Residents insist green space must not be lost
PLANS to build nine houses and two apartments on Goat Street have been met with a flood of objections from local residents who say the proposed development would pack too many buildings into the area and deprive them of a valued amenity space.
A planning application submitted to Kerry County Council by Michael O’Donoghue on behalf of Zinbar Grove Developments seeks permission “to construct a corner terraced building forming a streetscape fronting onto the upper end of the new Dingle Relief Road/Goat Street. This corner terraced building will consist of nine terraced dwelling houses and two apartments.”
The site, which is on a green area in front of the existing Fairfield Close estate on Goat Street is described by Mr O’Donoghue as “disused open space” and he says the aim of the development includes: “To promote the development of infrastructure and services within the town. Improve the quality of life of its residents and make the town a more attractive location in which to live”.
He also says in the application for planning permission that “the proposed residential development will not adversely impact on any nearby amenity areas…”
In a supporting document submitted with the application, planning consultant Derek Daly, who previously worked in Kerry County Council’s planning department and with An Bord Pleanála, says, “the proposed development is located in an increasingly well established residential area and this is deemed to be the most suitable use for the site”.
“It was never envisaged from the outset to be retained as a public open area. It is absolutely unsuitable as an area of public open space... owing to the gradient and configuration…. It does not lend itself to passive or active use in relation to open space and the area is not the subject of any statutory proscribed view or prospect requiring its retention as public open space,” he says.
However, local residents think otherwise and council planners have received a raft of objections to Zinbar Grove’s plans.
A submission signed from the Dingle Sustainable Development Group cites a decision by An Bord Planála relating to a planning application on the same site in 2007 when permission was refused because “the proposed development would materially contravene the Dingle Local Development Plan 2006 in that the subject site was zoned recreational/open space”.
“The area is currently being used by local residents, especially children, as an amenity area for recreational play… the proposed development would result in the total loss of this significant amenity space [and] would have a significant and profound impact on the amenity currently enjoyed by the existing residents of Fairfield Close,” the group adds.
This argument is echoed in several additional submissions by residents in Goat Street and Fairfield Close. Anthony O’Shea, who is a resident of Fairfield Close points out that “the area was specifically provided as open space as part of the ‘parent permission’ [relating to the original Fairfield Close development].
He also notes that a further condition of the original planning permission granted was that “the existing boundary wall shall be demolished and re-built in accordance with traditional methods … in the interest of the historical importance of this wall and the visual amenities of the area.”
That wall was re-built as part of the original Fairfield Close development but Mr O’Shea adds: “Kerry County Council demolished the re-built wall last summer (to widen the road) and replaced it with a flimsy fence, ignoring the above condition. Residents were advised that it would be re-built as soon as funds became available. The re-built wall, which was deemed to be of historical importance and contribute to the visual amenities of the area will be no more if this permission is granted.”
In another submission to the council Sarah and Tom Wildgoose point out that before they bought a house in Fairfield Close they spoke to many longstanding residents and “every single person… assured us that the open space area in front of the houses would never have planning permission granted [and] it is the expectation of the residents of the town that the land be kept as open space.”
Meanwhile, The Dingle Sustainable Development Group challenges an assertion by Zinbar Grove Developments that the development will help “address the totally inadequate housing provision for the single or elderly person within the town [and] to provide units at a very affordable price…”
The group insists in its submission to the council that “there is absolutely no proof this housing project is needs led” and suggest that Kerry County Council “should do a housing audit to assess what type and range of housing is actually needed in Dingle”. The group adds that the Celtic Tiger building boom proves that more houses doesn’t necessarily mean lower prices.
A decision on the planning application is due late next month, but this may be extended due to the coronavirus emergency.