Green light for estate

Plans for new homes in a Cavan estate have been given the go-ahead by the planning board after an appeal.

Buffdale Ltd had been granted planning permission by Cavan County Council to build eight houses in the Rocklands estate in Drumalee.

Sixteen conditions were attached to the approval, including the need for traffic calming measures and the need for consultation on the finishes to be used on the boundary with the existing Rocklands estate. The plans are made up of two, two-bed bungalows; four, four-bed semi-detached houses and two, four-bed detached houses.

Approval was granted in June but this was subsequently appealed by local resident Eugene Carter.

Concerns

In his submission to An Bord Pleanála, Mr Carter said the development would block the view from his home and reduce sunlight, as well as negatively impact the value of his home.

He also contended that the site planned for the development “is too small and is unsuitable for heavy machinery” and that it would “result in noise nuisances for nearby residents”.

The safety of children living in the estate was also raised, as well as a claim that three of the proposed homes have already been sold.

In response, Buffdale Ltd refuted the claim that homes have been sold, with a letter provided to the planning board.

It also said the planned works would take place 200m from Mr Carter’s home, with the concerns over sunlight being “unfounded”.

They also rebuffed a number of other claims made in the appeal, describing it as “vexatious”.

The report from ABP Inspector Barry O'Donnell advised that planning permission be granted, following on from his assessment of the project.

He says “the proposed development would represent an appropriate form of development, which would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or the amenities of property in the vicinity and which would not result in any road safety or traffic hazard”, subject to a number of conditions.

Decision

The board agreed and granted planning permission with 21 conditions attached.

These include restrictions on when work can be carried out on site, the need for a construction management plan to be submitted to the Council and a requirement for electric car charging points to be installed.