Planning to be approved for 187 Co Down houses

A BELFAST-based construction company’s bid to build 187 new homes in Newtownards is set to be approved on Tuesday.

Fraser Houses’ plan involves a mix of townhouses, semi-detached and detached homes with garages, on a site in the north east of the town, next to Old Forge Avenue.

It marks the second phase of development in the area after the builder was granted permission to build 100 houses on a site immediately to the south in February 2016.

That plan was later reduced to a bid for 94 units.

Construction is already at an advanced stage in the scheme’s first phase.

The second phase of the mas- sive residential project has already been given the thumbs up from planning officials at Ards and North Down Borough Council.

Councillors on the planning committee are expected to grant the official green light on Tuesday.

A report compiled by planning officials describes the site location as mainly agricultural fields, and a mix of area zoned as open space and zoned for housing.

The site is bounded by other housing developments and a waste processing business and former quarry site to the south east.

The document reveals that no objections were lodged by any statutory body.

A pre-community consultation exercise was also carried out in March 2017.

“A number of objections were also lodged in respect of the height of the two-storey townhouses,” the report says.

However after consideration, planners recommended granting permission.

“It is the professional planning judgment that the proposal will cause no detriment to the character of the site and wider area,” the officials report.

“The impact on neighbouring properties has been assessed in detail and it is considered that the proposal will not result in any unacceptable adverse impact on existing or proposed residential amenity.

“Having weighed all material considerations, it is recommended that this application proceeds by way of an approval of planning permission, subject to execution of a planning agreement.”