Decision on Kilkenny housing scheme appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála
Appeal lodged against decision by Kilkenny County Council to grant conditional planning permission...
The recent decision from Kilkenny County Council to grant conditional planning permission for the development of a housing scheme off the Sion Road has been appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Oakmane Limited had been seeking permission for a new residential development of 39 new dwellings as well as for the demolition of existing buildings plus partial demolition and conversion of another building to a residents communal building at Sion Hermitage, Sion Road, Kilkenny.
Permission was also sought for alterations to an existing site entrance, plus the provision of a new site entrance to Sion Road, public open space, landscaping and boundary treatments as well as new planting, water and utility services and connections and lighting.
According to An Coimisiún Pleanála, the decision by the local authority to conditionally grant planning permission for the development has been appealed by residents of a house in nearby Sion Orchard, who lodged the appeal with An Coimisiún Pleanála on June 25, 2026.
In their submission made on the plans prior to the planning authority’s decision to grant conditional planning permission, the residents of the house stated (amongst other items) that their property “is directly affected by the layout, treatment and future management of the lands adjoining the western boundary of the proposed development.”
“We are particularly conscious of the practical effects that the revised proposals may have on residential amenity, privacy, security and the proper use of the adjoining woodland area,” their submission continued.
“We have lived at Sion Orchard since 1996 and, throughout that period, have enjoyed a reasonable degree of privacy and security along this boundary. In recent years, however, we have observed an increase in anti-social behaviour within the woodland.
“The proposed development, together with the introduction of a nature trail, is likely to intensify activity in this area. In those circumstances, we respectfully submit that additional boundary treatment is required and that our existing stone boundary wall should be raised by approximately 400mm to protect the privacy and security of our home.
“We are also concerned that, if the nature trail is intended to attract use by visitors arriving by car, no clear provision appears to have been made for appropriate public parking.
“We therefore request that the Council require the provision of a designated public parking area, so that Sion Road does not experience unsafe or inappropriate roadside parking associated with use of the trail.”
An Coimisiún Pleanála are now expected to make a decision on this case by October 28, 2026.