Green light for almost 70 new houses in Galgorm

The detached and semi-detached houses will be constructed on a four hectare site at Sand Road in Galgorm.

Paul Duffy, the borough council’s Head of Planning and Building Control, told the committee: “The proposed quality residential development is in conjunction with the fabric of Galgorm.”

He said that the proposed design “respects the existing character of the area” adding that the “integrity” of an adjacent listed building, believed to be Galgorm Castle, has been maintained.

Mr Duffy told the meeting he believed that the proposed development would not have an adverse impact on the listed building

A report to the committee indicated that the Historic Environment Division of Department for Communities stated that the proposed development would have an “adverse impact” on the listed building and suggested that a section of the development should be “restricted in terms of which material can be used”.

However, in the report, the planning department said that it was “of the view that whilst the integrity of the building is important and should be maintained, there is no reason why the new development and the existing listed building cannot co-exist in harmony”.

The report also said that the “proposed site levels and buffer planting demonstrates that the integrity of the listed building can be maintained without restrictions being placed on the building”.

The report added: “The request from HED is not proportionate to the situation on the ground.”

An objection to the development was received from a nearby resident who expressed concern that the proposed finish was “not sympathetic” to the adjacent listed building and over the potential loss of vegetation.

The report noted that the “loss of hedgerows and vegetation is unavoidable during the construction of new developments”.

“In this case no protected vegetation or wildlife have been identified.

“The overall density of the proposed development in in keeping with the area that surrounds the application site.”

However, no site work is allowed to take place until an archaeological programme is implemented to provide an evaluation of  any archaeological remains within the site which are to be “properly identified and protected or appropriately recorded”.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.

Read previous Galgorm homes story here

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