23129

Permission for development which consists of a Large-Scale Residential Development on a site located to the South of the Letteragh Road (L1323), in the townlands of Rahoon and Letteragh, Co. Galway. The application is being made under the provisions of the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large Scale Residential Development) Act 2021. The development will consist of the following: 1. Demolition of a small lean-to stone shed structure. 2. Construction of 148 no. residential units comprising: i. 93 no. houses (4 no. 2-bed units, 81 no. 3-bed units, and 8 no. 4-bed units) ii. 20 no. duplex units (10 no. 2-bed ground floor units and 10 no. 3-bed upper floor units) iii. 35 no. apartment units (19 no. 1-bed units and 16 no. 2-bed units) 3. Provision of shared communal and private open space, an Active Travel pedestrian and cycle path, car and bicycle parking, site landscaping and public lighting, site services, vehicular and pedestrian access with Letteragh Road and pedestrian and cycle access with Bóthar Dhiarmuida and all associated site development works. 4. Erection of a gabion retaining wall faced with local limestone with additional 1.2m high estate railing along parts of the western boundary of the site to be constructed in the event the subject site is developed prior to the proposed N6 Galway City Ring Road Strategic Infrastructure Development (ABP-Ref: PL07.302885-18). 5. Temporary permission for a period of 3 years for the erection of marketing signage on the site. The application contains a statement setting out how the proposal will be consistent with the objectives of the relevant development plan. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been prepared in respect of the proposed development. All application documentation and information including the Natura Impact Statement (NIS) is available to view online at the following website set up by the applicant: www.RahoonLRDplanning.com

Refused

Core Refusal Reason

The proposed development was found to be at variance with strategic transport policy regarding the N6 Galway City Ring Road corridor, failed to provide essential childcare infrastructure, and demonstrated significant design deficiencies regarding residential amenity and open space provision.

Decision Maker's Conclusion

  • The development is at variance with official policy to protect the strategic route corridor of the N6 Galway City Ring Road (GCRR), potentially compromising the safety and operational efficiency of the national road network.
  • The proposal fails to provide a required on-site childcare facility for the 148-unit scheme, which is contrary to Ministerial Guidelines and the Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029.
  • The layout and design are deficient in terms of residential amenity, specifically regarding the lack of a functional recreational facility, inadequate qualitative communal open space, and poor design integration of the apartment and duplex blocks.

Cited Policies (CDP)

Section 4.9Policy 4.1Policy 4.6, No.2Section 8.8Section 11.3.1 (c)Section 11.3.2 (f)Section 11.14

Decision Document Summary

Cairn Homes Properties Ltd sought permission for a Large-Scale Residential Development (LRD) comprising 148 residential units (houses, duplexes, and apartments) on a 4-hectare site at Rahoon, Letteragh, Galway. While the site is zoned for residential use within the 'Outer Suburbs', the Planning Authority identified critical conflicts with the N6 Galway City Ring Road protection corridor. Furthermore, the refusal was grounded in the applicant's failure to provide a crèche and significant concerns...
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