An appeal has been lodged against a 155-home development in Dungarvan which has been granted conditional planning permission by Waterford City & County Council.

Applicant S & K Carey Limited applied to Waterford City & County Council for permission for the development of 113 homes, 42 apartments, a creche and a spine road at Duckspool, Dungarvan on February 20th.

Permission was granted on April 16th of this year – subject to 27 conditions set out by the local authority.

Permission was granted by the local authority, and a number of observations and appeals were lodged at that time during the public consultation period – alongside multiple letters of support.

A further appeal has since been lodged to An Coimisiún Pleanála – who will make a final ruling on or before September 1st 2025.

Even if a local authority grants permission for an LRD (Large Scale Residential Development) – appeals can be made to An Coimisiún Pleanála by eligible parties.

The process ensures that large developments are subject to further oversight and that local concerns can still be addressed at a higher level.

Appeal

The appellant, in their initial submission to Waterford City & County Council, raised a number of concerns in relation to the master plan, traffic congestion and environmental grounds.

The appellant outlined that the site provides access to a larger land bank which ‘should be subject to a master plan for the area’. It was acknowledged that ‘the site and all the back lands could be serviced by a new local road network’ – in the absence of a master plan, the appellant described the development as ‘premature’.

In relation to potential traffic congestion, the appellant said that as a local resident – ‘I would respectfully suggest that one must question the suitability and validity of the Traffic Impact Assessment and its findings’.

Waterford City & County Council have since ruled that the applicant will pay a special final contribution of €751,750 to the Planning Authority in respect of required improvements to road infrastructure – namely a new roundabout at the junction of the N25 and the Burgery to service the development.

Further development

Environmental concerns were also cited – referencing a previous application on lands opposite the site in question – where An Bord Pleanála had in 2022 permissioned a development of 218 homes.

That development was eventually quashed at High Court level – however, the application has been resubmitted by and is currently before An Coimisiún Pleanála for consideration.

The application was lodged by Michael Ryan on February 11th and seeks to construct 218 residential homes – made up of 176 homes and 42 apartments at Duckspool, Abbeyside, Dungarvan.

A decision on that proposed development was expected on or before June 3rd of this year – however, no decision has yet been made and the case is listed as live at present.

WLR has contacted An Coimisiún Pleanála for comment in relation to this application.

Were both applications to ultimately be approved in their current form, it could lead to the development of 373 homes in Dungarvan.

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