A huge housing development of over 100 new homes – complete with children’s play area – is being planned for Craigavon.
Proposals for the development, close to Tullygally Youth Centre, have been drawn up and submitted to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
The application has been made by Roxborough Plant and Construction Ltd, which has an address at Moy, Co Tyrone.
The site in question is “adjacent to and south (east and west) of Tullygally Youth Centre” and “135 metres north-east of Brownlow Integrated College”.
The plan is to build a total of 118 houses of various sizes and types. The proposals also detail a children’s play area, public open space, estate roads and paths, retaining walls and associated site works.
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A planning statement explains the need for development, given that the area has experienced anti-social behaviour.
It says: “The site is on the northside of the Tullygally Road and east of Aldervale. It is zoned as a part of the 9.06ha phase 1 housing site CH5 at Rathmore, Brownlow in the Craigavon Area Plan 2010. The site was previously occupied by a housing development. This has now been demolished and the lands are now derelict brownfield lands suitable for redevelopment.
“The derelict nature of the site makes it attractive for anti-social behaviour. The site is accessed from Aldervale at present. Footpaths also link the site from the north.
“The site comprises disturbed ground, rough grassland, scrub and building sites. The site has low value in terms of natural and built heritage.”
And it adds: “The redevelopment of the site has been welcomed by the local community during the community consultation exercise.”
According to the planning statement, the site was previously approved for 159 houses, so it was “assumed that a similar amount of units could be accommodated” again, with the 118 proposed “well below” that “previously found acceptable”.
The applicant, the statement points out, has a proud history and is renowned within the construction industry.
It says: “The housing mix has been selected in order to offer a wide range of options in terms of the overall size and style of the properties. Roxborough have extensive knowledge of the housing market in this area having built hundreds of dwellings within the past two decades.
“They have in the past built forever homes for wide range of people from young professionals, first time buyers, families and even retired couples.”
The majority of properties planned – 96 to be precise – would be two-storey, three-bedroom semi-detached houses of various sizes and styles.
There would also be 12 detached houses – two two-storey four-bedroom homes and three two-storey three-bedroom houses. There would be seven three-storey four-bedroom houses too.
There would be four two-storey semi-detached four-bedroom houses and a terrace of six two-storey three-beedroom homes.
The development would introduce a new access onto Tullygally Road with right hand turning lane. The pedestrian footpath and crossing points along Tullygally Road have been retained.
A new large area of public open space will be provided beside the Community Centre where a new children’s playground will be provided.
Additional areas of open space are provided at the corner of Tullygally Road and Aldervale.
The planning statement adds: “The open space will have pathways running through it and will be overlooked from dwellings ensuring safety and security.”
There would be a total of 312 parking spaces to meet the needs of residents and visitors.
According to the statement: “The proposal provides a varied house type of accommodation for which there is high demand in the Craigavon area.
“It will be a welcome investment and a major construction project which will introduce construction employment to the local area.”
The proposals will now be advertised shortly with a decision expected in due course.
