Minutes for Town Planning Committee meeting, Feb 7 2011, 4.30PM official page

            In the absence of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman, it was agreed that Councillor Hendron take the Chair.

 

(Councillor Hendron in the Chair.)

 

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported from the Chairman (Councillor Brownlee) and Councillors Kingston, Lavery, McCabe, L. Patterson, Rodway and Smyth.

 

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 20th January, it had agreed that a special meeting be held in order to receive a presentation from representatives of the Planning Service in relation to the review of the Malone Conservation Area.

 

            Accordingly, Ms. B. Elliott and Mr. R. Kennedy from the Planning Service Conservation Unit were admitted to the meeting and welcomed by the Acting Chairman.

 

            Mr Kennedy advised the Committee that the Malone area was considered as an area of special architectural and historic interest which had resulted in its designation by the Department of the Environment as a conservation area during 2000.  That designation had introduced control over the demolition of unlisted buildings under Article 51 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 and the protection of trees under Article 26 of the Planning Amendment (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.  In addition, certain additional limitations upon the exercise of development rights contained within the Planning (General Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 1993 had been introduced.  Mr. Kennedy outlined the importance of conservation and stated that the preservation or enhancement of the historic built environment had stemmed from strong cultural, environmental and economic objectives which had long been established in various international charters.  He reported that, in order to ensure consistency and adhere to best practice guidelines, it was necessary for a review of the Malone Conservation Area to be undertaken so that the character appraisal and boundary adjustments could be updated.

 

            He reported that a draft consultation document had been published in order to assist the Department to discharge its functions and that the boundary review proposed to include additional areas along the northern and southern boundaries of the area.  It proposed also to omit various areas to the east of the boundary as well as modern developments located at Windsor Avenue, Derryvolgie Avenue and Windsor Park.  He pointed out that the character and appearance of a Conservation Area was inseparable from the physical fabric from which it was made and it was important therefore that any works which affected its buildings, settings, trees, open spaces and street scenes were considered within the context of their wider impact.

 

            After discussion, during which Mr. Kennedy outlined the role of the Conservation Unit in assessing planning applications which were submitted in relation to such areas, the Acting Chairman (Councillor Hendron) thanked the representatives for their presentation and they retired from the meeting.

 

            After further discussion, the Committee noted that a draft Council response to the Consultation Document would be submitted for its consideration at its meeting on 17th February.