Pedestrian crossing to be included with Ballycraigy filling station

In August, the Planning Committee of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council deferred a decision on a proposal by Solo Direct Ltd for a new petrol filling station and retail unit with parking, lighting and associated development including solar panels and package treatment plant, alterations to Ballycraigy Road to provide right hand turning lane and alterations to a pedestrian crossing arrangement at 11 Ballycraigy Road.

A Transport Assessment Form was submitted with the application, saying that the proposal is likely to generate 600 vehicles per day. Antrim Town DUP Councillor Paul Dunlop spoke at the meeting in August, calling for a condition to install a Toucan crossing, in the wake of a road accident in which a young girl was injured in July. However Lee Ross, agent for the developer, said that no objections had been made regarding traffic and pedestrian safety - and that DFI Roads had approved the plans and was satisfied with measures including barriers on the footpath and traffic islands. Barry Diamond, Head of Planning Development Management cautioned members that a condition must be ‘necessary’ rather than ‘beneficial’.

At that time, Sinn Fein Councillor Rosie Kinnear proposed the recommendation to approve, but found no seconder. DUP Councillor and Committee Vice-Chair Sam Flanagan proposed a deferral until the September or possibly October meeting, to gather more information, seconded by his party colleague Ben Mallon. This was approved by six votes to two, with Councillor Kinnear and Committee Chair Alderman Lewis Boyle voting against the deferral.

A report before the Planning Committee of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council on Monday night said that no amended plans had been received to detail any proposed pedestrian crossing, nor had DfI Roads recommended any planning condition in relation to a pedestrian crossing and the recommendation remained to grant planning permission, subject to conditions.

However the agent for the developer said that his client was happy for the committee to add a pedestrian crossing as part of those conditions.

Ashleigh Wilson , Senior Planning Officer, said that there were three objections from a neighbouring property concerning loss of light, privacy and vegetation and traffic and road safety concerns.

Agent for the developer, Lee Ross, said that he had met with Antrim Town DUP Councillor Paul Dunlop at the site and had a ‘good discussion’ about the barrier and crossing arrangements. He noted that despite further discussions with a traffic engineer and the client, DFI Roads said that while they did not require any additional measures, ‘would support’ a zebra or enhanced crossing.

He said his client was ‘happy’ to put in a zebra crossing and for it to be dealt with by way of a condition.

UUP Councillor Robert Foster said: “Would it not have been good to put it before planners rather than verbally, not knowing where it is?”

He asked Mr Ross if he had been aware that the DFI was undertaking a traffic survey, which had not yet been concluded, following a road accident in the summer.

Mr Ross said that he had been informed of the survey by Councillor Dunlop and repeated that DFI had not felt the need for a crossing.

He said that the crossing was a matter for the committee to decide and having had discussion with planners about putting something forward ‘the most expedient way was by committee’.

“Whatever is put in place will be an agreement with DFI Roads, we are suggesting that the crossing is in place before the development of the facility, so that it is safe and in line with what DFI requires.” he said.

Councillor Foster repeated that the outcome of the survey was not yet known and also asked about concerns from Environmental Health about noise from an extractor unit.

Barry Diamond, Deputy Director of Planning and Building Control said that he was aware that the DFI section office had been surveying Ballycraigy Road in terms of volume and to see if intervention was needed, but he had not received an update. He added that the pedestrian crossing was not considered necessary by DFI Roads initially.

He added that as the offer of a crossing had delayed the approval of the development, it would indeed be more expedient to condition a pedestrian crossing in place prior to the store becoming operational.

Mr Diamond added that ‘noise attenuation’ was being planned in regard to the extraction unit, although Councillor Foster said there was ‘nothing on the (Planning) Portal,

Addressing Mr Diamond, UUP Councillor Stephen Cosgrove said: “We could see as councillors and local representatives that there was a need for some sort of crossing. Is it within our gift or delegate to yourself along with the developer? The siting is vital between the playpark and community centre to what will be the retail unit.”

Mr Diamond said that the officers’ recommendation was to approve without the condition, but that ‘the committee may take a different view’. He said that the specific wording and details could be agreed with DFI Roads and council prior to the opening of the store.

Sinn Fein Councillor Rosie Kinnear proposed the recommendation to approve with the condition of a pedestrian crossing, delegated to Mr Diamond and his team, which was seconded by DUP Alderman Matthew Magill. 12 members present voted unanimously in favour.

A previous full application for a petrol filling station with three retail units was submitted in 2017. That proposal was refused by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee on grounds relating to scale, prominence, access and amenity.

Another proposal was subsequently submitted as an outline application and Planning officers recommended it for approval. However, the Planning Committee refused permission on 23 January 2023, citing concerns relating to ‘townscape impact and visual prominence’. An appeal was lodged with the Planning Appeals Commission and a decision on 23 December 2024 allowed the appeal and granted outline planning permission subject to 27 conditions.

The PAC concluded that the proposal: “Constituted an appropriate reuse of a vacant brownfield site; would not cause unacceptable harm to the townscape or local appearance; and would not adversely impact residential amenity.”

The applicant, Solo, operates an established network of over 80 petrol filling stations across Northern Ireland, ‘providing modern and well-managed facilities’. The report said: “This investment at Ballycraigy will: “Redevelop a long-vacant brownfield site; Provide a modern neighbourhood facility; Deliver local employment opportunities; Serve both the resident community and passing motorists.”

It continued: “The PAC decision recognises the community benefit of replacing the former Ballycraigy Neighbourhood Centre, which no longer exists, and confirmed the value of small-scale convenience provision for this residential population. It represents an appropriate and sustainable redevelopment of a vacant brownfield site and will provide a valuable neighbourhood facility for the Ballycraigy community.”

Almost 200 objections were lodged against the proposal in 2023. Concerns included that there are already five filling stations in Antrim town and a number of existing stores within walking distance. There were also worries about noise, nuisance and general disturbance, smells and odour, an increase in traffic, road safety worries, risk to existing shops and workers and air quality. There were also health and safety concerns, as the fuel tanks and vent pipes will be only a few metres from the nearest houses in Abbeyfield.