Plans Submitted For Tourist Accommodation Units In Portstewart

A planning application has been submitted for the development of three self-catering tourism accommodation units on land along Strand Road in Portstewart.

The proposal relates to a site located between numbers 116 and 108–110 Strand Road, close to Portstewart Strand and the Dominican Walk coastal path.  

 According to the supporting planning statement, the development would consist of three one-bedroom units, each designed to accommodate two people. The units would include kitchen, living, and bathroom facilities and would be accessed via an existing public pathway running through the site.

The site is described as a small, undeveloped area of approximately 0.1 hectares, situated within the Binevenagh Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and adjacent to the settlement boundary of Portstewart.

The proposed buildings are designed as semi-subterranean structures, built into the existing slope and finished with materials including locally sourced basalt and grass roofs. The planning statement says this approach is intended to minimise visual impact and allow the development to blend into the surrounding landscape.  

No on-site car parking is proposed; visitors are expected to use existing on-street parking along Strand Road. 

The application highlights the site’s proximity to a number of established tourist attractions, including Portstewart Strand, the Dominican Walk, and the Portstewart Golf Course, as well as nearby hospitality businesses.

Supporting documents state that the development is intended to provide short-stay accommodation, aligning with typical visitor patterns in the Causeway Coast area.

A range of assessments have been submitted alongside the application, including reports on archaeology, heritage, biodiversity, drainage, and environmental management.