Appeal lodged against North Quays latest application

A resident who lives in close proximity to the North Quays development site has lodged an appeal against the development’s latest planning application.

Recently, Harcourt Developments, trading as Hopcast Limited, submitted an updated planning application for Waterford's North Quays, outlining their intentions to alter the original residential and retail plans (READ MORE).

The new plans contain an additional 80 units, in addition to the proposed 350-unit residential/retail development. If granted permission, the total area of the development would increase to 34,239 square units. Harcourt are also attempting to maximise space by doubling up on single-bed units and cutting down on family spaces.

A letter of opposition from a concerned resident has been lodged against these plans.

Mr. Robert McCarthy said in his submission that he believes Waterford City and County Council are “legally and ethically obligated to reject this belated attempt to double the number of previously permitted single-bed apartments while at the same time slashing the number of apartments suitable for families.”

In his official submission to the Council he wrote, “the North Quays project was meant to be a model of sustainable development, including a diverse mix of family friendly city centre housing...the proposed modification of the previously permitted housing development would be a further betrayal of the project’s original promise.”

Mr. McCarthy also submits that “the present application fails to address actual housing needs and would tend to ghettoize North Quays housing rather than integrate it into the Waterford city centre community.”

He says that residents of Sion Row, located on Dock Road to the front of the North Quays development, have “endured a near constant and unacceptable level of noise, negative impacts on the structural integrity of our homes, even restrictions on access to our homes”.

A decision on the planning application is expected by April 23.

Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme