DULEEK HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IS FACING OBJECTIONS
THE lack of proper infrastructure, including full primary schools and no secondary school as well as poor transport links, is something that should play a big part in contesting a planning application for 167 homes at the Steeples Road in Duleek, the area council has been told.
Cllr Geraldine Keogan raised the proposed strategic housing development at the area meeting in Navan, asking that the councillors be given the chance to address their concerns with the project.
She said this was the first strategic development in Duleek and a lot of factors needed to be addressed.
Cllr Wayne Harding agreed, stating that the councillors needed a platform to air their views, as has happened with previous applications of this nature.
Cllr Stephen McKee was he wasn’t convinced about such developments as they led to a lot of land hoarding and few houses. ‘ There’s an apparent lack of democracy about them,’ he felt.
The application by Davy Target Investments ICAV, goes straight to An Bord Pleanála for planning permission. It’s on 4.8ha in the townland of Commons. The proposed development will consist of 167 dwellings and a 2 storey creche (415sq.m), including 93 2-storey, 3 & 4 bedroom houses and 74 duplex units & apartments, as well as all associated site development works, including the provision of a roadside footpath and cyclepath along The Steeples Road, two ESB sub-stations, car parking, bin & bicycle storage, public open spaces, hard and soft landscaping, boundary treatments and public lighting. Access to the development will be via one new vehicular entrance off The Steeples Road.
The last day for submissions is June 30 and a decision is due by 15 September 2020.
The archaeological report with the application states that the area of the proposed development was comprehensively surveyed and archaeologically tested in two phases in the past.
‘ The archaeological remains encountered included ditches, one of which forms a substantial enclosure likely appended to the ecclesiastical enclosure ME027-038019, postholes, stakeholes, pits and roughly-cobbled or tempered work surfaces. Artefactual evidence included medieval pottery, butchered animal bone and one sherd of possible prehistoric pottery. These remains constitute a significant archaeological resource that should either by preserved in situ or be the subject of full archaeological excavation in advance of the proposed project’s construction stage.’
It concluded, ‘Significant archaeological remains were identified within the southeastern and southern portions of the proposed development. These are likely to be mostly of early and later medieval date and be associated with the ecclesiastical/ monastic origins of Duleek village but may also include a prehistoric element.’