Delays in starting work on a multi-million pound regeneration of Bangor’s seafront have been branded an “utter farce”.
The area, labelled ‘Northern Ireland’s worst eyesore’, is in line for a £50 million pound investment but is being held up at Stormont.
Now Ards and North Down Council has demanded an audience with the Stormont Minister Nicola Mallon over continuing obstruction to the plan.
At the full meeting of the council on Wednesday (February 23), a cross party motion by councillors representing Bangor Central was passed unanimously by the chamber. It insists on an explanation from the minister as to why the regeneration plan approved by the council has been held up by Stormont for over 13 months.
The motion states: “This council reiterates its support for the regeneration of Queen’s Parade and outlines its disappointment at the unacceptable decision of the Department for Infrastructure to hold up the Bangor Marine Ltd. planning application which was granted approval by the council over a year ago.
“This council therefore requests the attendance of the Infrastructure Minister and the Chief Planner and Director of Regional Planning before council to explain the Department actions and to hear elected members’ concerns about the impact of this delay and the need for the application to be returned to council for determination as soon as possible.”
Despite the plan being approved in January 2021, the department, which has the power to ‘call-in’ or end the project, has been carrying out an assessment on the planning application in relation to the scheme falling within the flood inundation zone of Clandeboye Lake. The lake is over two miles away, and land between the lake and the seafront has continued to see planning applications approved without intervention.
The proposed scheme involves a new hotel and cinema, residential units, new commercial/retail/restaurant space, new external events spaces, cafes, a new play zone, refurbishment of existing commercial properties, a basement car park, and new marketplace and courtyard squares. There are new seafront lawns planned, a children’s play area, and a new water feature.
An online petition to approve the Queen’s Parade development has been set up by UUP Councillor Carl McClean at www.change.org/p/approve-the-queen-s-parade-development.
DUP Councillor Alistair Cathcart told the council chamber: “Investment in the Queen’s Parade area in Bangor is critical to local regeneration. The site has been derelict for decades, and has been voted Northern Ireland’s worst eyesore.
“The site is identified as a key opportunity in the Department for Infrastructure’s Regional Development Strategy and the Department for Communities has spent around £9 to £10 million acquiring the site.”
He added: “In assessing the proposal, the council’s planning department exercised its judgement and considered many issues. For reasons set out in the extensive case officers report it was considered the proposal met the policy provisions of the local development plan and Bangor town centre plan.
“No material considerations were put forward that outweighed the social and economic benefits that were presented by the proposal. The concerns raised by the Rivers Agency in relation to the reservoir inundation area were considered to be outweighed by the positive benefits of the redevelopment scheme. They represent a significant regeneration development in an area long neglected and awaiting positive intervention.”
He added: “Flooding and draining issues were identified during the pre-application discussions in 2019. The department was fully aware - if they were concerned about these proposals, they should have called in the application then, in the first instance. Not relying on notification at the end of the process. And then it sits on the application for over a year, when it was aware of the issue in 2019.
“To hold up an application for over a year, any lay person looking at this would consider it abuse of legislation by the department and the minister.”
Alliance Councillor Karen Douglas said: “In addition, we urge the department to return the planning application to the council, for the matter to be progressed here. The people of Bangor deserve better, and are calling out for action.”
She added: “It is self-evident to anyone who passes by the derelict site on our seafront, that the redevelopment of Queen’s Parade, a £50 million private investment is critical to the regeneration of our home town. It is highly remarkable to think that the Department for Communities has already invested over £9 million in acquiring the site, only for the Department for Infrastructure to hold up progress.”
Independent Councillor Tom Smith said: “If Clandeboye lake floods one of the last places that is going to be flooded is Queen’s Parade. Half of Bangor is going to be flooded before it gets to Queen’s Parade - it is an utter, utter farce.
“If the minister has any sense of responsibility, she should come and speak to this council.”
