We’re kicking off with planning committee right now. Fingers crossed

Updating on pre determination meeting clarifications sought

Ryan Murphy asks Choice about concerns with moving residents of housing to Academy Street

Niall Sheridan wants a scheme that will work for the residents. Choice consults with tenants. He says this is early stages.

Ed Baker says that they are open to continue discussion about provision of new residence for residents.
This does not really seem to be clarified here as a response to the Councillors concerns

Arder Carson asks whether Castlebrooke are considering locating social housing inside the red line development. After 3.5 years has this been explored?

Niall Sheridan says that this has been discussed but there is no final answer to this. Residents will be moving to self contained housing, considered better accommodation.

Really better to move far from where they live now?

Paul McErlean Managing director MCE, trying to get development in this area since 1989. He says the development will provide 20% social and affordable housing.

That is not specified in the proposal.

Academy Street suitable location for residents of the Choice block. NIHE raised concerns about lack of social housing on site. If agreement cannot be found with NIHE, 20% social housing will be provided within the red line.

Destination CQ BID, Les Hume speaks about developments of this scale are welcome in other cities. He names provision of more housing, more public space as positives.

Craig O'Brien Savills states that the information provided by SaveCQ is incorrect in terms of public space and overshadowing

Chair of meeting notes that they have gone significantly over the 5 minutes

Matt Garrett, concerns with housing. Has conversation about providing social housing within red line ever been conducted? he is confused. Significant residential within red line. Why is there never been any discussion about relocation of Choice housing within residential area

Craig O'Brien says that because of time constraints and proximity Academy Street was the better location for the Choice housing

Paul McErlean says that Castlebrooke have paid 3 million to buy the land on Academy Street and that the standard of accommodation would be better than the current one.

This is protected within section 76 and it is binding once the permission gets granted.

Malachy O'Hara points out problems with hotel use of historic buildings, open public space, heritage, housing.
As a member of planning committee he has an issue with overshadowing, encroachment of open space and housing.

Paul McE reminds that this is an outline proposal and details will be given in each stage of the development.

Paul McE discusses how old and tired North Street is. More than 18 million pounds will be invested in public realm.

Now the reason why it is derelict is actually because developers have been sitting on the site for decades letting the buildings rot.

Eric Hanvey asks abut overmassing around and behind heritage buildings.

Paul points out that Dawson Stelfox has had a role in this and that the new iteration protects more buildings,

He does not point out that all the non listed buildings are only kept as a facade, and North Street Arcade interior is completely demolished

Craig O'Brien says that retained historic fabric reinstates arcade, which is better than extant scheme.

The extant scheme (2012) would never be built now!

Eric Hanvey admits new scheme is better than previous but still problems with current proposal.

Gary McKewon asks Les Hume how he has consulted with the members of the BID to say that all the members support this proposal.

Les Hume says the business and professional community wants this. It is clear. He talks about anecdotes of violence and alcohol.

What is clear is that this is his opinion, and does not reflect the opinions of all the members of the BID

Gary pointed out that everybody wants development of the area just not necessarily this type.

Arder Carson points out issues that have a problem still and also in terms of viability considering covid and potential impact this may have in the development.

Paul McErlean answers that the location of the New Shack will be Academy Street. The tenants will be in their new building. That after 4 years there is a location for the new housing to replace Choice building

He points out that specific design is not part of this proposal, that will come later. He says things are very clear.

We don't agree

Arder Carson asks Craig O'Brien to address Covid question. Open space and pedestrianised spaces will connect up spaces and there is no doubt that this aligns with social distancing. New space in offices will be built with circulation routes and access to align with soc. distance

Conor Maskey apologises for making things difficult to Paul McErlean, and questions the name of the scheme, which frustrates councilors along with many other concerns

Paul McErlean points out that the social housing issues might have been misunderstood. He says the problem is the size and complexity of the scheme.

We have been pointing this out for a long time.

Paul McE points out he was not arrogant. He says that the developer has transformed the application and all that has come at a cost. The process has been difficult and challenging.