an acceptable solution for waste water disposal on site.”

Officer report

Support for the application

A supporter said the proposal met housing needs, the site was zoned for housing, and DfI Roads considered the access and road network acceptable.

Members’ discussion

In response to a member’s question, the supporter said the access had always been intended to serve later development and residents mainly feared increased traffic.

“In response to a query from a Member, [name withheld] stated that residents of Flaxfield Wood had not expected further development to the rear of the existing housing development and had viewed the current development as a cul-de-sac, however, the access road had always been intended to facilitate future phases of development and was designed from the outset to serve additional housing on the wider site.”

“As there were no further questions from Members, the speaker returned to the public gallery.”

Minutes

The committee vote

A member proposed approval, another member seconded it, and the proposal was agreed unanimously.

“At this juncture, a Member proposed the recommendation to approve planning permission, and this was seconded by another Member.”

“RESOLVED: On the proposal of Councillor A Feely, seconded by Councillor O’Reilly, and unanimously agreed, that the above application be approved planning permission, subject to the twenty conditions listed within Paragraph 12.0 of Appendix 2. (”

Minutes