60 houses refused permission in Stradbally
Plans to construct 60 houses in Stradbally have been refused permission, amidst ongoing concerns regarding the current housing shortage in the area.
The planning application submitted by Caroline and John Whelan in October 2024, outlined intentions to construct 56 two-storey semi-detached houses and 4 two-storey detached houses.
A number of letters were subsequently submitted by locals voicing concerns over the development. Potential flood risk, density and scale were issues raised.
Waterford City and County Council decided to refuse permission for the development last week for two reasons.
The planning department outlined that given the development’s ‘poor design and layout’, it would fail to meet the estate design standards set out in the Waterford City and County Development Plan.
Secondly, the planning authority was not satisfied that the applicants adequately demonstrated that the stormwater design is acceptable in terms of servicing the proposed development, nor has it been demonstrated that the design submitted would not give rise to risk of flooding to third party property.
The dire need for housing in Stradbally has often been raised during monthly Comeragh district meetings, where local councillors have been pleading with Council executives to take steps aimed at boosting the area’s housing supply.
Explaining the Stradbally shortfall at a recent meeting, Cllr Liam Brazil said:
“This has been going on for a long, long time.
"We have a housing crisis and we need to overcome this crisis. If we sit back and do nothing, we’re going to get nothing."
Cllr Brazil also said recently that land in Stradbally, zoned for housing, continues to sit idle.
"We as a council have land and we’re ignoring it for some reason," he said.
