Green light for Belturbet houses

The plans were met with criticism from some local residents.

A new housing development in Belturbet has been given the green light.

Kieran Maguire Construction successfully applied for planning permission for 14 semi-detached homes in the west Cavan town, but was met with opposition from some local residents.

Planned for the Corporations Lands in the town, the development is made up of three-bed, dormer-style homes. A number of submissions were made on the plans, including fears over an inability to fill the homes, which it was said would in turn create “a ghost town”. Another said the renovation of derelict homes and properties in the Belturbet area should be the priority, rather than the building of new houses.

Concerns over a perceived potential impact on flora and fauna in the area, which was raised in a number of the eight submissions, prompted Cavan County Council to request further information on the plans, as well as a Natura Impact Statement.

Assistant planner with the local authority Bronagh Treanor noted the layout and design of the development were "inconsistent" with the scale, design and house type of existing nearby homes. She also noted the public open space provided for in the plans were not up to standard.

The council also requested a redrawing of the plans citing a “substandard layout” and a lack of private and public open space.

The developer responded with a statement of housing need outlining population projections for the area, environmental assessments and plans to deal with the invasive Japanese knotweed located on the site.

Plans for 19 homes on the site were refused permission in 2020. The design assessment says the number of planned homes on the site was reduced and the area to be developed was enlarged to improve open space. A change in the type of house planned, from two-storey to dormer homes, was also introduced to lessen the impact of the development on the surrounding areas.

Cavan County Council last week granted planning permission for the new development, subject to 28 conditions.