Green Pastures’ decision held

Planners have agreed to hold making a decision on Green Pastures’ super scheme at Ballee, until an office meeting is held with a local MLA.
A development scheme with the potential to create over 1000 jobs was announced today in Ballymena. The Gateway project is a ground breaking public private partnership which will develop a 97 acre site adjacent to the Seven Towers roundabout providing training, social intervention services, social housing, a church, a motor village and food retail. The Gateway project has grown out of the collective vision of the five project partners; Green Pastures Church, Gateway Social Investments, Compassion Ministries, Connect Ministries and The Wright Group. Pictured at the launch:A development scheme with the potential to create over 1000 jobs was announced today in Ballymena. The Gateway project is a ground breaking public private partnership which will develop a 97 acre site adjacent to the Seven Towers roundabout providing training, social intervention services, social housing, a church, a motor village and food retail. The Gateway project has grown out of the collective vision of the five project partners; Green Pastures Church, Gateway Social Investments, Compassion Ministries, Connect Ministries and The Wright Group. Pictured at the launch:
A development scheme with the potential to create over 1000 jobs was announced today in Ballymena. The Gateway project is a ground breaking public private partnership which will develop a 97 acre site adjacent to the Seven Towers roundabout providing training, social intervention services, social housing, a church, a motor village and food retail. The Gateway project has grown out of the collective vision of the five project partners; Green Pastures Church, Gateway Social Investments, Compassion Ministries, Connect Ministries and The Wright Group. Pictured at the launch:

The department were set to approve applications for two parts of the three tiered scheme known as the Gateway Project, at last Thursday’s Spatial Planning Committee.

The two sections of the scheme set for approval were the business park including a hotel and the leisure facilities.

Councillor Monica Digney requested an office meeting to discuss these applications. At a previous meeting Cllr Digney had warned that this development would ‘decimate’ the town centre.

On Thursday evening, Councillor Beth Adger said she supported the planners view of approving the application. “I would welcome the approval, a lot of people out there need jobs.”

While Councillor Tommy Nichol agreed, he said: “This is something I have been looking forward to for a long time. There has been enough talking about it and enough obstacles put in the way of it. I would be very strong in favour of both applications.”

Planning officer Kyle Patterson agreed to hold making a decision until the MLA meeting has taken place.

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