‘Jordanstown housing scheme must be redesigned’

That is the view of local Alliance Party representatives Stewart Dickson and Tom Campbell, who have urged Antrim and Newtownabbey Council’s Planning Committee to make “the right decision” when the application comes before them for consideration, possibly next month.

The university is hoping to build 600 new homes at the site of its Jordanstown campus following its move to a new £250million campus in Belfast, due to take place in the next few years.

Last week Mr Dickson, an East Antrim MLA, and Alderman Campbell, a councillor for the Threemilewater DEA, met with a senior planning official to discuss the UU proposal.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Dickson said: “I thought it was vital that we impressed upon the planning officers the massive impact that such an inappropriate development would make upon the people of Jordanstown. The area would be overwhelmed with demand for services and infrastructure, and no plan has even been conceived to address this.

“I am hopeful that the planners will consider such perspectives extremely seriously as they affect the lives of so many of my constituents in a profound manner.”

He added: “Ultimately, we were advised that a recommendation to the council will be made sometime in mid-August, with the council due to make its final decision thereafter. We hope that the right decision will be made, and that this scheme will be radically redesigned.”

The university said that it is awaiting the decision of the council’s Planning Committee and has no further comment to make on the issue at this stage. However, a previous statement stressed that the university is “seeking to ensure the future development of the Jordanstown campus enhances the local neighbourhood.”