22313825
STRATEGIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT: for a seven year planning permission, on lands at Dublin Road and the Skinkeen Road, within the townlands of Donaghcumper and Ballyoulster, Celbridge, Co. Kildare. The application site has an area of c. 13.4 ha and bound by a greenfield site, Donaghcumper Cemetery, Retronix Semiconductor Company and the Dublin Road to the north, the Rye River Brewing Company and the Ballyoulster Park housing estate to the north east, the Primrose Gate housing estate to the south, agricultural lands to the east and Shinkeen Road to the West. Donaghcumper Medieval Church Ruins (RPS No. B11-02) and the house on Dublin Road, Donaghcumper (RPS No. B11-26), are protected structures located north of the application site. The proposed development comprises 344 No. residential units (comprising 54 No. 1 beds, 30 No. 2 beds, 210 No. 3 beds and 50 No. 4 beds), a 2 No. storey childcare facility with a GFA of c. 369 sq. m, public communal open space, landscaping, car and cycle parking spaces, provision of an access road from Dublin Road and Shinkeen Road, associated vehicular accesses, internal roads, pedestrian and cycle paths, bin storage, cycle storage, pumping station and all associated site and infrastructural works. The residential component of the development consists of 214 No. apartments/duplex units, and 130 No. houses. The development includes a total of 585 No. car parking spaces, 4 No. loading bays and a total of 770 No. cycle spaces. The proposal includes hard and soft landscaping, lighting, boundary treatments, the provision of public and communal open space, including 3 No. Local Parks, children’s play areas, and an ancillary play area for the childcare facility. The proposed development includes road upgrades, alterations and improvements to the Dublin Road/R403 and the Shinkeen Road, including the provision of new vehicular accesses and signalized junctions, pedestrian crossing points, and associated works to facilitate the same. The proposal includes internal roads, including 3 No. bridge crossings, cycle paths, footpaths, with proposed infrastructure and access points provided up to the application site boundary to facilitate potential future connections to adjoining lands. The development includes foul and surface water drainage, pumping station, 3 No. ESB Substations, services and all associated and ancillary site works and development
Core Refusal Reason
The proposed development involves excessive encroachment of an internal access road onto lands specifically zoned for 'E - Community and Educational' purposes, which is contrary to the land use zoning objective and would set an undesirable precedent.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed internal access road significantly encroaches upon lands zoned 'E' for Community and Educational purposes, which is considered excessive and contrary to the specific land use zoning objective for these lands.
- The layout and design of the apartment and duplex blocks are deficient, failing to provide adequate frontage onto the main internal access road and resulting in a poor-quality urban realm dominated by surface car parking.
- The proposed childcare facility is inadequate in terms of its capacity and associated car parking/set-down provision, which would likely lead to traffic congestion and safety hazards within the development.