‘Deny us sunlight’ - appeal lodged against 99-unit development in Knockboy
The development proposed 99 residential units.
An appeal has been lodged against the proposed 99-residential unit development at Knockboy, Ballygunner, due to concerns over privacy, lighting and lack of amenities.
The site was proposed to develop 55 two-storey houses (providing 19 four-bed and 36 three-bed houses) and 44 apartments within four, four-storey blocks (providing 20 one-bed and 24 two-bed apartments).
The plan was submitted by Jackie Green Construction in October 2024.
The proposal included 181 parking spaces, 80 bicycle parking spots and additional visitor bicycle parking spaces in the public area.
The development also proposed an onsite creche to cater for approximately 32 children.
The application stated: “We believe that the development will be looked upon favourably by the Waterford City and County planning authority and that this residential development of 99 units will provide high quality residential accommodation for the Waterford suburb.”
On November 20, this year, Waterford City and County Council (WCCC) granted permission for the development of the site.
However, an appeal was lodged by a third party on December 16, raising concerns over the potential ramifications of development on neighbouring properties.
The first concern referred to the ‘overbearing nature’ of the proposed apartment blocks.
The appeal stated: “The location of 14 metre high apartment blocks, exacerbated by their own location on an incline on the western side of the development within 33 metres of my front door will adversely affect the view from our homes and deny us sunlight.”
The appeal rejected the claim made by the developers that the scheme ‘will blend with the already existing communities’: “How can this possibly be the case when there is no other development of the scale in the area and also no 14m high apartment blocks.”
The appeal letter raised that issues of potential wastewater run-off and downstream flooding had not been properly addressed by the developer or WCCC. Questions were raised over the body responsible for maintaining the drainage on the site. The letter read: “Considering increasing rainfall and the rise of severe, adverse weather conditions, this is a very valid issue, it only takes one severe weather event to cause drastic flooding damage.”
The letter pointed to the lack of amenities in the Knockboy/ Ballygunner area, particularly regarding early education facilities; “The school assessment only takes into consideration the provision of a creche, there is no plan given to where children might attend primary or secondary school.” It referred to the local primary schools being ‘over-subscribed’.
The letter further claimed that recent residential developments in the area have "given rise to a marked increase in antisocial behaviour stemming from the fact that there are no suitable clubs/ societies or amenities in the area for young people”.
The third-party ended their appeal by stating that they were not against the development ‘in principal’ but they felt that their concerns had not been given ‘due consideration’. An Coimisiún Pleanála will decide on the matter by April 28, 2026.
