An Bord Pleanála gives go-ahead for new Islamic Cultural Centre in Letterkenny

Planning permission has been granted for the development of an Islamic Cultural Centre in Letterkenny.

An Bord Pleanála has given the green light to Letterkenny Islamic Association CLG for the project at Lisnennan, which was subject of an objection.

Donegal County Council granted permission, but an appeal was lodged with the planning body.

Letterkenny Islamic Association CLG sought permission for the construction of the centre, to include a ground floor, first floor mezzanine prayer hall areas, coffee dock and sandwich bar. This building would also include a foyer, offices, a meeting room, library-teaching room, toilets, a kitchenette and storage.

An auxiliary building is also planned to include a multipurpose recreational activity area.

The application has also provided for the construction of an access road, footpaths, car parking, bicycle rack and associated retaining site works. They have also provided for carrying out alterations to the public road layout to accommodate a traffic turn-off lane.

The application, which included consent from a landowner, Declan Reynolds, on a 2.6-acre site was originally given the go-ahead by Donegal County Council, subjected to 18 conditions, after the local authority sought further information on the application.

However, local residents Barry and Kathy O’Neill submitted an appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

In a submission to the Council previously, they outlined how they were the owners and occupiers of a dwelling adjacent to the subject site.

“We have real concerns that as proposed, it will have a detrimental impact on us, our property and the wider planning and development of the area,” they wrote.

They argued that the proposed centre could be considered “over development” in that it comprises two separate buildings of significant scale and height. They said it will require significant levelling and excavation of the site in very close proximity to their boundary.

The O’Neills pointed to what they said would be significant additional traffic with up to 120 worshipers attending Friday lunchtime prayer and also queried the removal of trees from the site.

The Letterkenny Islamic Association said, as part of a document submitted by the architect on the project, that the “Muslim Community has long needed a purpose-built cultural centre that would accommodate the needs of the community”.

They said: “The population of the Muslim community continues to grow and we are already struggling with numbers for some events held at the High Road location”

They said that this proposed centre would be for the “existing and growing future needs of the Muslim Community who are an integrated part of the Letterkenny community and beyond.”

The building would be used for community meetings, social gatherings, parent and toddler groups, youth meetings, as well as sports groups, they indicated.

In response to the concerns, they told An Bord Pleanála that Friday Prayers are presently conducted at three locations in Letterkenny: Isa ibn Maryam Centre (operated by the Letterkenny Islamic Association), Donegal Islamic Community Centres (independently operated) and Letterkenny University Hospital.

Attendance numbers at the Isa ibn Maryam are around 120 people over two sessions with Friday lunchtime the busiest day, they said.

“The number of Muslims who pray at Friday prayers will not increase as a result of the proposal,” they said.

An Bord Pleanála said that the proposed development “would not seriously injure the visual or residential amenities of the area, and would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience”.

Sixteen conditions were set down by the planning body, including noise level restrictions.

Read next: An Fál Carrach's Hannah Ní Dhomhnaill appointed reporter on Nuacht Cúla4

The developer must lodge a bond of an insurance company, or other security to secure the repair of any damage to adjoining public road or public footpath and satisfactory completion of roads, footpaths, water mains, drains, and other services required in connection with the development

External signage details must be agreed by the planning authority before the construction begins.