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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Casement Park: Judge quashes GAA stadium approval decision | Casement Park: Judge quashes GAA stadium approval decision |
| (5 months later) | |
| A High Court judge has quashed a ministerial decision to grant planning approval for the redevelopment of Casement Park stadium in west Belfast. | A High Court judge has quashed a ministerial decision to grant planning approval for the redevelopment of Casement Park stadium in west Belfast. |
| The Gaelic Athletic Association applied to build a new 38,000-seat stadium on the site and the plan was approved by Environment Minister Mark H Durkan. | The Gaelic Athletic Association applied to build a new 38,000-seat stadium on the site and the plan was approved by Environment Minister Mark H Durkan. |
| Local residents objected and went to court, asking for a judicial review. | Local residents objected and went to court, asking for a judicial review. |
| The judge, who has already ruled Mr Durkan acted unlawfully in approving the plan, has now quashed the decision. | The judge, who has already ruled Mr Durkan acted unlawfully in approving the plan, has now quashed the decision. |
| 'Errors' | 'Errors' |
| A GAA spokesman said the organisation was disappointed with the ruling but added that it will submit a new planning application next year. | A GAA spokesman said the organisation was disappointed with the ruling but added that it will submit a new planning application next year. |
| Mr Durkan said: "The judge found that in reaching my decision on this planning application there were errors in how aspects were processed thus rendering the decision unlawful. | Mr Durkan said: "The judge found that in reaching my decision on this planning application there were errors in how aspects were processed thus rendering the decision unlawful. |
| "This is disappointing. I will now carefully consider the full judgement and the outcome of today's decision." | "This is disappointing. I will now carefully consider the full judgement and the outcome of today's decision." |
| Northern Ireland Sports Minister Carál Nί Chuilίn said she was also disappointed with the ruling but remained "fully committed to ensuring that this project becomes a reality". | |
| 'Too big' | 'Too big' |
| The legal challenge was brought by the Mooreland and Owenvarragh Residents Association (MORA). | The legal challenge was brought by the Mooreland and Owenvarragh Residents Association (MORA). |
| They had objected to the size of the redevelopment. | They had objected to the size of the redevelopment. |
| They claimed the proposed stadium would be too big for the area, blocking out light in their homes and gardens, and compounding traffic congestion in west Belfast. | They claimed the proposed stadium would be too big for the area, blocking out light in their homes and gardens, and compounding traffic congestion in west Belfast. |
| After the judge quashed planning approval on Thursday, the GAA released a statement through Tom Daly, chairman of the Casement Park Project Board. | After the judge quashed planning approval on Thursday, the GAA released a statement through Tom Daly, chairman of the Casement Park Project Board. |
| "Whilst we are disappointed with today's judgment we are fully committed to transforming Casement Park and building a provincial stadium for Ulster which will provide a longstanding legacy for Gaelic Games as well as significant social and economic benefits. | "Whilst we are disappointed with today's judgment we are fully committed to transforming Casement Park and building a provincial stadium for Ulster which will provide a longstanding legacy for Gaelic Games as well as significant social and economic benefits. |
| "We welcome that the judgment found the siting, size and scale of the Casement Park development were not contrary to planning policy." | "We welcome that the judgment found the siting, size and scale of the Casement Park development were not contrary to planning policy." |
| 'No accommodation' | 'No accommodation' |
| Mr Daly said there was a "strong resolve within the GAA to submit a new planning application in 2015, which will again follow the due process and scrutiny of the Department of the Environment". | Mr Daly said there was a "strong resolve within the GAA to submit a new planning application in 2015, which will again follow the due process and scrutiny of the Department of the Environment". |
| The sports minister said: "I am aware that the GAA offered a number of solutions which sought to address the issues raised in the judgment and I am disappointed that no accommodation was reached. | The sports minister said: "I am aware that the GAA offered a number of solutions which sought to address the issues raised in the judgment and I am disappointed that no accommodation was reached. |
| Ms Nί Chuilίn added: "The GAA have indicated that they will lodge a fresh planning application which will take account of the points raised in the judgment and I and my department will fully support them during the new planning process." | |
| At a hearing on Monday, the judge ruled the environment minister had acted unlawfully in approving the plan and gave both parties more time to come up with new submissions. | At a hearing on Monday, the judge ruled the environment minister had acted unlawfully in approving the plan and gave both parties more time to come up with new submissions. |
| Mr Justice Horner found the decision-making process had been fundamentally flawed. | Mr Justice Horner found the decision-making process had been fundamentally flawed. |
| 'Police concerns' | 'Police concerns' |
| He identified failures in the environmental impact assessment of the plan and also found that the effect of bigger crowds on the surrounding roads network had not been properly examined. | He identified failures in the environmental impact assessment of the plan and also found that the effect of bigger crowds on the surrounding roads network had not been properly examined. |
| The judge also pointed to the minister never being told of police concerns about safety issues around having 38,000 people attending an event. | The judge also pointed to the minister never being told of police concerns about safety issues around having 38,000 people attending an event. |
| The proposed GAA sports facility was to be built with the help of £61.4m of public funding, provided by the Northern Ireland Executive. | The proposed GAA sports facility was to be built with the help of £61.4m of public funding, provided by the Northern Ireland Executive. |
| To date, £5m of public money has already been spent on the Casement Park redevelopment. | To date, £5m of public money has already been spent on the Casement Park redevelopment. |