Objections lodged against plans by Peter Casey to build new Buncrana apartment block

Residents close to the site where former presidential candidate Peter Casey is planning to build a three-story apartment block claim the development will impact the quality of life and reduce property values.

Mr Casey, who has a home near Greencastle, has applied for planning permission to build a three-storey apartment block containing 12 apartments opposite the North West Golf Club at Luddan, close to the main road between Buncrana and Burnfoot.

Two objections have been lodged against the plans for the development which is close to popular beaches at Luddan and Lisfannon.

Concerns have been raised by objectors that the scale of the building is not in keeping with other dwellings in the area which are detached homes, and it will result in “severe overlooking” of houses in nearby estates.

There are also concerns that the development would lead to a loss of light and privacy which would devalue homes in the area.

The objections also claim there are inadequate parking spaces in the plans and the development will create safety issues at the estates and on the main road due to “a significant increase in traffic volumes” which would endanger children living in the area.

The application was lodged in November and the deadline for submissions passed on December 19. A decision from Donegal County Council is due before the end of January.

The Derryman, who is the executive chairman of Claddagh Resources, the US-based recruitment company he founded, stood in the 2018 presidential campaign and finished second to Michael D Higgins with 342,727 votes – 23%of the votes cast.

He also ran in the 2020 general election in the Donegal constituency, but was eliminated on the fourth count, taking 1,142 first preference votes.

He became a controversial figure during the presidential campaign for comments he made about Travellers, who he said were “basically people camping in other people’s land”.