Andrew Balfour, Local Democracy Reporter
Plans to revert a Ballymoney guest house to a family home have been submitted to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
The recently-submitted planning application seeks a change of use to the long-established property of Harmony Hill guest house and restaurant, at 60-64 Balnamore Road, reverting to a private domestic dwelling.
Harmony Hill Guest House is an existing Georgian two-storey building located on the edge of Balnamore village and while the building is not listed, the village itself developed around Harmony Hill, formerly Millicent House, and the adjacent mill complex during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and retains a strong association with the industrial heritage site.
An accompanying Planning Statement said the application was “wholly administrative”, as there are no plans for extensions, alterations, demolition works, engineering operations, or any other changes to the existing building, while established vehicle access from the Balnamore Road and Millicent Avenue are also to be retained.
“The building will remain unchanged in its existing appearance, fenestration, scale, footprint and relationship with neighbouring properties and heritage assets,” the Statement added.
“There are also no works or changes proposed to alter, remove or disturb the existing mature woodland and mature vegetation including existing boundary treatments.
“As such the disturbance to ecology is considered to be none.
“The proposal represents a sustainable re-use of an existing building within the settlement boundary and will secure the continued occupation and maintenance of the property as a family home while preserving the character of the site and its surroundings.
“The existing guest house use is no longer required by the applicant, who seeks to return the property to its original and historic function as a single private dwelling to provide accommodation as a family dwelling.
“The proposal represents a clear deintensification of the lawful use of the site, reducing visitor numbers, traffic movements, operational activity, noise and lighting associated with guest accommodation.
“The property was originally constructed and occupied as a dwelling historically, and the proposed change of use simply restores this established residential function within the settlement.
“Importantly, the existing building is of sufficient size and capacity to accommodate the family’s needs without alteration, extension or any associated building works.”
