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Housing plan may be reconsidered Housing plan may be reconsidered
(10 minutes later)
A plan to develop houses on a County Down golf course may have to be reconsidered, the BBC has learned.A plan to develop houses on a County Down golf course may have to be reconsidered, the BBC has learned.
The houses were to be built at Knock Golf Club's grounds, part of which is leased from the Ulster Hospital. The houses were to be built on publicly-owned land which Knock Golf Club leases from the Ulster Hospital.
The club wanted to keep five acres of the 12 acre plot in return for giving up the lease 50 years early, freeing the remaining land for hospital use.The club wanted to keep five acres of the 12 acre plot in return for giving up the lease 50 years early, freeing the remaining land for hospital use.
Approval was granted on that basis but the health trust has since confirmed it has never agreed to change the lease.Approval was granted on that basis but the health trust has since confirmed it has never agreed to change the lease.
The controversial planning application involved reducing the current golf course to nine holes and building 300 houses within the five acre plot, including some social housing.The controversial planning application involved reducing the current golf course to nine holes and building 300 houses within the five acre plot, including some social housing.
Separately, the club's new golf course would be constructed on a greenfield site at another location.Separately, the club's new golf course would be constructed on a greenfield site at another location.
The lease agreement between Ulster Hospital and Knock Golf Club on the entire 12 acre plot is currently halfway through a 100 year term.The lease agreement between Ulster Hospital and Knock Golf Club on the entire 12 acre plot is currently halfway through a 100 year term.
The early ending of that lease would have made seven acres available to the hospital, allowing it to build and expand its estate with immediate effect.The early ending of that lease would have made seven acres available to the hospital, allowing it to build and expand its estate with immediate effect.
'No agreement''No agreement'
The planners - in coming to their decision to approve the application - considered that this would be a "community benefit" because if the hospital carried out developments on the remaining land, it would be advantageous to the wider population.The planners - in coming to their decision to approve the application - considered that this would be a "community benefit" because if the hospital carried out developments on the remaining land, it would be advantageous to the wider population.
The transfer of the land in this way formed part of the planners' "consideration in coming to an opinion to approve".The transfer of the land in this way formed part of the planners' "consideration in coming to an opinion to approve".
However the South Eastern Health Trust, which is responsible for the Ulster Hospital, told the BBC that "at no time has there been any change to the arrangement of this lease, nor has there been any agreement to change the lease in the future."However the South Eastern Health Trust, which is responsible for the Ulster Hospital, told the BBC that "at no time has there been any change to the arrangement of this lease, nor has there been any agreement to change the lease in the future."
The trust added "this land is not included in any current capital developments, or in any planned future developments".The trust added "this land is not included in any current capital developments, or in any planned future developments".
The Planning Service divisional manager in Belfast, Neil Dunlop, said that in light of this information the entire project may have to be reconsidered.The Planning Service divisional manager in Belfast, Neil Dunlop, said that in light of this information the entire project may have to be reconsidered.
SDLP MLA John Dallat called for an investigationSDLP MLA John Dallat called for an investigation
"The agreement that we would want to see between ourselves and the landowners, including what would happen with this land, would be part of an overall planning decision," he said."The agreement that we would want to see between ourselves and the landowners, including what would happen with this land, would be part of an overall planning decision," he said.
"The return of land to the hospital trust was part of the community benefit that we saw in this proposal."The return of land to the hospital trust was part of the community benefit that we saw in this proposal.
"We would have to revisit the overall scheme if we felt that could not be achieved.""We would have to revisit the overall scheme if we felt that could not be achieved."
'No corruption''No corruption'
The original application was turned down because it did not meet with planning guidelines.The original application was turned down because it did not meet with planning guidelines.
This was subsequently amended and won approval, despite an objection from a senior planning official.This was subsequently amended and won approval, despite an objection from a senior planning official.
The Irish News has already reported that the planner added a note saying he remained opposed to the application because in his view it went against stated policy on protecting greenbelt land.The Irish News has already reported that the planner added a note saying he remained opposed to the application because in his view it went against stated policy on protecting greenbelt land.
Last week, the Stormont Environment Committee agreed to seek further clarification from the Department of Environment about the case after some MLAs aired concerns.Last week, the Stormont Environment Committee agreed to seek further clarification from the Department of Environment about the case after some MLAs aired concerns.
SDLP MLA John Dallat called for an investigation into the approval of the application, and told the committee there were clear indications that planning officials had been "stepped on".SDLP MLA John Dallat called for an investigation into the approval of the application, and told the committee there were clear indications that planning officials had been "stepped on".
But the DUP's Peter Weir said there was no evidence of corruption and suggested Mr Dallat should be careful in his language.But the DUP's Peter Weir said there was no evidence of corruption and suggested Mr Dallat should be careful in his language.
The planned development at Knock Golf Club has been the subject of controversy in the area and is opposed by the Dundonald Greenbelt Association.The planned development at Knock Golf Club has been the subject of controversy in the area and is opposed by the Dundonald Greenbelt Association.
However, as far back as 2007, it was supported by the First Minister, Peter Robinson, who wrote to the then Minister for the Environment, Arlene Foster, asking if she could investigate the matter.However, as far back as 2007, it was supported by the First Minister, Peter Robinson, who wrote to the then Minister for the Environment, Arlene Foster, asking if she could investigate the matter.