Councillors 'minded to refuse' woodland luxury homes application

DUP councillor Stephen McIlveen has been a member of the North Down and Ards planning committee since 2015

Councillors say they're "minded to refuse" an application to build five luxury homes near a long-established woodland in County Down.

Planners had recommended approval of the application at Tullynagardy Wood near Newtownards.

But at a North Down and Ards Council planning committee meeting on Tuesday night, the majority of members disagreed.

DUP councillor Stephen McIlveen said that a number of councillors had views on the "issues of open space, ancient woodland and the impact it was going to have on flora and fauna in the area".

The decision on planning permission for the site will be taken at a future meeting

McIlveen told BBC News NI that the majority of the committee had decided they didn't agree with the planning officers.

He said these committee members plan to put forward a "minded to refuse" proposal, which gives opportunity at a future meeting to discuss the reasons why they wanted to refuse planning permission.

"We want that decision to be as soon as possible, that may be in planning committee next month or could be in the next meeting," he added.

He told BBC News NI the planning authority will "look at the plan, look at prevailing planning policy, at case law around these things, and any other material considerations and then we ultimately reach a decision".

John Martin is the director of the Woodland Trust

Tullynagardy Wood is considered 'long-established woodland', as it contains trees dating back to 1830. Long-established woodlands date back to 1830. Woodland considered 'ancient' have trees that are even older, dating back to the 17th Century.

This longevity makes woods like Tullynagardy an ecological haven for wildlife.

John Martin, director of the Woodland Trust in Northern Ireland, said "it's really important to protect what fragments we have left" of Tullynagardy.

He described the idea of the development going ahead as "one of a number of death by a thousand cuts for long-established woodland in Northern Ireland".

"It's really great to see that the council have recommended refusal."

Local residents in the Tullynagardy area said they had not been aware of the application.

Emeka Edah said it would be "a monumental disaster" if the development goes ahead.

He told BBC News NI "to learn we are going to have five new houses is shocking".

"I didn't know about it. I have just heard it for the first time."

Councillors will now consider the application at another meeting in the future.