Planning approved for dozen homes at unfinished Kilmacrennan estate
26 of 70 dwellings were completed from original plans from 2000
Planning has been granted by Donegal County Council for the construction of 12 houses in Kilmacrennan.
The approved properties are due to be located at The Racecourse housing estate in Kilmacrennan.
Stephen O’Donnell, the listed applicant for the submitted application, had also submitted related applications for the site in 1999 and 2007 for the erection of 70 semi-detached houses.
The current approved development plans are for the construction of 12 dwelling houses in the form of six semi-detached units with connection to existing services and all associated site development works.
Harley Newman Planning Consultants, in documents supporting the application, on behalf of Stephen O’Donnell, stated before the decision: “This application is essentially seeking to complete a previously commenced housing scheme (halted by recession) granted permission in the year 2000 for 70 dwellings, which remains partially developed and therefore constitutes an unfinished housing estate within the settlement of Kilmacrennan.
“A number of applications were submitted and granted for extension of duration of the original permission, but the applicant was unable to complete the overall estate within the confines of those permissions for overall economic reasons.
“More recently, permission was granted for two infill dwellings within the estate, which are under construction.
“In light of the history as outlined, the applicant is now seeking to complete to the highest and latest standards this unfinished housing scheme. 26 houses were commenced and completed at this site.
“Rather than develop the remainder of the original 70 units, the applicant is now seeking to develop at a more modest scale and simply complete in a balanced and orderly form this fully serviced, brownfield suburban site within the core of the town.”
Donegal County Council granted permission for the application, with 28 conditions, including a condition imposed that the developer shall provide adequate security to the Planning Authority for the provision and completion of all services required by the development, in the sum of €60,000, either by a cash deposit or a bond of a banking or insurance company acceptable to the Planning Authority.
Further conditions imposed were that the applicant should pay a sum of €45,000 to the Planning Authority as a special contribution under Section 48(2)(c) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, in respect of the installation of speed calming measures along the existing estate and raised table at the entrance, which will facilitate the development, and that the applicant should pay a contribution of €36,000 in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the Planning Authority that is already provided or is intended to be provided by the Authority.