Residents in the Galliagh area of Derry are seeking a judicial review of planning permission granted to a new housing development being built next to their homes.
People living in the Temple Park area are looking to take legal action against Apex Housing Association over the new homes (pictured) currently under construction on a site at the Skeoge Road in Galliagh.
They claim Apex have significantly changed the plans for the 197 new social homes since they first seen the plans in December 2014, in regards to the height of the houses which back directly onto their property.
A planning application was first lodged for the new homes on August 15, 2007.
The application was initially made by Dingles Ltd, but Apex then acquired the site and became the applicant on May 21, 2014.
The application was presented to the Planning Committee of the former Derry City Council on the February 3, 2015 with a recommendation to approve, which was backed by the council.
No letters of objection were received in opposition to the application.
However, some householders have said that they were initially told that the houses being built at the rear of their homes would not back onto the properties, as they were being constructed in such a way that only the gable walls of the new homes would be facing into their backyards.
There is anger among residents who now say that it will be apartments, not houses, which will be constructed at the rear of the homes, which will face directly into the rear of their homes.
One resident, Elaine MacFarland said they had become so frustrated with Apex ignoring their concerns that they were now considering pooling their resources and seeking a judicial review of the planning approval.
“There’s a huge difference between what was first presented to us and what’s being built there now,” she said, “which is why there was no opposition to it.”
“Now we’re going to have apartments looking directly into out back yards, and we don’t even know what height they’re going to be built to.
“But judging from the mound of earth they’re building on, it’s going to be far higher than what was originally shown, and it’s not going to be the gables facing onto us.”
She added: “Apex have yet to come back to us since this was raised again at the start of April, and they’re ignoring us where it’s got to the stage where they won’t even take our phone calls.
“So the only choice we’re left with now is legal action, and to seek a judicial review of the planning approval.”
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