Developers hit by pre-election council planning decision ban

DECISIONS on perhaps a dozen contentious planning applications have been postponed because of the up-coming general election.

Causeway Coast and Glens Council says it is heeding advice from NI Local Government Association on the “pre-election period of heightened political sensitivity.”

Among them, it’s understood, is the proposal for a £20m hotel just outside Portstewart, first lodged in 2016.

The developer has described the move as “surprising” and at odds with their understanding of procedures which are already tightly controlled to prevent political interference.

Approval, granted in 2019, was quashed by the High Court following a judicial review launched by North Antrim MLA Jim Allister who, at the time, owned a holiday home next to the site.

The TUV leader remains the proposal’s most prominent objector.

And he is among the candidates contesting the North Antrim seat in next month’s election.

Sitting North Antrim MP Ian Paisley, one of his opponents, is a prominent supporter of the Merrow Resort scheme.

Council sources have indicated elected members had been due to reconsider the application at a planning committee meeting scheduled for this Wednesday, June 26.

While most applications are assessed by planing officers, contentious applications where the recommendation is to refuse, or the recommendation is to approve and objections have been received, are presented to the committee of elected members.

The agenda for June’s meeting was published last week and all contentious applications have been removed.

Asked why, a Causeway Coast and Glens Council spokesperson said: “Due to the upcoming General Election, taking account of NILGA Policy & Communication Guidance Note ‘Pre-election period of heightened political sensitivity’ and that three of the Planning Committee Members are standing in the election, there will be no contentious applications proceeding to the Planning Committee meeting to be held on 26 June 2024.”

Asked to confirm whether or not the Merrow Resort application had been on the agenda, the council said no schedule had been prepared for June and a list of applications presented to the next meeting scheduled for August 28, will be prepared one week in advance.

In the pre-election guidance referenced by council officials, NILGA acknowledges that, unlike mainland UK, Northern Ireland has no legislation on council activity during the pre-election period.

The advice focuses mostly on council publicity that could be perceived as providing one particular candidate or party with an electoral advantage.

The document is clear councils can “continue to discharge normal council business - including determining planning applications, even if they are controversial.”

It does however, suggest consideration for “politically contentious matters” if there’s a risk decisions will be made on party political grounds rather than on merit.

Read more in this week's Chronicle.