A Development We Can’t Ignore: Bob Stewart’s Pub Expansion

On our project to keep a watchful eye on local developments, we recently came across a significant planning application that caught our attention—LA05/2024/0524/F which turns out to be for the expansion of Bob Stewart’s Pub at 149 Ballyskeagh Road, Drumbeg. This proposal isn’t just a minor upgrade; it’s a substantial expansion that raises many of the same concerns we’ve had with the Quarterlands Road development. We were particularly shocked to learn that despite the scale of this project, only four neighbour notification letters were sent out by the LCCC Planning Department.

Here’s why this development should concern all of us:

1) Massive Expansion, Massive Impact:

The proposed extension would more than double the current size of the pub and restaurant. With an increase in customer capacity, outdoor seating and more WCs, the volume of foul sewage generated will also double. Given that the Drumbeg Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTw) is already at capacity, as discussed elsewhere on this site, this expansion could push the system further beyond its limits, leading to potential sewage issues around surrounding homes and the biodiversity of the River Lagan.

2) Strain on Drumbeg WwTw:

NI Water has been clear since 2019—Drumbeg WwTw cannot handle any more connections. The proposed increase in Population Equivalents (PE) from this expansion could exacerbate existing sewage problems. Without a clear plan to manage this increased load, approving this development seems reckless.

3) Flooding Risks:

The site is adjacent to a floodplain, and with combined storm and foul water pipes in the area, the risk of flooding is high. At the time of writing the application provides scant information on how stormwater and drainage will be managed, which is alarming given the potential for floods to spread sewage into homes and public spaces.

4) Traffic and Safety Concerns:

The expansion includes reducing parking spaces while increasing customer capacity. The narrow access road, lack of footpaths, and a dangerous bend nearby already pose risks to road users. Increased traffic from the expanded facilities, including a new hatch service, will only make matters worse.

5) Noise, Odor, and Wildlife Impact:

With more patrons, outdoor dining, and a larger kitchen, noise and odors are bound to increase, negatively affecting the surrounding community. We’re also concerned about the impact on local wildlife, as the area is part of the Lagan Valley Regional Park, home to protected species.

6) Vermin and Environmental Concerns:

The expansion could attract more vermin, especially with the increase in outdoor dining and food storage. This is particularly troubling in an area that should be actively protected for its natural beauty and biodiversity.

7) Lack of Strategic Planning:

This application is just one of several developments in Drumbeg, including a boutique hotel and residential projects. Yet, they’re being treated as standalone cases rather than part of a broader, strategic assessment of their combined impact on the environment the local community and the Lagan Valley Regional Park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Let’s stay vigilant and ensure that developments like this don’t go unchecked. For more information, read around on the site particularly our documents page and join us in making our voices heard by writing your own objection and signing the petition.

Yours sincerely,
Quarterlands Group

We added three links to the poster click below to access the development proposal, the petition and finally to submit your own objection to the LCCC Planning Department.

	click to see the development proposal and plans
	click to sign the petition to protect the park
	click to lodge your own objection