Planning refused for Kilmacrennan childcare and pre-school classrooms

Donegal County Council has denied planning permission for the addition of two classrooms to a Kilmacrennan childcare and pre-school facility.

The Learning Tree Childcare & Pre-School, in the townland of Kilconnell Glebe near Kilmacrennan, had applied for the provision of a new prefabricated classroom building consisting of two classrooms with ancillary accommodation, including connection to all existing services on site and all other associated site development works.

However, Donegal County Council rejected their proposals, citing flooding risks and road concerns as reasons for the refusal.

The Learning Tree was established in 2019, providing Early Childhood Care and Education sessions, along with a breakfast club and an after-school service for school-age children. They operate under the principles of Siolta, the National Standards for Pre-school services and Aistear, the pre-school curriculum.

Michael Friel Architects & Surveyors, on behalf of the applicant, stated in unsuccessful support documents: “Due to the ever-increasing demand for pre-school and childcare places, and the resulting large number of applicants annually who cannot be accommodated/offered a place due to a lack of capacity, it is now the applicant's intention to extend her existing facility to meet the current demand.”

Regarding flood reasons, it was written in the Chief Executive’s Order: “The proposed development would materially increase the capacity of an existing childcare facility on a low-lying site adjoining the Lurgy River,” and that portions of the site and its access route were within Flood Zones A and B.

It was stated: “Having regard to the potential for channel blockage, the vulnerability of preschool children and the absence of satisfactory arrangements for safe access and egress during a flood event, the Planning Authority is not satisfied that an unacceptable residual flood risk to the development and its occupants has been excluded.”

There were also concerns that the proposed development “would intensify the use of an existing private access connecting directly to the N56… within a transitional speed limit area.”

It was stated: “Insufficient traffic and access information has been submitted to demonstrate that the additional development and associated traffic would not adversely affect the capacity, safety or operational efficiency of the national road, and documented acceptance demonstrating compliance with relevant TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) standards has not been provided.”

Advice was provided to the applicant that an appeal may be made to An Coimisíun Pleanála within four weeks of the Planning Authority’s decision.