Kilcummin estate blocked over sewer

PLANS to build a 33 house estate in Kilcummin have been blocked because the village still doesn’t have a proper sewerage scheme.

An Bord Pleanala have refused developer Barth O’Neill permission to build a 33 house extension to the existing Pairc Chuimin estate located to the south west of the village.

Mr O’Neill had appealed a decision by Kerry County Council (KCC) to block the development on the basis that it was ‘premature’ before a sewerage scheme in the village had been completed.

In his appeal Barth O’Neill said the council’s decision to refuse permission for the estate was “out of line with Government policy and the action plan for homelessness.”

He also argued that as an identical development on the same site was previously granted permission by the council – though it never proceeded – there was “no reason” for the council not to give a green light to the new application.

An Bord Pleanala said that as there is still no exact time frame for completion of the, long awaited, sewerage scheme they could not grant permission for the development.

The board said that the Government’s housing action plan does not constitute formal guidance to councils. They added that while the housing action plan has provisions to fund critical infrastructure – such as the sewerage scheme – no houses can be granted permission until all necessary infrastructure is in place.

The board upheld the KCC decision and refused permission on the grounds that the proposal is “premature” and that without the sewerage plant it would be “prejudicial to public health.”

Irish Water says it hopes to lodge an application for permission to build the sewer scheme by the end of the year.

Work on the 8.5 km sewerage scheme and pump station was due to get underway in 2007 but the project suffered numerous delays, which have led to serious knock on issues in the area.