Crawfordsburn Construction Causes Controversy

A normally peaceful part of the north Down 'Gold Coast' is 'up in arms' to oppose a controversial planning application.

A resubmitted bid seeking permission to build apartment blocks and town houses in one of Northern Ireland's most historic villages has sparked fresh outrage.

Last year, scores of residents even took to the streets of Crawfordsburn to protest against the proposed development which they say threatens to destroy its Tudor character.

Now, campaigners have hit out again after the original application for 30 flats and 16 houses was submitted – with just one less house than the original plan.

An application from Adela Construction has been with planners since 2005 to erect three blocks of apartments, some two-and-a-half storeys high, as well as a mix of terraced and semi-detached houses.

The developer wants them placed at Main Street on the site of Crawfordsburn Country Club, which is used by bowlers and includes tennis courts.

They said this is 'a vision for the modernisation' of the area, despite it being adjacent to a wooded country park and being famed for its 17th century Old Inn - which is still a popular hostelry today.

North Down Councillor Marion Smith, who has taken the residents' fight to Assembly Environment Minister Arlene Foster, said: "This isn't the centre of London, it's a tiny village.

"If the Planning Service approves these apartments, it will open the floodgates for other developers and lead to the ruination of one of Northern Ireland's most beautiful and historic areas."

Objections centre on infringement on the green belt section of the country club land and access to a public right of way.

Residents have also stressed parked cars and traffic congestion have already made the village a dangerous bottleneck.

Around 100 residents held a protest last August at a meeting on the grounds of the clubhouse – one carried a 12m high pole to show the height of some of the proposed buildings.

UUP member Ms Smith said she found it unbelievable and inconsiderate that the developer had resubmitted the application with only one alteration.

She added: "It shows he didn't listen, or just doesn't care about affecting these people's lives. If this goes through now there's something very, very wrong with our Planning Service."

Green Party MLA Brian Wilson has also slammed the plans as clashing with green belt regulations and said new apartments would cause traffic chaos.

Objections are now with planners, but a decision on the application may not be through until May.

(BMcC)