An Bord Pleanála grants planning for Knockbridge housing

An Bord Pleanála (ABP) has overturned the decision by Louth County Council to refuse planning permission for a new 54 unit housing development in Knockbridge, Dundalk.

Louth County Council refused a planning application by Cuchulainn Developments for a proposed development, that would have seen seven detached four-bed houses, 24 semi-detached three-bed houses, 17 terraced three-bed houses, four terraced two-bed houses and two detached four/five-bed houses built at Ballinlough in Knockbridge. 

Planning was refused by the local authority for the development for a number of reasons. These reasons included the proposed development would result in an over development of the site and is disproportionate to the size of the village, and fears the development may result in overlooking and loss of privacy of existing neighbouring sites.

Cuchulainn Developments lodged an appeal with ABP against the decision on 3 August 2022, with ABP making the decision on 3 May 2024, to grant planning permission for the development, subject to 19 planning conditions.

Among the reasons and considerations in its decision to grant planning permission, ABP said that "the proposed development was not excessive in the context of the village setting", and that "the form and location of dwellings on the site set back from the Ballinlough Road would not be visually obstructive and out of character with the streetscape".

It also said that "the separation distances, the absences of directly opposable windows and opaque gable windows would not give rise to a layout and design of development that would appear visually overbearing, would detract from the existing residential amenity and may give rise to overlooking of the rear amenity space of the directly adjoining site."