Letterkenny residents vow to fight controversial housing development 'at all costs'

Long-time residents in the Glencar area of Letterkenny have vowed to resist 'at all costs' plans to develop over 200 new housing units.

The Old Glencar Road Residents, Solomon's Grove Residents and Upper Fernhill Residents Association groups have signed a joint objection to An Bord Pleanála in respect of the planned development.

The groups have branded the plans as 'grossly excessive'.

This comes after conditional planning permission – subject to 37 conditions - for phase two of the controversial residential development was granted by Donegal County Council.

Both phases of the development are now subject to similar appeals with the planning body.

Developer PJ McDermott is seeking the go-ahead for the development at Glencar Irish and Glencar Scotch, Letterkenny.

The first phase, to consist of 90 residential unites and a crèche, was also given conditional permission by the Council, but the planning body is still to rule following the lodgement of an objection by residents.

The residents group argue that the current infrastructure is incapable of dealing with the current traffic flow and would be under further strain with an additional volume.
Several existing houses in the surrounding areas have been blighted by defective blocks and residents note that they expect ‘considerable traffic disruption’ with planned remedial works on these buildings.

An eleven-page document was lodged last week with An Bord Pleanála.

The residents group say that they have resubmitted their grounds of appeal as they believe their their issues and concerns 'were not fully addressed and are now equally valid and relevant with regard to the phase 2 application.'

They say that there 'appears to be a belief that the completion of the Windyhall Link Road will solve the ever-increasing traffic congestion in the general Glencar area'.

“It is our understanding that the funding for this link road has been withdrawn and it will now not go ahead,” the residents write.

They say that the road network is already feeling 'intolerable congestion' and the location of six schools nearby is leading to a growing level of vehicular traffic'.

“There doesn't seem to be any realisation of the congestion that this creates in the area and the inconvenience caused to long-term residents who are trapped in their homes for extended periods,” the objection says.

The residents argue that the concession of a ten-year time frame for such a large-scale residential development would be 'outrageous' and say it 'will be resisted at all costs'.

They believe that the application 'is being rushed through in advance of any rezoning plans being finalised under the Draft Letterkenny Plan and Local Transport Plan 2023-2029, currently under consideration.'

“As you are aware the area of this development is earmarked for rezoning to a Strategic Residential Reserve, which would exclude a multi development of this nature,” the residents say, adding that notions that new residents will walk to and from Letterkenny town are 'very wishful and aspirational'.

An Bord Pleanála say that the case is due to be decided by July 3, 2024.

Among the conditions set down by the local authority in giving its conditional approval for phase 2 in February was that the dwellings shall be used as permanent houses and apartments and shall not be used for the purposes of holiday homes.
An agreement must be entered with the planning authority that restricts all residential units permitted to first occupation by individual purchasers – those not being a corporate entity, and/or by those eligible for the occupation of social and/or affordable housing, including cost rental housing.
The phase 2 application was for: 64 four-bed semi-detached houses; 22 three-bed semi-detached houses; a further 40 three-bed semi-detached houses of different design; six three-bed terraced blocks to contain a total of 24 units; two two-bed terraced blocks; seven blocks of two-bed apartments to a total of 28 units; and two two-bed semi detached houses.