Further Wildlife Surveys Required For Portstewart Hotel Development

Environmental officials have said further wildlife surveys will be required before construction can begin on a hotel and spa development in Portstewart.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has issued its response to a planning consultation linked to the North West Hotel and Spa Complex, planned for land south of Ballyreagh Road.

In a letter dated 11 December, officials confirmed that one of the planning conditions related to wildlife protection can only be partially discharged.

The condition requires a pre-construction badger survey to assess any changes in badger activity within the site and a surrounding area. While a recent camera survey recorded no badgers at a potential sett, officials said additional surveys will be needed before the main construction of the hotel and associated infrastructure can proceed.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s Natural Environment Division said it was satisfied that the current enabling works, which include road realignment and access widening some distance from the identified sett, can proceed at this stage.

A separate condition relating to archaeological work was not considered relevant to the environmental assessment.