Northern Ireland Civil Service Sports Association development questioned by Green Party councillor
A Green Party Councillor is “deeply concerned” after a Belfast Council officer admitted the authority was not complying with its own tree policy in recommending a new development at the Stormont Estate.
The application, by NICSSA, was successful after an unrecorded vote at the Planning Committee received a majority of councillor’s support. All sporting and recreational facilities, outside the bar facilities, will be open to all members of the community and subscription is optional. “The Belfast City Council Landscape, Planning and Development Team raises concerns regarding the potential loss of a significant amount of mature tree cover and the subsequent impact on local biodiversity and wider amenity value, and advises that the landscape proposals would not adequately mitigate substantial tree loss across the whole site.”
A tree survey carried out in support of the proposal identified that there are a total of 1,870 trees within the site boundary, 404 of which are proposed to be removed, with the retention of 1,466 trees. To mitigate the loss of the existing trees the applicant proposed to plant 796 mixed species trees.
She said the council tree officer was “damning in their assessment” of the application, and added: “I find it very hard to stray from their assessment.” Another representative for the applicant said 23 percent of the 404 trees being felled would be early mature trees.
European Union Green Party Dundonald Newtownards Stormont Environment Biodiversity
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