2660233
a residential development of 99 no. dwellings, a childcare facility and two GAA playing pitches and clubhouse facility. The proposed development will consist of the following: the demolition of the existing agricultural structures on site (276.8 sq.m); the construction of 99 no. residential dwellings consisting of 10 no. one bedroom duplex units, 20 no. two bedroom house units, 50 no. three bedroom house units, 7 no. four bedroom house units, and 12 no. five bedroom house units; the provision of 168 no. car parking spaces and 50 no. bicycle spaces for the residential units; the construction of a standalone childcare facility (455 sq.m) with 12 no. designated staff parking spaces and 6 no. drop off spaces; the provision of 3,072 sq.m of public open space and 61 sq.m of communal open space; two GAA playing pitches on an area of 1.895 ha to the west and south-west of the residential development; a two storey Clubhouse (522 sq.m) with a car parking area providing for 2 no. bus spaces, 30 no. car parking spaces and 6 no. accessible spaces, associated with the GAA Pitches; the provision of a new entrance onto the R286 Hazelwood Road for vehicular, pedestrian and cycling access; the provision of a new pedestrian footpath and cycle lane (88m) along the R286 Hazelwood Road and a pedestrian crossing; and all associated and ancillary infrastructure (including surface water and foul water drainage and water supply), bin storage, internal streets, public lighting, landscaping, boundary treatments and development works, all on a site of 8.2 ha to the south of the Hazelwood Road (R286)
Core Refusal Reason
The development is located outside the Sligo Town Development Limit on Strategic Land Reserve lands, constitutes 'leapfrogging' contrary to compact growth principles, and lacks adequate transport, drainage, and ecological mitigation.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposal represents an uncoordinated and non-sequential expansion of Sligo Town on Strategic Land Reserve lands, failing to justify early release due to significant deficits in transport infrastructure and accessibility.
- The applicant failed to demonstrate that the proposed surface water disposal via soakaways is suitable for the site, posing a risk of downstream flooding and negative impacts on water quality.
- Insufficient information was provided regarding the protection of habitats for bats and badgers, specifically the lack of a bat survey and a mitigation plan for the loss of badger setts.