Planning permission refused for Clonakilty homes

AN Bord Pleanála refused permission for the development of 60 residential units in Clonakilty, after an appeal was made by the developers to allow it proceed.

Cork County Council initially refused permission on the grounds that it “would be premature pending the provision of pedestrian connectivity connecting the site to the town.”

They also refused the plans for Templebryan on the grounds of it being out of character with other development in the area, and that a large number of residential units would materially contravene a zoning objective of the West Cork Municipal District Local Area Plan 2017.

Developers O’Regans t/a Pike Construction Ltd subsequently lodged an appeal against the refusal with An Bord Pleanála.

They outlined how they had contacted landowners in the area who would be affected by the provision of a public footpath, and also pointed to other housing developments across the county that were permitted despite there not being a continuous public footpath to the nearest town.

In lieu of a continuous public footpath, the applicants also outlined measures which would promote pedestrian safety, such as a carriageway pinch point, speed humps, signage, and lighting.

The mix of housing was revised while the applicants also said the revised proposal would see a density of 21.15 dwellings per hectare, which would be appropriate under the LAP.

An Bord Pleanála refused permission, citing a lack of pedestrian connectivity to the town. “The proposed development would, therefore, endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard, particularly in relation to vulnerable road users, and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” the board’s direction states.