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A proposed planning refusal of the £7.4m Newry, Mourne and Down District Council's Warrenpoint Community Hub project has been unanimously overturned by the council's planning committee.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council planning officers had recommended refusal of the Warrenpoint designs amid concerns over limited car parking spaces.
Furthermore, despite plans for 12 activity rooms and a main hall, a councillor said the council’s “snap shot” report suggested “you could fit more people into a shed”.
Crotlieve councillor Jarlath Tinnelly said: “I want the council to explain this in terms so that the public can understand as there are figures I just can’t get my head round.
“The report says that there would be 22 visitors at the community hub and up to five staff at any given time. With up to a 11 or 12 activity rooms for dancing, yoga and sports etc, there is a response on social media saying you could get more people into a shed.
“In my mind there would be dozens and dozens of people using this facility at any time. How can these numbers add up?”
A council officer responded: “I would make it clear that there would be no restrictions on attendance.
“There would be a booking system used. These figures are just a snap shot of how the hub could be used in any given hour.”
A report before the chamber shows 34 car and 16 bicycle parking spaces.
The new health and wellbeing community hub will be used for sport and community activities including a hall for clubs, classes and children’s parties as well as a community garden.
The plans had received over 260 letters of support.
The provision of a town community hub has been mooted for some time with the former police station on Charlotte Street once considered but scrapped in 2018 after the PSNI pulled out over citing “uncertainty around Brexit”.
A new site at at Clonallon Park was then identified by the local authority.
Committee chairperson Mickey Larkin made a proposal to overturn the recommended refusal.
He said: “This is an incredible development for Warrenpoint and will bring substantial community benefits at a small loss of the park lands.
“It will enhance Clonallon Park and I don’t think it will prejudice the development to the wider area or be detrimental to the park area.
“It will allow the community to engage in health activities, and I am happy that the parking spaces are sufficient.”
Crotlieve councillor Declan McAteer added: “This is a very important decision to be taking and I don’t think we should lose sight that councillors made the decision to take this site for the hub.
“The loss of some space in the park is vastly outweighed. I do think the car parking issue has been exaggerated.
“The main thing is it is of community benefit which totally outweighs everything else.”
An officer told the chamber that the Department for Infrastructure could exercise a right to call in the approval for a review.
