Bord Pleanala gives permission for large development of houses and apartments in Tullamore

AN Bord Pleanala has upheld a decision by Offaly County Council to grant planning approval to Daingean Road Residential Ltd for the construction of 102 houses, apartments and creche on the Daingean Road at Cappincur, Tullamore.

The decision by Offaly County Council to grant permission with 28 conditions had been appealed to An Bord Pleanala by Daingean Road Residents Association.

Two submissions were made to the council on the application. One queried whether there was a masterplan or local area plan for the area. The other objection stated that there was a history of flooding on the site and along Daingean Road and questioned the capacity of the surface water sewer there adding that the density of the proposed development is excessive for this area.

They also contended that Daingean Road has a rural character and the site is close to the roundabout on the N52. The southern side of the road lacks a footpath. The proposed development would introduce 13 accesses onto the road, the submission argued.

The Board said that when reaching the decision it took into the account the policies and objectives of the Offaly County Development plan 2021-2027, the location of the site adjoining the ''established urban area of Tullamore on lands zoned for residential use as well as for amenity, recreation and open space under the Development Plan and the nature, scale and design of the proposed development.''

The Board concluded that, ''the proposed development would provide its residents with an adequate level of residential amenity and would not seriously injure the residential amenities of property in the vicinity.

It considered that it would make a positive contribution to the character and visual amenities of the area, would not seriously injure the natural heritage or ecology of the area, would not give rise to a traffic hazard, or an undue risk of flooding on other land.''