Huge housing development set for Kildare despite large outcry of local objections

A development consisting of 152 houses, 28 apartments, a creche, two healthcare units, an office block and a wastewater pumping station has been granted planning permission with revised conditions despite being met with considerable local opposition in Kildare. 

The development - which is to be built on the New Abbey Road, Nicholastown, Kilcullen - will also feature commercial units and hundreds of car and bike parking spaces. 

Over 150 observations have been made regarding the development which is to be carried out by Oakway Homes. 

According to planning documents, many of the complaints regarding the proposed development related to traffic concerns. 

Read More: Speed checkpoints held in these two Kildare villages

Kilcullen is a small town with one set of traffic lights and one junction, Kildare county Councillor Tracy O’Dwyer told the Leinster Leader. 

Cllr O’Dwyer believes the town already has enough traffic issues, with a church nearby and the Irish Defence Forces passing through Kilcullen’s junction. 

The 2022 census estimated the town's population to be 3,815 residents. 

The development will also involve works on the New Abbey Road (R413) relating to the installation of traffic calming measures and a new footpath.

Kilcullen Parish 

In a submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála, engineer Conor Furey wrote on behalf of Kilcullen parish highlighting “the large volumes of traffic associated with public gatherings at the church such as weddings and funerals.”

“Ignoring the impact of Sunday mass could be understood as this event occurs when the overall road infrastructure is operating at a very low capacity, however the timings of both funerals and weddings do not follow this pattern.”

Nearby estates

The residents of the nearby neighbouring Sunbury Close estate wrote: “It beggars’ belief that a building of this height would even be considered given the fact that there are six single storey dwellings in close proximity to where it is proposed to be constructed.” 

Members of the local community stated they believe the height of the buildings - with one being four storeys high - could pose a risk to their privacy and obstruct their views of the Wicklow Mountains. 

Residents of Conroy Park were concerned about their playground and green space being impacted by the new development.

They wrote: “We respectfully request that this space be retained and protected in its current form. It is an oasis of calm and safety and is integral to the character and well-being of our community.”

In her report, planning inspector Kathy Tuck wrote that 49 submissions made reference to the loss of the playground at Conroy Park, but these are “not correct [the space] will be provided”.

One local resident wrote that they live in the middle of town and have concerns about the capacity of the sewerage system to cope with the increased population. 

They also expressed concerns about what the new housing will do to the feel of the parish: “Why disturb these quiet, mature settled estates and cause unnecessary distress to the residents, many of whom are elderly?”

A number of residents expressed concerns about anti-social behaviour. 

Kildare county council initially requested a payment of €1.5 million from the developers to support local infrastructure. This was subsequently reduced to €1.2 million.