24-house scheme ‘too small’ – Bord Pleanála

A SUCESSFUL planning application for 24 houses in Crosstown, to which some local residents objected, has been overturned on appeal by An Bord Pleanála which recommended that a much larger scheme of at least 122 extra houses houses should be built on the site instead.

H&R Chartered Homes applied for the development in May last year and planning permission was granted, with conditions, by Wexford County Council in July

There were three observations recorded during the original planning process, with two of those who made submissions taking the case further to An Bord Pleanála.

Residents Michael Brennan and John Molly raised concerns about a number of issues including surface water problems, a flooding risk on the site, a lack of social infrastructure, traffic on the R471, the positioning of an access road through a wetlands habitat and alleged authorised activity in relation to to the partial infilling of a marlhole on the site.

Mr. Brennan of Crosstown was concerned about the impact the removal of the wetlands would have on drainage patterns in the area and also pointed out that the Natura Impact Statement did not refer to the access road through the wetlands, or the flora and fauna within that area.

John Molloy, from Ardcavan, stressed that there was no social infrastructure in the locality and that the R741 was the busiest access road in Wexford town. He also pointed out that the area was prone to flooding.

An Bord Pleanála refused the planning application on appeal but not for any of the reasons outlined by the objectors.

Instead, it pointed out that the proposed housing density is too low for a ‘medium residential’ zone and therefore contrary to the zoning objective of the site.

A planning inspector said the development would ‘result in an inadequate housing density that would give rise to an inefficient use of zoned residential land and of the infrastructure supporting it’.

The Sustainable Residential Development of Planning Authorities in Urban Areas guide of 2009 recommends 35 to 50 houses per hectare which would provide for 116 to 165 houses on the 3.30 hectares (8.15 acre) site in Crosstown. Therefore, the proposed development amounts to a shortfall of 92 to 153 houses or an average of 122 units, according to the board.