Approval has been granted for the development of 19 new “starter” homes in Portadown despite one councillor’s vehement suggestion that members should be thinking ahead to protect residents against climate change-induced flooding.
Members of the ABC planning committee considered proposals to build the new housing development on lands at 172 Tandragee Road.
The application had been submitted by J H Turkington & Sons back in December 2020 and sought permission to erect three detached and 16 semi-detached dwellings with associated site works.
Providing an overview to members, Roisin Hamill Principal Planning Officer for ABC Council explained the application was before committee as it had received over five objections from four different postal addresses.
The site is within development area on white land and adheres to council policy for residential development.
There are a number of protected trees on the site which Ms Hamill explained would have to be removed.
“A significant number of the trees – ten in total – have previously been removed from the site, eight of those were under TPO [Tree Preservation Order].
“This represents a loss of almost half the trees on the site. The current proposal involves the removal of four more of those trees due to their health and condition and three to facilitate the development, albeit, their condition isn’t great.
“An amended landscape plan was submitted in September 2025 showing the planting of 31 new trees as well as planting of shrubs and hedging.”
Speaking in support of the application and on behalf of the applicant, Jimmy McAdam from McAdam Stewart Architects added: “I have been working on this scheme with the planning service for over five years now.
“This has been a long, drawn out process due to the amount of consultations and studies that have had to be carried out on behalf of the applicant. This has put the applicant to great expense but it has resulted in hopefully a positive outcome this evening.”
Mr McAdam explained that all studies and consultations had had a “positive outcome” and that they were “one of the very few housing schemes” that were able to overcome ongoing issues with NI Water sewerage capacity.
Of the additional benefits to approval, he continued: “If approved will provide 19 starter homes for which we know there is a great demand in the borough. It’s also going to provide the borough with quite a large construction investment and create further employment.”
Chair of the meeting, Cllr Kevin Savage raised concerns about flooding at the location but stated that, as it is outside the 100 year flood plain asked if Mr McAdam was very certain that there would be no issues with flooding if approved?
Mr McAdam said he was indeed positive of that and that all consultees engaged in that aspect had also been satisfied.
Cllr Peter Lavery, however, was not so satisfied.
“I remember the floods there in 2023 and this area was impacted greatly,” he said. “I remember visiting this site and I actually visited twice where Olde Golf Links is which is just south of this application site the road was sort of completely flooded and I think Annagh United Football Club were really badly impacted.
“I think I remember seeing this field partially flooded albeit at the southern end of it maybe outside the red [development] line.”
The Cllr explained he had subsequently checked the fluvial flood plain maps and noticed that when the parameters were extended to include climate change it covered about half of the proposed development site and, therefore, asked if officers had taken into account climate change which may result in increased flooding?
He also made a point of stating that when the Olde Golf Links homes were built they were outside the flood plain but said they are “definitely in it now” and it has left residents with concerns around selling their homes and getting insurance.
Ms Hammill explained that they had no option but to work to policy and the parameters within that policy which outlines that the current fluvial flood plains are the only means of assessing suitability for development.
Mr McAdam agreed with Ms Hamill, adding that all information available and has “gone through various departments and consultees” including DfI Rivers and that they had received “all positive feedback” with predictions, including climate change consideration, determining that it “will not flood”.
“In my own mind I would be very cautious on it,” said Cllr Lavery. “I would like to get further confirmation from DfI Rivers to protect residents in 20 years time of being flooded out and would like to defer the application for further information.”
Cllr Scott Armstrong asserted that from his point of view members have to “judge the application based on evidence in front of us and not what might happen”.
Cllr Kyle Moutray added: “I’m cognizant that this is a very thorough report… It seems pretty clear to me that officers are satisfied as well that this application will not raise any detrimental impact on drainage and there will be no real obvious flood risks proposed here.”
Cllr Gordon Kennedy made the proposal to accept the officers’ recommendations to approve and this was seconded by Cllr Moutray.
Making his own proposal after the fact, Cllr Lavery requested to defer for that additional information to assess the impact of climate change on fluvial flood plains.
His proposal did not receive a seconder and as such, the Chair explained they would have to move to a vote on Cllr Kennedy’s proposal first and if his proposal should pass Cllr Lavery’s proposal would fall.
The vote returned 11 in support of accepting the officers’ recommendations and one vote against.
The development was given the rubber stamp of approval and the applicant will be notified of the result.
