Newry Civic Hub: New watchdog group claims fourth planning breach

It comes after the council delivered neighbour notification letters on May 28. Article 8(1) of the Planning (General Development Procedure) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 requires mandatory neighbour notification for all planning applications.

A new watchdog group, Council Watch: Newry Mourne and Down, claims NMDDC presented their Civic Hub application to the Planning Committee on three separate occasions without fulfilling this basic legal requirement.

Planning expert Andy Stephens has described the handling of the multi-million pound public project as creating "a further chronology of processing irregularities" and demonstrating "a complete shambles."

He revealed: "The application was presented on three occasions to the Planning Committee, and the council was in breach of Article 8 of the GDPO. I have raised notification and advertising with the council previously, but was told I was wrong and was ignored."

An unprecedented four separate breaches of mandatory law in relation to the Civic Hub application have now been alleged against the council. These are:

Missing community consultation – the required report was submitted three months late;

Fee underpayment – incorrect planning fees were allegedly paid at application;

Inadequate documentation – Key information was allegedly withheld from the planning file;

...with the neighbour notification issue becoming the fourth alleged failure.

Geoff Ingram, spokesperson for Council Watch: Newry, Mourne and Down, said: "These breaches reflect the same pattern of systemic maladministration that we have seen in major council projects across the entire district. The community is demanding that elected representatives hold the management to account for their repeated failures.

"No other applicant in this council area has had such a 'red carpet' treatment. This is a case of one rule for the council and one rule for other applicants."

He added: "How can the council have made such an utter mess of their own application, and yet continue to think it can be bulldozered through?"

Meanwhile, the council continues to withhold information that should be on the planning file, despite Freedom of Information deadlines.

Mr Stephens said: "All this does is create a further chronology of processing irregularities with this application, and an audit trail of prevention of public access to basic information."

The consultant added: "In my 18 years of practising planning, this is simply sensational."

A council spokesperson said: "Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is satisfied that the planning application for the Civic Hub has been progressed in accordance with statutory requirements. The application remains under consideration by the Planning Committee and any outstanding matters raised will be addressed through the proper planning process.

“The Council strongly refutes claims of maladministration and will continue to ensure full compliance with planning legislation."