2460693
for: (i) construction of a residential development of 64 no. units (38 no. three-bed units and 26 no. two-bed units) comprising dwellings and duplex units in 7 no. blocks as follows - 12 no. three-bedroom, two-storey houses (6 no. House Type H1 and 6 no. House Type H2) in 3 no. blocks, with private amenity space provided to the rear; - Block D1 and Block D2 containing 32 no. duplex apartments (16 no. two-bedroom and 16 no. three-bedroom) measuring three-storeys in height with private amenity space provided at ground floor level and a terrace to the rear at the northwestern elevation; - Block D3 containing 12 no. duplex units (6 no. two-bedroom and 6 no. three-bedroom) measuring three-storeys in height with private amenity space provided at ground floor level and a terrace to the rear at the northeastern elevation; and - Block D4 containing 8 no. duplex units (4 no. two-bedroom and 4 no. three-bedroom) measuring three-storeys in height with private amenity space provided at ground floor level and a terrace to the rear at the southwestern elevation. (ii) provision of 99 no. car parking spaces comprising 80 no. resident spaces, 5 no. accessible spaces and 14 no. visitor spaces; (iii) total of 132 no. secure resident bicycle parking spaces comprising 72 no. in the space between blocks D1 and D2 and 60 no. spaces provided in the space to the south of block D4 adjoining bin store and provision of 40 no. visitor cycle parking spaces throughout the site; (iv) a new vehicular and pedestrian entrance to the site from Lakeview to the southwest, a new pedestrian link to the site to the northwest at the site of a future supermarket and a new pedestrian entrance to the northeast of the site at Church View; (v) provision of 0.57 hectares public open space and 0.065 hectares of communal open space; (vi) new ESB substation situated to the northeast and pumping station situated to the southwest of the site; (vii) undergrounding of existing overhead cables; (viii) provision of surface water drainage pipe connecting to the River Clare; and (ix) new SuDS and foul water drainage and all associated works inclusive of landscaping and boundary treatments necessary to facilitate the development. A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared in respect of the proposed development and accompanies this application. Gross floor space of proposed works: 7,890.00 sqm
Core Refusal Reason
The development was refused primarily due to unresolved legal interest for site access, traffic safety concerns on the N83, significant flood risk vulnerabilities, and potential adverse impacts on the Lough Corrib SAC and local ecology.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The applicant failed to demonstrate sufficient legal interest to provide unobstructed access and necessary roadside alterations, leading to concerns regarding traffic hazard and public safety on the N83.
- The proposal is considered premature pending a completed flood risk review by the OPW, and the Planning Authority is not satisfied that the site is not at risk of flooding or that surface water can be successfully managed without impacting adjoining lands.
- In the absence of adequate ecological and archaeological assessments, the Planning Authority cannot rule out adverse effects on the integrity of the Lough Corrib SAC, protected bat species, and archaeological heritage.