There are objections to a proposed apartment development in a prestigious part of Co Down.

Property developer Seymour Sweeney has came under-fire from Cultra residents over his plans for apartments in the village's picturesque Seafront Road area.

The scheme, devised by Seafront Properties, is said to be "at the planning stage".

But locals have already blasted the development as being "out of character for the area and its surroundings".

The last owner of the site was previously refused a planning application to develop the area a number of years ago.

Mr Sweeney has since revised the original plans and submitted his fresh proposals, addressing previous Planning Service concerns, he said.

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Despite this, North Down Borough Council has requested Seafront's development plans are sent to the Senior Management Board at the Planning Service's Belfast offices for re-evaluation, which could lengthen the planning process by around three months.

The Planning Service has now confirmed it received the proposals from Seafront and said that the proposals for the five apartments are now with the Management Board.

Roger Corry, Chair of the Cultra Residents' Association, has stressed the development would "not be in keeping with the area".

North Down Councillor Gordon Dunne has also backed the Cultra residents' opposition to the plans.

"We have been consistent in our support for the residents and are fighting this development on planning grounds," said Councillor Dunne.

The Council issued a statement which said the matter had been referred to the Management Board, following the concerns raised by councillors over the character of the development.

However, speaking to the local press, Mr Sweeney described the scheme as "exciting", and "in keeping with the area".

He said: "The new proposals are substantially different to the original plans which were submitted by the previous owner of the site.

"We have reduced the mass, scale and height as well as the number of apartments from nine to five."

Mr Sweeney said he had "no idea" why locals voiced objections to the development.

(PR)