Templepatrick home salon allowed to stay in garden with restrictions

The planning application was approved with conditions for part-time opening at a meeting on Monday. The committee heard the beauty salon is operating from a modular building in the garden of a property at Temple Hall in Templepatrick.

Councillors were told policy demands a “town centre first approach” for retail which includes beauty salons. It was noted no objections have been received by planners in respect of the unit.

However, refusal was recommended as the “the principle of development is not considered acceptable” and it has “not been demonstrated that an alternative site does not exist within a town centre area”.

Addressing the meeting, Antrim Ulster Unionist Councillor Jim Montgomery said: “In relation to this application, there is no opposition. Nobody is being caused any problems by this. There is a need for this type of business and where it is located.”

Cllr Montgomery went on to say attempts were made by the owner to locate this business in a business area at Twelfth Milestone.

“In order to do so, the applicant would have had to pay the going rate for seven-day usage of the premises yet the applicant is only able to provide the service two-and-a-half days a week. It is not economically viable to put this business anywhere else.”