Major housing development for Dungarvan gets the go-ahead
Approved plans at Duckspool, Dungarvan
A large scale development of 155 dwellings and a creche in Dungarvan have been greenlit following An Coimisiún Pleanála inspection.
The site is located at Duckspool, and the plans include the construction of 48 two-storey three-bed houses.
Also approved is 5 two-storey four bed houses, 10 two-storey four bed houses, 8 three-storey four bed houses, 6 two-storey four bed houses, 1 three-storey four bed house, and 35 three-bed two-storey houses.
Forty-two apartments contained within four, three-storey duplex apartment blocks have additionally been greenlit.
The approved creche will contain three-classrooms and be single-storey.
Internal roads and footpaths, bicycle and car parking and public open spaces are granted permission.
The proposed development will include alterations along the existing public road frontage, and a new spine road with footpaths and cycle access from the public road.
A letter of support for the approval of the plans was submitted by Abbeyside/Ballinacourty GAA club.
The club are the owners of adjoining lands to the west of the development.
The letter stated that the development's road layout would positively benefit the club.
It further said: "We wish to confirm our support for the planning application which will provide our members with a safer access to our club grounds than our current N25 access."
A letter was also submitted by local school, Scoil Gharbháin.
It reads: 'The proposed road lay out will give us the option of an alternative access to and from the school grounds and will allow us to plan the use of our grounds most efficiently.
'A new development of this scale and adjoining our grounds will give us access to a new community which will most likely lead to new enrolments of students to our pre-school and school which will help sustain our growth into the future.'
The plans were approved by Waterford City and County Council in April, however, following an objection to the development by a local resident, the matter was brought to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
The resident said that the subject site provides access to a larger land bank which should be subject to a Master Plan for the area.
'The absence of a Master Plan is simply not acceptable as certain infrastructural, social and community obligations are being neglected or worse ignored,' he wrote in his submission.
Further points raised by the resident included concerns over traffic congestion in the area and the development’s potential environmental impacts.
Following inspection, An Coimisiún Pleanála decided to uphold Waterford Council’s decision to grant permission.
Reacting to the approval this week, Deputy Conor McGuinness welcomed the green light for the 155 new homes in Dungarvan, saying there is a dire need for such developments in the town.
“I welcome this decision which clears the way for a badly needed housing development in Dungarvan" he said.
"The demand for family homes in the town is enormous, and this project will make a real difference for families who want to put down roots in the community.
"I was directly involved in the discussions between the Council, the landowners, developers, schools and local clubs to ensure this site was unlocked and primed for housing. It’s regrettable that the process was delayed by appeal, but I am glad that it can now proceed.”
Deputy McGuinness also highlighted the importance of the planning conditions attached to the development.
“A key feature of the decision is that new homes must be first occupied by families or individuals, or through social and affordable housing. This blocks the bulk purchase of houses by institutional investors and guarantees that these will be proper homes for people, not investment assets.
"The conditions also require the developer to deliver Part V social and affordable housing, significant road improvements including a new roundabout and safety works, as well as the provision of a crèche. These are crucial elements to ensure the development works for the wider community.”
“This is a welcome step forward for Dungarvan," he said.
"We need more homes, built to the right standard and in the right place, with proper facilities to support families and communities."
