Sweeney’s hotel plan on hold for office meeting

The appliation, by Seymour Sweeney, appeared on the list as an approval, at the final meeting of Coleraine Borough Council’s Planning Committee last Tuesday night.

Mr Sweeney was present in the public gallery as members took part in a short discussion about the application.

The application seeks to build a 21 bedroom boutique hotel with associated facilities, car parking and landscaping amenities.

A ‘boutique hotel’ is a term used to describe smaller hotels set in unique landscapes.

Many are furnished in a themed or aspirational manner.

There were 11 objection letters recieved by the Department about the application.

The meeting heard that the application had previously been approved back in May 2013, and that this application, for the same design on the same site was a renewal application.

Senior Planning Officer Shane Matthews outlined some of the objections.

They included issues with traffic and service traffic at the site, unacceptable use of the area, the fact that alternative sites are available in the area, issues with underground pipe work and open space.

Mr Matthews added that there was a further objection which related to access to the nearby Portballintrae beach.

However the planner said that access to the beach was to be ‘maintained’ within the proposals of the application.

SDLP Alderman Maura HIckey requested an office meeting on behalf of objectors. This was seconded by councillor Stephanie Quigley.

*Other planning news:

A dog grooming business in Portstewart hsa been granted planning permission for the retention of a shed.

The application, at Mill Road, had no objections.

Wind turbine application held: An application for a wind turbine at Castleroe Road in Coleraine has been defered to allow the applicant to provide more information to planners.