'Controversial' housing plans opposed by Creggan residents

What has been branded a “controversial” housing proposal in an already “densely populated” area “lacking in green spaces” is being opposed by a local residents’ group.

High Park Residents’ Association is also seeking support from local councillors against the development, earmarked for the Creggan area of the city on land adjacent to the popular Termonbacca Retreat Centre and High Park.

Speaking to Derry Now, a spokesperson for the Association said it had organised a petition opposing the proposed development, following a “community consultation” event held by the planning consultant acting on behalf of the developer.

The spokesperson said: “If permitted to go ahead, this controversial proposal would squeeze further housing into an estate which is already densely populated and lacking in green spaces.

“Over the years, many similar proposals in Creggan have been put forward and opposed successfully by residents.

“Our petition has been signed by a vast majority of residents.

“There is also concern in Ballymagowan Park and Rathkeele Way about how this development might affect their areas.

“The residents accept there is undoubtedly a need for social housing but we feel there are certainly areas which are much more suitable within Derry for social housing.”

The spokesperson said residents felt private developers were seeking “easy profits by going into partnership with housing associations”.

They added: “Developers are now targeting any green space available. They do not have the best interests of the current residents at heart. Profit is their only interest.

“The proposed area for this particular housing development is adjacent to woods which have a resident population of native red squirrels and, if permitted, would have a severe environmental impact.

“Such a major development, in this immediate area, might in fact be prohibited, as red squirrels are on the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) list of protected species, and might not survive such a major construction project nearby.

“The High Park Residents’ Association will therefore also be asking DAERA to investigate this proposed development. We are also asking our councillors to help stop this development, which will affect the local residents and the local environment negatively,” said the spokesperson.

According to the information publicly available at: https://planningregister.planningsystemni.gov.uk/, a Pre-Application Notification for the “erection of social housing development, landscaping and associated works, on lands adjacent to and south of numbers 1 to 86, Magowan Park and numbers 6 to 56, High Park, Creggan” was submitted to Derry City and Strabane District Council on May 25, 2023. Its reference number was LA11/2023/1684/PAN.

The Pre-Application Notification was submitted by Lee Kennedy Planning on behalf of the applicant, Magowan Limited.
In its decision letter of June 8, Council said: “[It] has considered the Pre-Application Notification and finds that it contains sufficient information with regards community consultation measures and therefore considers it complies with Section 27 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.

“This is of course not a planning decision by the Council and refers only to the compliance with the statutory requirements under Section 27 of the 2011 Planning Act,” said Council.

Lee Kennedy Planning also facilitated a “Drop In” community consultation clinic regarding “a proposed outline planning application” relating to the development, on June 20, in the Ráth Mór Centre in Creggan.