2560143
for the; Demolition of two existing derelict two storey residential dwellings and one car garage that front on to the Clifden Road with a total area of 760.4 m2. Construction of 3 no. 3/5 storey blocks denoted A, B and C. The blocks contain 25 no. residential units made up of 9 no. apartment units, 16 no. duplex units and 3 no. Retail / Professional units, with maximum height of 10.4 & 16.35 metres. The total floor area of apartment and duplex development is 2345.5m2 and the total floor area of commercial development is 214.9m2. Block A is made up as follows: 16 no. residential dwellings, including 4 no. two bedroom duplexes on Level ‘-2 & -1’ , 6 no. two bedroom apartments units on the Level ‘0’, 6 no three bed duplexes on Level ‘+1 & +2’. The total floor area of apartment and duplex development is 1453.1m2. Block B is made up as follows: Level ‘-1’ of block B is bicycle storage , 3 no. commercial units on Level ‘0’, 3 no. residential dwellings, including 3 no. three bedroom Duplex units on Level ‘+1 & +2’. The total floor area of residential development is 338.2m2 and commercial development is 214.9m2. Block C is made up as follows: 3 no. two bed apartment units on Level ‘0’ and 3 no. three bedroom duplex units on Level ‘+1 & +2’. The total floor area of the residential development is 554.2m2. Access to be provided from a revised vehicular site entrance from The Clifden Road. New Footpath and Cycleways to be provided at the entrance to the site. 25 no. Car parking spaces, 101 no. bicycle parking spaces organised as 62 no. secure bicycle parking spaces and 39 no. visitor bicycle parking spaces. All ancillary site development works to include; landscaped open spaces and communal open space approximately 1764m2 or 44% of the overall site area. Private open space is 422.7m², internal roads and footpaths, foul and surface water drainage, site lighting, boundary treatments, and refuse storage located Level ‘-2 & -1’ a total of 48.2m²
Core Refusal Reason
The development was refused primarily due to overdevelopment characterized by excessive residential density and a significant shortfall in car parking, which would negatively impact local amenities and public safety.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed density (initially 62.5 dph, reduced to 50 dph) significantly exceeds the Core Strategy and Ministerial Guidelines for the edge of a small town, representing overdevelopment that would detract from the area's visual and residential amenity.
- There is a critical shortfall in car parking provision (approximately 41% deficit) which, combined with the multi-functional nature of the site, would lead to haphazard parking on the adjacent road network and endanger public safety.
- Conflicting red line boundaries create uncertainty regarding the applicant's ability to deliver necessary road safety improvements, such as traffic calming and pedestrian crossings, on lands potentially outside their control.