Decision due this week on major Offaly housing scheme

A DECISION is due this week from County Council planning officials on a 102-unit housing and apartment development in Tullamore.

The scheme is proposed for a greenfield site on the northern side of the Daingean Road, close to the town bypass roundabout at Cappincur.

Daingean Road Residential Ltd, whose directors are Martin Kenny and Fearghal de Feu, has applied for permission to build 62 houses and 40 apartments.

A letter of consent for the application to be made by the company was signed by Tullamore businessman Seamus Kane, director of the landowner, Cayenne Holdings.

The developer is planning 13 four-bedroom houses, 27 three-bedroom houses and 22 two-bedroom houses on a site of more than four hectares.

The 40 apartments include one, two and three-bed units and the plan is for them to be built in four separate three-storey blocks.

Access for traffic will be off the Daingean Road and an initial proposal for 173 car parking spaces was increased to 195.

Local residents expressed serious concerns about the project and these were laid out in a submisson to the council signed by local Fianna Fail representative Cllr Tony McCormack in November.

Residents said there was a history of flooding in the area and said that a density of 28 dwellings per hectare was too high.

In response, the applicant referred to an Office of Public Works study which said there had been no flood events on the site or in the immediate vicinity.

The developer also said a flood risk assessment placed the site in zone C, which they said was the lowest risk of three flood zones and meant the site was suitable for residential development and that a justification test was not needed.

The developers also said a new 450mm pipe for surface water, 395m long, will be provided as part of the project. They also rejected the claim about housing density.

Council planners told the developers that Transport Infrastructure Ireland had concerns about the impact on the existing N52 roundabout but in response, the applicant said an analysis showed there would be no impact on the roundabout and it will continue to operate well within capacity.

As recently as April 24 last a letter on behalf of residents was sent to the council again, saying they were “still looking for answers” and had concerns about a range of issues, including flooding, density, traffic impact, wastewater, ecological impact, lack of a masterplan for the area, plus an additional concern about the scheme's heating source.

A decision on the application is due on Wednesday, May 17.