An Bord Pleanála gives go ahead for 122 new homes in Ardee
One of the conditions of the decision was appealed by An Taisce
An Bord Pleanála has given the go ahead for a Large-scale Residential Development in Ardee to proceed, that will see the construction of 122 new homes and a creche.
May Ard Developments Limited was granted planning permission by Louth County Council in September for the LRD, on lands at Dawsons Demesne, Ardee, which include site excavation works to facilitate the proposed development. The planned works will see the infilling, raising and reprofiling of ground levels within the site as required with inert materials.
The planned housing development comprises 48 homes consisting of two, two-bed units; 44 three-bed units; and two four-bed units. The dwellings range in height from single storey to three storey.
It also comprises 74 apartments/duplex units consisting of 17 one-bed units; 32 two-bed units; and 25 three-bed units. The apartment blocks range in height from two storey to three storey in height.
The planning application also provides for associated car parking at surface level via a combination of in-curtilage parking for dwellings and via on-street parking for the creche, duplexes and apartment units, and also the provision of electric vehicle charge points with associated site infrastructure ducting to provide charge points for residents throughout the site.
It also provides for the creation of a new access point from Castleguard Road with associated works to include for a cycleway and footpath to the southern and eastern site boundaries.
Louth County Council granted planning permission for the development on 8 September, subject to 21 conditions. An Taisce appealed one of the conditions of the decision, seeking that it should be strengthened.
The condition was in relation to the archaeological impact assessment report, seeking that it should "also clearly define a buffer area of 20m to be implemented around the extent of Recorded Monuments LH017- 012001-Class: Castle – motte and bailey. No ground works shall be carried out within the buffer area, including boundary works, landscaping or ground reduction.
"The buffer area shall be fenced off and protected during construction and shall not be used for storage or vehicular access which will preserve the setting and visual amenity of the site."
In its decision to allow the development to go ahead without amending the wording of the condition, An Bord Pleanála said that:
"Having regard to the totality of the obligations set out in Condition No 6 overall, including the requirement to carry out a detailed archaeological impact assessment, including consultation with the Department and written agreement of the Planning Authority, and incorporating further archaeological test trenching as recommended in accordance with Condition No 6 (a), it is considered that the wording of Condition 6 (b) as set out by the planning authority in its decision to grant permission, is clear, usable and relevant to the exercise of impact assessment, all to ensure the definition of a buffer area of 20 metres around the extent of the recorded monument LH017-012001."
It added that the Board believed that "the substance of the issues raised by the appeal by all parties, was satisfactorily provided for in the original wording of the full Condition No 6."