Council grants permission for two homes following objections to Buncrana development

Planning permission has been granted for two new houses on Ardaravan Road in Buncrana, after Donegal County Council required an original proposal for three homes to be reduced. The new homes will be situated opposite the entrance to the Knockalla Drive estate and adjacent to Hillcrest.

Applicant Carlo Diggin had initially sought permission for a terrace block containing three houses, together with connections to mains sewer and public services and associated site development works.

Following consideration of the application, Donegal County Council requested revised plans providing for a maximum of two semi-detached dwellings, with a maximum ridge height of 8.5 metres.

The council also required clearly defined entrances incorporating off-street parking, with two spaces per dwelling, a two-metre footpath along the road edge, including dropped kerbs at entrances, and the required visibility splays at the proposed entrances.

The planning authority advised the applicant that the original proposal for three dwellings in a terrace, together with six parallel parking spaces along the front of the development, “would give rise to a traffic hazard or obstruction of road users.”

It further stated that the three-house proposal would materially contravene the relevant provisions of the County Donegal Development Plan 2024-30.

Several objections were submitted during the planning process.

Daniel McLaughlin objected to the proposal, arguing that the development would be “completely out of character” with the single-family bungalows in the immediate vicinity.

He raised concerns that the height and position of the proposed development would severely restrict and diminish natural light entering his home and property.

A further submission from Kathryn McLaughlin also raised concerns over the height and scale of the original three-home proposal.

She pointed out that there were nine single-storey family homes in the immediate vicinity, all bungalows with an average roof height of no more than seven metres.

“By contrast, the proposed dwellings had a stated height of 10.12 metres. The scale and height of the proposed development are entirely out of keeping with the established character of the surrounding single-storey residential properties.”

“Given the location of the proposed structure, its excessive height would significantly restrict and reduce the level of natural light entering my property.”

Another objection was received from Hillcrest residents Liam, Kathleen and Aisling Burns. They expressed concern that the development would pose a serious road safety hazard to residents, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

“The proposed site has two blind spots, one on either side, which would make it difficult and dangerous for vehicles to exit the area safely. The addition of further entrances would significantly increase this risk.”

Following the submission of revised plans, permission was ultimately granted for two dwellings, subject to 18 conditions.

Among the conditions is a requirement for permanent visibility splays of 45 metres in each direction to the nearside road edge at the proposed vehicular entrance.

The existing roadside boundary must also be removed along the entire road frontage of the site, with a new public footpath, lighting and drainage to be provided. The footpath must be completed before any of the permitted houses are occupied.

The permission also stipulates that the new dwellings cannot be used as holiday homes or short-term rental accommodation unless such use is separately authorised by planning permission.

Construction works will be restricted to 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8.30am to 3pm on Saturdays, with no construction permitted on Sundays or Bank Holidays/Public Holidays.

The decision means that Mr Diggin can now proceed with a reduced two-house development, rather than the three-house terrace originally proposed.