Agenda item

            The Planning Manager explained that the application had been approved by the Committee at its meeting in October, subject to conditions and that Condition 24 required the submission and approval of details of wastewater disposal prior to commencement of development.

            He reported that NI Water had indicated, prior to the Committee’s decision, that it believed that a solution could be found to address its objection relating to insufficient network capacity in order to accommodate the proposal, however, the applicant’s subsequent Wastewater Impact Assessment had been rejected by NI Water.  The applicant was therefore unable to accept Condition 24 and the application was before the Committee for reconsideration.

            He summarised the application for the Committee and provided visuals of the site location plan and proposed site layout and elevations.

            He stated that NI Water, prior to the meeting of the Committee in October, had advised that, subject to further engagement with the developer, there was a solution to its objection through stormwater off-setting, as the storm water currently discharged into the combined sewer overflow network and the developer had proposed to separate foul and surface water drainage.

            He explained that the applicant’s Wastewater Impact Assessment, submitted following the decision of the Committee at its meeting in October, had been rejected by NI Water due to the high polluting nature of assets with the potential to pollute the environment and that there were no tactical solutions available.  NI Water further advised that a more in-depth review of the network was required which the applicant believed could take several months to complete.

            He reported that NI Water had been asked to provide its updated position following the submission of the Wastewater Impact Assessment but had not yet responded.

            The Planning Manager outlined the following points in the applicant’s case for the removal of Condition 24:

·            The previous advice given to the Council by NI Water which indicated a solution could be found;

·            The planning history of the site;

·            The proposal was for 100% social housing scheme in north Belfast where there was a significant unmet social housing need;

·            The technical report from the applicant’s engineer demonstrating the stormwater off-setting proposal; and

·            Updated technical drainage drawing from the applicant.

            He reported that a further objection had been received from a resident to the rear of the application site which referred to the applicant’s drainage proposals having been rejected by NI Water and raised concern that insufficient drainage could lead to consequential flooding of their property, and that previous objections from local residents had not been addressed

            He stated that it was recommended that planning permission be granted, subject to conditions and a Section 76 planning agreement.

            The Chairperson advised the Committee that the agents, acting on behalf of the applicant, were in attendance and available to answer any questions that Members might have.

            In response to a question from a Member in relation to the advice received from Shared Environmental Services, Mr. B. Owens, S4S Group, explained that the applicant had worked with NI Water on a wastewater solution to produce the current proposal with Radius Housing with the intention of withdrawing the renewal of an existing extant permission to which NI Water had not objected and that the current application was in line with what was presented by a senior NI Water official following the meeting of the Planning Committee in October.

            Following a question from a Member, the Planning Manager advised the Committee that if it was minded to remove Condition 24, the Committee would be required to replace it with an alternative condition to facilitate appropriate stormwater offsetting, as proposed by the applicant. 

Proposal

            Moved by Councillor Magee,

            Seconded by Councillor Brennan,

      “That the Committee grants planning permission with the removal of Condition 24, subject to conditions and a Section 76 planning agreement and delegates authority to the Director of Planning and Building Control to finalise the wording of the conditions and Section 76 planning agreement, to explore, in consultation with the applicant, a condition that would provide for a sufficient drainage solution, and to deal with any other matters that might arise, provided that they are not substantive.”

Amendment

            Moved by Councillor Groogan,

            Seconded by Councillor T. Brooks,

      “That the Committee grants planning permission with, subject to conditions, including Condition 24, and a Section 76 planning agreement and delegates authority to the Director of Planning and Building Control to finalise the wording of the conditions and Section 76 planning agreement and to deal with any other matters that might arise, provided that they are not substantive.”

            On a vote, three Members voted for the amendment and fourteen against and it was declared lost.

            Accordingly, the proposal standing in the name of Councillor Magee was put to the Committee and passed.