Plans to transform an empty Derry petrol station into apartments beside the River Foyle have been approved despite concerns over flooding.
Members of the planning committee for Derry City and Strabane Council approved the plan for 63 apartments on Foyle Road at the former Maxol petrol station and farm shop.
Under the proposals, from Maxol Limited, there would be three separate apartment blocks. Block A fronts on to Foyle Road and is four storeys in height; block B is three to four storeys in height and fronts on to open space within the site and block C is five storeys in height and fronts on to the River Foyle.
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The proposal seeks to develop a brownfield site to provide a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments located on Letterkenny Road on the southern fringe of Derry City.
Planning approval was previously granted on the site in 2016 but the proposals had to be resubmitted and redesigned due to a 1200mm diameter combined sewer which crosses through the site. It was also the case that 10 additional apartments were now proposed in the most recent application.
The approved plans also set out to create a central courtyard, pedestrian plaza, and communal play area. Meanwhile, there will also be the construction of new pedestrian and vehicular access from Letterkenny Road, the latter of which affords access to a basement car park via a subterranean ramp.
In a report to the council, officers offered more detail on the current site. It read: " The proposed site is approx. 0.44 ha, in size and is located on the site formally occupied by a Maxol service station and farm shop; the site is currently vacant, and all buildings have been demolished.
"There is an existing canopy on site, over what would have once been petrol pumps. There is a 2m wall in the middle of the site, which previously defined the curtilage of the 'Farm Shop'.
"The proposed site extends beyond the wall, where there is a portion of undeveloped land with some shrub vegetation.
"The rear boundary of the application site is defined by mesh wire fencing, the boundary runs along an existing path which provides access to the existing playing pitches which are located between the site and the River Foyle; known as the Daisyfields."
Council Officers also suggested to members that no development shall commence on site until a drainage report has been submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority to demonstrate how any out-of-sewer flooding will be safely managed.
The Foyle Road has been the scene of some of the city's worst flooding in recent years, with the latest flooding coming in July 2022.
Meanwhile, residents also expressed concern over traffic congestion, the threat to areas environmental beauty, and the lack of motivation given to locals about the development.
In a vote, nine members voted in favour of the development, whiles two abstained. There were no votes against the proposals.
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