Major Donegal Town housing development gets green light

A major new housing development in Donegal Town has been given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanála.

After seeking up-to-date information pertaining to a possible impact on special areas of conversation nearby, the planning authority granted permission. Planning officials have affixed 20 conditions to the development.

Developer Shaun Doherty has sought to construct 35 residential units at Bluestack Drive, Drumrooske West, Donegal Town.

The proposed development is to comprise: Two bungalows; Four semi-detached bungalows; 17 two-storey houses; 12 apartments in three two-storey blocks;’ all associated site works including a storm water attenuation system and connection to all public services.

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In September, 2021, Peter and Aoife Tooher of Drumrooske, Donegal Town appealed a decision by Donegal County Council to grant permission for the development.

In March of this year, An Bord Pleanála deferred on passing a verdict and requested an up to date Natura Impact Statement to address water discharges at the construction and operation stages. The planning authority also requested a revised design and layout for the apartments which addressed the excessive quantum of two-bed three-person apartments.

A new Nature Impact Statement was submitted in June and An Bord Pleanála said the decision to grant permission was made after they ‘considered all submissions’.

The planning authority said that ‘it is considered that, subject to compliance with the conditions, the proposed development would not seriously injure the visual and residential amenities of the area, would be acceptable in terms of pedestrian ad traffic safety, would provide a satisfactory standard of residential amenity for future occupants and would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.’

A planning inspector recommended a refusal of permission, but the planning authority said that ‘the only reason was satisfactorily addressed by a revised Nature Impact Statement’. This, planning officials said, ’comprehensively addressed the potential for surface water impacts on European Sites at construction and operation stage.’

The sites in question are Lough Eske and Ardnamona Wood and Donegal Bay Special Areas of Conservation and the Donegal Bay Special Protection Area.

An Bord Pleanála said they were satisfied that the development would not adversely affect the integrity of these sites.

Among the 20 conditions attached to An Bord Pleanála’s ruling are that all of the measures set out in the revised Nature Impact Statement are to be implemented in full.

Water supply and wastewater connection agreement are to be put in place, all service cables on the site must be located underground and all houses should be  provided with electric connections to the exterior to allow for the provision of future electric vehicle charging points.

Construction and development works can only take place between 7am-7pm Monday-Friday, 8am-2pm on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays or public holidays.

The developer is to lodge a cash deposit, an insurance bond or other security and must also pay to the planning authority a financial contribution in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefitting development in the area as well as a similar financial contribution in respect of footpath infrastructure which will facilitate the development.