Fresh objection to planned Laois apartments
An apartment complex approved on the site of a similar rejected proposal has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala.
Corrigeen Building Company Limited was granted conditional permission to build 32 two bedroom apartments in four blocks at Davitt Road in Mountmellick. The planning was granted subject to 19 conditions.
Laois County Council approved permission for the development which would see four two storey blocks containing 32 two bed apartments, 61 parking spaces and involve the demolition of an existing building at Davitt Road.
A previous application by Corrigeen Builders for 36 two bed apartments at the site had been conditionally approved by Laois County Council but later rejected by An Bord Pleanala after an appeal by the Davitt Court Residents Committee and the Board of Management of School Phadraig Naofa Boys National School.
The same groups objected to the latest application to Laois County Council for the proposed development at Davitt Road.
Residents of Davitt Court, Davitt Road, Brookview and Acragar objected to the development on 17 grounds such as the lack of sufficient outdoor space, the local schools already being at capacity, implications for flooding risk and the fact that An Bord Pleanala had rejected a plan at the location.
“Finally, this proposed build was already objected by An Bord Pleanála, and we quote "the Board are not satisfied as to the capability of the network to accommodate the sewage generated by the proposed development...it would be prejudicial to public health and would, therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area....it is considered that the proposed development could lead to adverse effects on the environment including potential flood risks and accordingly the proposed development would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area",” the resident group quoted in their submission to the council.
In their submission to Laois County Council, the Board of Management of School Phadraig Naofa Boys National School also pointed out that An Board Pleanala had rejected plans at the site last year.
“We would note that an almost identical application was submitted by the applicant under Laois County Council Reference 20/620 in late 2020. This was subsequently refused by an Bord Pleanala under their reference 311526-21 in April 2022,” they stated.
“As part of the Board of Management's observation submitted in respect of the original planning application, and further referred to in our appeal to an Bord Pleanala at that time, we requested that a re-design of the proposals be considered by the applicants to address the overlooking concerns raised. The proposals could have been re-designed to provide the new access roadway between the proposed apartments and the school playground. This would entail mirroring the current proposals and would provide a buffer between the school playground and the apartments (with first floor full height windows and balconies currently proposed as near as 1.3m from the school boundary).
The Board of Management are disappointed that the concerns raised have not been taken on board by the applicants in this new application,” they stated.
The immediate proximity and the extent of overlooking of the playground has clearly not been considered by the developers of the proposed works. This level of overlooking is not acceptable to the school authorities and is a very real concern from a child protection point of view and will impact significantly on the school amenities,” they said.
They also objected on the grounds that no survey had been done in relation to traffic implications for the area and said the two bedroom units are not family oriented.
Despite the objections, Laois County Council approved the plans subject to 19 conditions.
Now Mary Coss has lodged an objection with An Bord Pleanala on behalf of the residents of Davitt Road, Acragar.
The objection was lodged on September 13. A final decision is expected to be made on the plans in January next year.