The woodland is believed to date back to the 1600s
A group of residents in North Down are calling on the local council to refuse a planning application to build five “luxury” homes on a woodland site in Newtownards.
Residents living near Tullynagardy Wood have said that were the council to approve the application, it would “fly in the face” of a previous decision to refuse a planning application for a separate development on the site around 20 years ago.
Tullynagardy Wood is mapped on the Northern Ireland Ancient Woodland Inventory, and the trees on this site are protected under a Tree Preservation Order. The Woodland Trust has said that this development proposal threatens an irreplaceable habitat, will harm local wildlife, and undermine efforts to reduce carbon emissions and restore nature.
Local resident Michael McCaughan said that it appeared that the woodland was being “sacrificed on the altar of private profit.”
“What’s more important, a historic woodland and all the environment that it offers to a wide range of flora and fauna, Deer coming through, squirrels, all that sort of stuff. And then for that to be sacrificed for what? Five houses? How long will five houses last in the march of time?” he asked.
The site of the proposed development(Image: Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)
Speaking to Belfast Live, Stangford MLA Nick Mathison said that the woodland is a vital piece of nature in the area.
“There have been attempts to develop in this woodland for the last couple of decades. It’s an ancient woodland, so that means if we go back to the 1830s, maps have shown woodland on this site. So it’s a really, really vital part of the natural environment here in Newtownards, which is not well provided for in terms of trees or green space,” he said.
“In my mind, it would be an absolute scandal if anybody were to develop in this woodland, but we’re now in a scenario where a developer has had plans that have been recommended for approval by the council, and I am struggling to understand the logic or the rationale for that.
“We’re in the middle of a climate crisis, a climate emergency that the council has declared, and they’re recommending approval of development in a precious natural resource such as this. It’s not acceptable and it’s absolutely vital that a planning committee next week on Tuesday, the right decision is made, because residents are clear in their view, this is not somewhere that should be developed. There’s lots of sites in Newtownards which would be ripe for housing development, we don’t need it in an ancient woodland at a time of an absolute biodiversity and climate crisis.”
Deputy Mayor of Ards and North Down Borough Council, Cllr Vicky Moore(Image: Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)
Deputy Mayor of Ards and North Down Borough Council, Cllr Vicky Moore said that she hopes councillors on the planning committee take a “fully rounded view” of the development and the value the woodland brings to the local area.
“It is a very difficult issue. Clearly the planning officers have recommended that the development go ahead, and we hope that the councilors who are on the planning committee will take a fully rounded view of this development and the value of this area of woodland and how important it is, not just to the residents here, but to the wider area and the ecosystem generally,” she said.
Paying tribute to the local residents, Nick Matheson hit out at the planning system in Northern Ireland.
“This is one of the big challenges with our planning system in Northern Ireland, the cards are really all held by the developer, the applicant. If it goes against the developer, they’re able to appeal to the PAC, but if it goes against the wishes of the residents, they don’t have that right of appeal,” he said.
Strangford MLA Nick Mathison(Image: Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)
“So it does leave residents in a really difficult position, that this feels like an absolutely critical job where it’s vital the right decisions made.
“There is the option of going through the courts and a judicial review, but you know, everyone will know how expensive and how difficult the process that is and I think it would be deeply unfair that a group of local residents who are concerned about the natural environment in their area would be placed at that in that position of having to find their financial means to run a judicial review.
“I want to be really clear and pay tribute to the residents as well. Sometimes when we deal with planning issues, there’s accusations of NIMBYism. Nobody here is objecting because they don’t want to be overlooked. Nobody here is objecting because it’s going to impact the light or the value of their property, anything like that.
“The objections have all been solely on the impact on the natural environment, and they have fought this campaign for over two decades, and it’s been a privilege of mine in the last few years to have been able to support them in their efforts to preserve this site.”
A spokesperson for Ards and North Down Borough Council said: “Planning permission has not been approved. A recommendation has been made and this application will be discussed at the next Planning Committee meeting on 5 August. Planning Committee members will make the final decision.”
Video by Harry Bateman/Belfast Live
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