Planning permission has been refused for two dwellings with detached garages on lands adjacent to Knox’s Hill, Armagh, as ABC planning officers felt that the proposed development could have a negative impact on neighbouring properties.
The planning application had been lodged by Ian McGaw Architect, Banbridge, on behalf of Lynn Eagleson, Armagh.
The architect’s design concept statement for the proposed dwellings contended that the new properties being envisaged would blend in within the existing housing development.
The architect’s report stated: “The dwellings are orientated and designed in order to ensure that there is no unacceptable loss of light to neighbouring property.
“All existing boundary hedges shall remain to ensure that there shall be no overlooking over existing houses’ private amenity areas.
“The local character of the area is protected, and the environmental quality of the development is continued as a result of this proposal.
“The pattern and density of this proposal is in keeping with the overall character of the established pattern of the existing housing estate, namely, the varied mix of house types is retained.”
ABC Planning officers, however, did have issues with the proposed dwellings. They stated in their report: “It has not been demonstrated that the development respects the surrounding context and is appropriate to the character and topography of the site in terms of layout, scale, proportions, massing and appearance of buildings, structures and landscaped and hard surfaced areas.
“[It has not been demonstrated that] the design and layout will not create conflict with adjacent land uses, and there is no unacceptable adverse effect on existing or proposed properties in terms of overlooking, loss of light, overshadowing, noise or other disturbance.
“[It has not been demonstrated that] the pattern of development is in keeping with the overall character and environmental quality of the established residential area.
“It has not been demonstrated that sewerage from the site can be suitably handled to protect the water environment and to safeguard the residential and work environs, or that it would not cause demonstrable harm to interests of the existing public foul sewer.
“It has not been demonstrated that adequate measures will be put in place, so as to effectively mitigate the flood risk to the proposed development and from the development elsewhere.”
