Developer lodges appeal with ABP over refusal for scheme

By Aideen O’Flaherty

A DEVELOPER, who was refused planning permission for a residential scheme containing 65 residential units on a site south of Stocking Lane, and outline permission for the construction of a primary and secondary school east of Ballycullen Road in Oldcourt, has lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanala.

Jones Investments Limited applied for permission for the development of 51 houses, to be a mixture of four and three-bed dwellings housed in detached, semi-detached, mid-terrace and end terrace houses, and 14 apartments, last June.

In the same application, the applicant also sought outline permission for the construction of an educational campus, to be comprised of a two-storey, 16 classroom primary school, a two-storey, 37 classroom post-primary school and a 2.67 hectare playing pitch at a site to the east of Ballycullen Road in Oldcourt.

The application, which was refused permission by South Dublin County Council last July, attracted two third-party submissions from local residents, one of which was in favour of the proposed development and one which was against.

Eamon O’Keeffe stated that, in relation to the site concerning the proposed educational campus, he was “happy for the development to proceed” and made a number of suggestions for the planned development, including installing new pedestrian crossings and a cycle lane.

Another local resident, Louise Browne, objected to both of the proposed developments citing a number of concerns, including the potential issues that could be created by the development of “more housing in an area near the M50 with traffic problems”.

In relation to the school development, Ms Browne stated that “putting schools up in the mountains in a field will add further to the traffic congestion.”

South Dublin County Council refused permission for both planned developments on a number of grounds, including concerns that the proposed educational campus would “increase pressure on existing infrastructure and could perpetuate existing pressures in terms of rural housing.”

The local authority also stated in their decision to refuse permission that the applicant’s submitted ecological documentation is “insufficient”.

Tom Phillips and Associates Planning Consultants, acting on behalf of Jones Investments Limited, lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanala last month against the council’s decision to refuse permission.

The appellant outlined a number of grounds for appeal, including their view that “the proposed development is fully incompliance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”, and that it addresses “a long-term shortage in terms of community facilities in the area”, namely two schools and the associated playing pitches.

The appellant also included a letter from Mary Clegg, the principal officer of the site acquisition and property management section of the Department of Education and Skills, where she stated that the department has signed contracts with the landowner of the site concerning the educational development, “with a view to acquiring the lands”.

Ms Clegg also added that there is an “immediate need” for a new post-primary school in the area.

An Bord Pleanala has yet to make a decision on the appeal.