Planning Notes: New homes to be built in Waterford; Cork club plans for new pitches
Ardmore, Co Waterford: Planning has been granted for the construction of 29 new homes. Picture: Dan Linehan
Permission has been granted for the construction of 29 new homes in Ardmore, Co Waterford.
Waterford City & County Council had approved an initial proposal by CFS Structures Ltd, but this was referred to An Bord Pleanála after an appeal.
The development was initially to include 35 new homes on land located immediately to the east of the Cloisters residential development. The land is located 140m west of St Declan's Cathedral and Ardmore Round Tower.
During the planning process, the number of houses was reduced from 35 to 31, including four sizes of house.
A planning appeal was lodged against the local authority's decision, referencing several grounds.
Among the matters raised was the historical value of the site, including the potential for unrecorded archaeological material on the site.
Trenches in the area have been in place for hundreds of years, including potentially as far back as the Battle of Ardmore in 1642, and the area may contain material from that battle.
Additional concerns about the flooding risk and design of the development were also raised.
However, An Bord Pleanála opted to grant permission for the scheme, overlooking its own inspector's recommendation for refusal.
Among the conditions attached, though, is a reduction in the number of houses from 31 to 29, and a requirement for the developer to engage an archaeologist to excavate all archaeological features associated with the site.
Separately, Mallow Town FC has applied for permission for new facilities in Co Cork.
The club is hoping to build three new academy playing pitches on land at Annabella in Mallow.
It also wants to provide two new 40ft containers, which will be used as changing areas.
Planners at Cork County Council are assessing the proposals.
Elsewhere in Mallow, permission has been granted for the construction of 22 new homes on lands at Emmet Street.
Kidana Limited can now proceed with its plans following the conclusion of an appeals process.
Cork County Council had initially approved the scheme, but first- and third-party appeals saw the matter referred to An Bord Pleanála.
The site in question is located 590m from Mallow train station and Emmet Street is a cul-de-sac in a residential area. It is an L-shaped, brownfield site and the housing scheme proposed is an infill one.
Existing structures, including a former commercial building, were to be demolished to make room for the new scheme.
Cork County Council restricted the number of units to 18, prompting an appeal by the developer which said such a move was unwarranted.
Third-party appeals raised concerns about parking, density and the prospect of damaging an existing historic wall.
An Bord Pleanála, though, said the scheme would not seriously injure the visual or residential amenities of the area and would be appropriate in terms of traffic safety. It, therefore, approved the scheme.
