A new street in Newtownards in County Down has been left without a name after an objection from a neighbouring developer.
A recommendation from officials at Ards and North Down Borough Council to name a small eight dwelling development off Movilla Road 'Milford Mews' was blocked by councillors after a DUP proposal.
The development is currently under construction, and the council’s Building Control department suggested the name Milford Mews due to the close proximity to an existing development known as Milford Manor.
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However during the January meeting of the council’s Environment Committee, elected representatives rejected the suggestion after DUP Alderman Naomi Armstrong-Cotter said she had been contacted by the neighbouring developer responsible for Milford Manor, who objected to the new development being named Milford Mews.
A council report on the matter states: “Both the developer and their architect were invited via email to suggest a street name when Building Control received the works application in April 2024, again in June 2024 and finally in November 2024.
“The Building Control department has not received a suggestion to date, even after the developer acknowledged receiving the emails. The development has continued to progress on site and most of the eight dwellings are nearing completion.
“Therefore, as per the street naming policy, the Building Control department has now suggested a name to ensure that house purchases can be completed and to allow rates to be collected.”
At the Environment Committee meeting, Alderman Armstrong-Cotter said: “I have been in contact with the developer of Milford Manor. He is not the developer of the new properties at 118 Movilla Road, and he would not be content that (the suggested) name be used due to the very different style of the buildings.
“In his words he says 'due to the very different way they have been erected'. He would have objected to it through the proper channels had he been aware that was a possibility.
“I am asking we return to the developer at 118 and ask them what they would like to propose, and take on the fact that the developer of the existing Milford Manor does have a strong objection.”
A council officer told the chamber: “This is not a normal situation. Developers would usually feel a lot of ownership for their development. It would not be the normal case that people wouldn’t provide (a street name).
“I’m not saying they refused to provide it, they just didn’t provide a name. They are not under a legal responsibility, the council are under a legal responsibility to allocate a street name.
“The normal approach this council has used for many years has been that the developer has been asked to provide an option, and the council decides upon that.”
UUP Councillor Linzi McLaren said: “I can completely understand why the developer of Milford Manor, the original developer, wouldn’t want the new development to have a name that is linked to his, given pride and ownership over his own work, and couldn’t necessarily stand over the work of another developer. People would assume it is the same builder for both.”
English (United States) ·