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Plans to develop a £13.5 million apartment complex near Carrickfergus Castle, a well-known landmark in County Antrim, have met with strong resistance from the local community. The Mid and East Antrim Borough Council gave the green light to the project last month, which involves redeveloping the waterfront site formerly occupied by the Swift complex. Despite the council’s approval, opposition remains significant, with nearly 1,000 objections submitted over concerns regarding the conservation area and doubts about the demand for additional apartments in the vicinity.
The application, submitted by an agent acting for Massereene Developments Ltd from Belfast, seeks permission to construct 33 apartments in buildings of up to three and a half storeys, coupled with the demolition of the existing structure on the eastern side of Rodger’s Quay. Objectors have voiced fears not only about the scale and height of the development but also about potential traffic congestion. Many believe the site would be more appropriately developed as a community, tourism, or leisure facility. Previous proposals for apartments on this site had been rejected by the planning committee in the past.
Local residents and business owners have expressed mixed views. Rhiannon Crawford, who runs a coffee cart near the castle, acknowledged the appeal of the location but questioned the need for more apartments in an area already dense with residential buildings. She suggested that the space could instead serve as a visitor centre for tourists, especially given that the castle itself is closed on Mondays, potentially providing an alternative attraction during those times. “There are a lot of apartments about and we think that it could have gone to a better use,” she commented. Conversely, Michael McNally described the current Swift building as “a bit of an eyesore” and supported the redevelopment. He remarked, “Unless somebody comes up with a better idea, at the minute anything’s better than that.”
Elected representatives have also weighed in on the controversy. Stewart Dickson, an Alliance assembly member for East Antrim, expressed disappointment over the decision, highlighting the site’s importance as a harbourfront location overlooked by the castle. While he acknowledged planning regulations limited options, he stated he was “not really convinced” that apartments were the best use for this valuable site, which could have provided more benefits to the community and visitors. John Stewart, an Ulster Unionist Party assembly member, labelled the development “not appropriate for apartments” given the historic nature of the location. He lamented the “loss” of the opportunity to create a meaningful community or tourist facility and questioned whether local voices were truly considered in the planning process.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, when contacted, reiterated that the planning approval followed a “detailed planning application process” and was finalized by the committee last month. A planning officer had earlier noted that, alongside the numerous objections, 19 letters of support were received, and the project was not expected to negatively affect the character or appearance of the surrounding area. Nevertheless, the debate underscores ongoing tensions between development ambitions and community preservation in this historic part of Carrickfergus
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