Plans lodged for 240 new homes on the Waterfall Road

INTERESTED parties have until January 14 to make submissions on plans to build a major new housing estate at Ardarostig near Bishopstown.

Developers Ardstone Homes applied directly to An Bord Pleanála, under the Strategic Housing Development legislation, for planning permission to develop the large site on the Waterfall Road.

This type of application, which bypasses local authorities, was introduced as part of Rebuilding Ireland to speed up the planning application process and accelerate delivery of large housing projects.

The proposed development will include 154 houses and 86 apartments. The houses are a mix of two, three and four-bedroom while the apartments have one or two beds. Thirty-four of the apartments are duplexes, with the others in apartment blocks.

The developers have already engaged in pre-application consultation with An Bord Pleanala, who raised a number of issues to be addressed in the application.

These included the need for an assessment report to consider the impact on traffic in the wider area, including the potential for the creation of a rat run through nearby Marymount Hospice.

Developers say they are confident that all traffic matters have been addressed in their application reports.

An Bord Pleanála also asked that the planning application address issues regarding the ecological implications, archaeological impact and effects on demand for childcare and school places in the area.

In addition to the homes, the application also includes plans for a creche on the ground floor of one of the three apartment blocks.

New vehicular and pedestrian entrances onto Waterfall Road will be built as part of the proposal, including an extension of the existing public footpath from the northeast to serve the development.

The proposed development also includes open space, an amenity trail, landscaping, surface and underground car parking spaces, bicycle racks, bin stores and enclosures, and public lighting.