Mid Ulster District Council’s head of planning was full of praise for an application to bring a mixed use development to Bush.
The outline application, to bring a mixed used development that will include a community centre, multi-use games area, fuel station, shop, small business units and a residential development to lands at the rear of 144 Bush Road came before Council’s planning committee at its meeting held on Tuesday, August 3.
Lodged by agent T4 Architects on behalf of Silverford Properties Ltd the planning report, compiled by a council planning officer notes the majority of the remaining land used within the settlement is residential and agricultural and explains there “is no evidence of shopping provision currently within the settlement”.
It is also noted that no representations have been received in relation to the application and consultations with the relevant statutory authorities have raised no concerns.
A design and access statement submitted alongside the application notes the site is a 3.35 hectare combination of a brown field site that used to be home to a poultry house and agricultural land.
The statement also notes the sites boundaries are well defined by existing residential dwellings to the west, the Dungannon road to the south, Bush Primary School to the north and a farm house and associated buildings to the east.
It also claims there is the option to create a link between the primary school and the multi-use games area which could bring “a major benefit to the local education facilities”.
Commenting on the application, Council’s head of planning Dr Chris Boomer commended the developer for the application.
“This is a site which did have an approval for lots and lots of photovoltaic panels on ground mounted framework and I think what is being put forward deserves praise,” he said.
“There is not a whole pile in Bush at present and to actually see a shop where there was not a shop, to see some sort of community facility and games area and some employment units, this is something we as a Council have been trying to do for ages – breed life into places.
“I think the developer who has brought forward this proposal deserves to be commended.”
A proposal to accept the recommendation to approve the outline planning permission was put forward by Councillor Clement Cuthbertson and seconded by Councillor Wesley Brown.
