Big housing scheme in Offaly gets green light
Tullamore development will have total of 86 units
A DEVELOPMENT of 86 houses and apartments in Tullamore has got the go-ahead from An Coimisiun Pleanala.
The scheme of 16 four-bed houses, 44 three-beds, 18 two-beds and eight one-beds had been opposed by local residents living in the neighbouring Knockowen Road estate.
Planned by Capital Homes, a local company headed by Seamus Sheerin, the development will be the third and final phase of an overall project off the Clara Road which also comprises Redwood.
It got the go-ahead from Offaly County Council after planners in the local authority received some 18 third party submissions, mainly from existing residents in the area. Additional submissions were made after the developer published further information.
Most of the submissions related to concerns about the impact of the new development, which includes a three-storey block, on the existing Knockowen Road area.
Following the grant of planning permission by Offaly County Council there were appeals from Knockowen Residents Association along with two individual appeals lodged by residents of two houses in the Knockowen estate.
Responding to the appeals, the developer said it was proposing vehicular, pedestrian and cycle connections with Knockowen because of a previous planning refusal which identified lack of connectivity as an issue.
Residents of Knockowen also made the point that their estate comprised one-storey houses but the An Coimisiun Pleanala inspector said “the introduction of two-storey housing typology further enhances the variety of dwelling types in the area”.
The inspector did recommend that a three-storey building accommodating two units be substituted with a two-storey block.
The developer proposed three phases of development, with 14 houses in the final phase.
When complete, it will bring the entire land bank developed off the Clara Road to about 291 dwellings.
The inspector took the view that most of the traffic generated by the new houses will use entrances off the Clara Road or via Redwood rather than driving through Knockowen.
He also dismissed some residents' concerns about separation distances and overlooking.
The commission (formerly known as An Bord Pleanala) approved the development in line with the inspector's report.