Housing planned for former foundry site in Bailieboro

Galetech Sustainable Living is set to build a development of eight houses on part of the former Bailieborough Foundry site.

Founded in 1977, the foundry business last closed after entering liquidation in 2014. The near hectare site, approximately 3.4km from the town itself, has lain derelict since and the buildings have “fallen into disrepair”, according to a design statement by Michael Fitzpatrick Architects submitted along with the initial application in December 2022.

The portion of the road spanning the Crocknahattin foundry complex is that from which Midland Industries use to operate.

Galetech intend to demolish existing sheds and construct in their place eight two-storey, four-bed detached dwellings with detached domestic garages, entrances, and individual sewerage treatment systems.

The statement notes that Galetech looks to develop the lands into a “functional and viable use”.

The proposed dwellings will have a Building Energy Rating of ‘A’.

However, a number of submissions were made by locals living in the area in some cases objecting to the building proposals.

It was suggested by one person that a plan to use the existing “shared” laneway will cause “[multiple] problems”.

“As it stands at the moment it is not a maintained road and its only use is to provide access to two private dwellings,” stated businessman Lee Peters of Millmount House, Crocknahattin.

He added that the laneway is regularly used by pedestrians accessing Castle Lake Forest. “If this laneway was to be used in any other way it would cause a pedestrian and canine danger,” he contended.

Citing a potential loss of privacy, Mr Peters also highlighted potential damage to neighbouring habitat, and local amenities also.

Kieran Leddy of Greenagh, Galbolie, shared some of these concerns.

He said that the land on which the development is proposed, on the site of an old Corn Mill, and adjacent to the Vale River and Mill Race, would “not provide good drainage” due to years of industrial operation nearby.

Again, the safety of pedestrians using the lane was raised, as well as access onto the main Cootehill road “on a bad bend at the Hide Out pub”.

“I also have concerns that the proposed houses are being build at a much higher level than my own house and will overlook my property,” stated Mr Leddy. “The view from my home will be compromised as will the amount of evening sunshine falling on house”.

A submission by Oliver Trayor of Monaghanoose, as an adjacent landowner, primarily centred on “road safety” concerns.

Significant further information was submitted by Galetech and received by the council in considering the application.

This included a site layout plan and storm sewer plan; water supply details; a ground investigation report, and a habitats directive screening report.

The ground investigation report, conducted by Belturbet’s Traynor Environmental Ltd, was carried out to establish any “potential risks” associated with the previous use of the site as a foundry, including “possible materials or wastes deposited”. Aside from groundwater at 1.6 metres deep, it found no such worry. Soil samples taken and sent for analysis showed “no elevated” levels of contaminants or pollutants.

The habitats report, carried out by Environmental Consultant Noreen McLoughlin from Longford, involved screening carried out in January 2023.

She reported that the River Blackwater, which flows past the application site, is considered of ‘Moderate’ status by the Environmental Protection Agency, but ‘Poor’ “immediately upstream”.

Ultimately, she concluded that the proposed development will have “no significant effects” upon the favourable conservation of alluvial woodland nearby, or on surface water quality, and that potential negative effects on sensitive species such as the lamprey or kingfisher “can be ruled out”.