Plans for a deluxe housing estate in County Down have been approved despite traffic concerns and minority support by councillors.
Ards North Down Council’s recent planning committee green-lighted a high-end residential estate outside Comber including 72 detached houses with garages. The location is a field south of the town, close to the Comber greenway, and within walking distance of the centre.
Planning officers recommended the development, by Lotus Homes Ltd, in a report. An officer told the committee: “With this application both a transport assessment and a transport statement were submitted. It’s hard to pin down that any particular planning application or particular housing development would contribute significantly to potential traffic problems in an area."
She added: “These statements found this development would not have a significant impact upon the existing transport infrastructure. This is a good location for a housing development, and is considered to be a sustainable location.”
There were 23 letters of objection from 20 separate addresses. There were no objections to the plan from any of the statutory agencies involved in planning.
Six councillors voted for the plan, while seven abstained.
UUP Councillor for Comber Philip Smith was the only councillor to vote against the plan. He said: “I do still have significant concerns about the accumulation of development in Comber and its impact on infrastructure.”
He added: “I also appreciate the wider issues aren’t specific to this development, and it would be unfair to push these wider issues onto this specific proposal. But there are significant concerns within the wider community within Comber about the impact of this development and various others underway in the town.
“Each on their own probably wouldn’t have a major impact, but when added together they do have a major cause for congestion around the town."
The committee heard the development will create 60 construction jobs, with work to commence later this year. The development awaits full ratification at the next full council meeting.
