Plan for estate on flood plain site in Tralee

THE developers behind a controversial plan to build a new housing development on a flood plain in Tralee are seeking more time to build the estate.

On March 10 this year PSA Sugrue Ltd applied to Kerry County Council for an extension to the duration of the planning permission that they received in 2012 to build 52 houses on a site at Ballyvelly on the banks of the Tralee canal.

Though the now defunct Tralee Town Council had granted permission for the development in 2011 this was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanala.

In March 2012 the planning appeals board granted permission for the development. Bord Pleanala Inspector Hugh Mannion had earlier said in his report that permission for the estate should not be given as the development would increase the risk of flooding in neighbouring areas.

In his report Mr Mannion acknowledged that the developer’s plans included flood attenuation measures that would protect the new estate and both the existing Cois Lí and Caheranne estates which are located next to the site of the planned development.

However he said that the planned estate could cause flooding on lands to the south and west of the site.

Mr Mannion added that the planned flood defences would be capable of dealing with water surges from all but the most extreme high tides.

Residents of Caheranne remain concerned about the planned development and the Caheranne Village Residents Association has called on Kerry County Council to refuse extension of the planning permission. A decision on the matter was due by May 4 but as yet the council has not published its ruling.

In August 2016 – following a similar application from the developers – Kerry County Council refused to grant PSA Sugrue Ltd an extension of duration of permission for the development.