PLANS for an urban village based around an evangelical church in Co Antrim were approved by councillors yesterday.
Green Pastures church plans to build the village, including a church, social housing, shops and community facilities, at Ballee outside Ballymena.
Planners recommended the project for approval on Tuesday.
And the planning committee of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council voted yesterday to pass the application by a narrow margin of five votes to four.
Officials from the Department of Environment recommended last year that some parts of the original scheme should be turned down, including a food superstore, petrol station and entertainment centre, saying it would "have an adverse impact on the vitality and viability of Ballymena town centre".
Planners this week accepted a revised application which included a smaller supermarket.
In a statement, the Green Pastures project board welcomed the passing of the application.
"We are delighted that this project has been given the support it has as we believe it will not only impact at a large scale level but through the community support programmes, housing, education and training programmes, residential care facilities and the centrality of the church, the Gateway project will reach people and make an impact at an individual level too," it said.
"All of this is a not-for-profit project with the primary purpose of helping people."
