The eye-opening reasons why so many homes were blocked in Donegal since 2023

The construction of 34 houses and apartments were refused planning permission in Donegal since 2023.

This was despite the ongoing call for more homes to be built across the county and country as the housing crisis continues to burden many people trying desperately to make it onto the property ladder.

There were a number of small and medium residential developments proposed to Donegal County Council within this two-year period. However, many were refused planning permission by the council and some faced fierce opposition from those living in the proposed areas of development.

Four planning applications for the construction of homes and apartments across Donegal particularly stand out from this time in terms of the impact they could have had on the housing need in the county.

These include a proposal for a residential development consisting of 10 homes in Cardonagh in March 2023, the construction of two homes in Letterkenny in April 2023, the development of 18 houses and apartments in Moville in November 2024, and four houses in Rossnowlagh in May of this year.

It's worth noting that applications for the construction of single-unit homes or the conversion of garages etc. for residential purposes have not been included here.

Only one of the four developments faced objections, and that was the proposal to construct just two homes in Sandhill, Dunfanaghy, Letterkenny. Of course, many had valid concerns regarding the application, such as traffic and flooding issues. 

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Among the most notable reasons for objecting was the idea that the two new homes would not be in line with the character of the area. 

This type of objection is not unique to this proposal, but rather proves to be a consistent issue in objections to housing developments right across the country. It may seem like a vague reason to some people, but it has actually factored into the final decision process regarding some of the other developments.

Although it was not cited as a reason for refusal with this development in Letterkenny, it was listed in the letters of refusal to applicants applying for planning permission for the 10-unit development in Cardonagh and the 18 houses and apartments in Moville.

Indeed, Donegal County Council stated that the development in Moville "would result in unacceptable damage to the local
character and create an undesirable living environment for prospective residents due to unsatisfactory form, design, layout, and inadequate provision of amenity space." 

In regard to the Cardonagh development, the council said that as the application proposed the demolition of three buildings to accommodate the plans, the applicants must demonstrate that "the proposal will integrate effectively with the surrounding area and that there will be no over-development of the site or inappropriate densities."

They added that the development must be "appropriate in the context and setting and that the scale, massing, footprint and height is appropriate and that it does not detract from the character, amenity and design of the surrounding neighbourhood, including the character and amenities of surrounding buildings."

Directly related to this, the council's refusal of the Cardonagh housing development also listed insufficient plans on the demolition of a shed on the site and the impact it would have on the "architectural heritage value of the other existing outhouses on site." They added that the site is a historical building and to convert it "would necessitate works that would go beyond those that could be considered to be in keeping with the character of the existing structures."

Arguably, the most frustrating point for those struggling to join the property ladder is that people object to new homes being built due to developments potentially causing their own homes to "depreciate in value." Again, this is not unique to Donegal as it is a prevalent objection to new developments right across the country.

This was an issue that was raised in the many objections against the construction of the two houses in Letterkenny.

Another issue which stood out among the proposals during this time was the lack of adequate water and wastewater infrastructure to cater for more homes in some parts of the county. The council listed this in some form as a reason for refusing three of the four developments.

Donegal County Council said that there was not an adequate supply of public drinking water to support the development at Cardonagh and that the Moville site was located in an area where there was inadequate public wastewater treatment capacity. Wastewater issues was also cited in the reasons for refusal of the Letterkenny development.

Additionally, pre-existing issues with wastewater was observed by some residents within objections to the development in Letterkenny, with locals reasonably concerned that the construction of more homes would further exacerbate the problem. 

Clearly, from these proposals, the most predominant barriers faced by housing applicants is maintaining the aesthetic and character of areas and the need for improved water and wastewater connections in some parts of Donegal.