A planning application to build 20 apartments and an underground car park in Dunmurry is expected to be given the go-ahead despite fierce objections from residents and local representatives.
Land located at 141-147 Upper Dunmurry Lane has been earmarked for the development, which is due to be discussed at next Monday night’s Lisburn City Council meeting.
Local SDLP Councillor Brian Heading told the Andersonstown News that there had been strong objections from nearby Cloona and Upper Dunmurry Lane residents to the planned apartments and added that he did not want to see the residential area turned into “a moving car park”.
“It is my understanding that a planning application has been lodged with the Planning Service and has been approved – but Lisburn Council have to be consulted on this at the meeting on Monday night,” he said. “What I’m objecting to is quite simply the fact that there has been no information given on the viability of an underground car park, residents are strongly opposed to this development. Is this the start of an apartment blight on this part of Upper Dunmurry Lane?
Developer
“Many of the homes in Cloona are a stone’s throw from where the developer proposes to start the new-build and what kind of disruption can they be expected to face?”
Cllr Heading said he’s concerned at the fact that while the area is moving into Belfast City Council, the development will be discussed by a Council which has no jurisdiction over the matter.
“At Monday night’s meeting I will be standing to object on this matter and will be asking that it is deferred on the basis of the underground car park, the fact there has been no engineer’s report given. I mean, should Belfast Councillors not have a say on this? I will be writing to the Minister [Cllr Heading’s SDLP colleague Mark H Durkan] as a matter of urgency asking him to clarify this.
Ambiguity
“Here is an example of ambiguity, where Lisburn Councillors are being consulted about a planning application when the area in question is in Belfast.
“There have been strong, strong objections in the area and the last thing we want here is a moving car park, traffic congestion and overcrowding.”
