Residents Group lodges appeal against approved 47-house Milford estate
Lower Mount Marian Residents Group submit appeal to An Coimisíun Pleanála against Donegal County Council decision in Milford
A residents group has lodged an appeal to An Coimisíun Pleanála against Donegal County Council’s decision to grant planning permission for the construction of 47 dwellings, including eight apartments, in Milford.
The Lower Mount Marian Residents Group lodged the appeal after Kelly Property Development Ltd obtained planning in October for the construction of 47 dwellings, including eight apartments, along with all associated site development works, including car parking, landscaped amenity spaces, surface play areas and seating areas.
Included in the application were connecting to existing services at Milford and the townland of Gortmacall Beg.
Types of property included in the proposals are 20 two-bed dwellings, 19 three-bed dwellings, and eight two-bed apartments, on a site of 1.56 hectares in size at a location within a three-minute walk to Milford.
MH Associates, who prepared a design statement in the supporting documents, said: “In our opinion, the proposed development represents a high-quality residential scheme which has been designed to help to diversify the housing stock in Milford and to help address the ongoing housing need, and respectfully request the planning authority to consider a positive decision in due course.”
However, a representative of the Lower Mount Marian Residents Group wrote in appeal documents: “The Residents Group represents households within Lower Mount Marian and has carefully reviewed the planning documentation and supporting assessments associated with the proposed development.
“While residents acknowledge the need for additional housing within the area and are not opposed to development in principle, there are significant concerns regarding traffic safety, pedestrian safety, the adequacy of the supporting assessments, the suitability of the proposed access arrangements and the broader impact on the amenity and character of an established residential community.”
The primary reason for the appeal was what was described as an inadequate traffic assessment, which the appellant states: “Residents are concerned that a survey undertaken during the middle of the day, outside peak school and commuter hours, may not provide a representative assessment of the conditions regularly experienced within Lower Mount Marian.”
Proximity to a local primary school was highlighted. It was stated: “The proximity of a school should, in the Residents Group's view, be regarded as a significant consideration when assessing the suitability of routing additional traffic through an established residential estate.”
Further reasons included in the appeal were pedestrian safety, local playground users, existing congestion and parking pressures, the adequacy of the traffic assessment, the suitability of the chosen access arrangement, the availability of alternative access routes, the cumulative impact on the character and function of Lower Mount Marian, and potential inconsistencies within supporting infrastructure documentation.
An Coimisíun Pleanála has yet to announce a decision date for the appeal to be judged.