*Doonbeg.
PLANNING PERMISSION for over twenty houses in Doonbeg has been refused by Clare County Council.
Atlantic Building Consultants were refused permission for the 24 house residential development in Doonbeg over wastewater, traffic management and surface water concerns. The proposed development was also met with several objections from people across West Clare.
Atlantic Building Consultants originally applied to Clare County Council for “planning permission for the construction of 24 dwelling houses with reserved open space”, at a site adjacent to the Church Field area in the village on the 31st of July last year.
The local authority had requested further information in relation to the management of traffic and wastewater, both of which would be deciding factors in the local authority’s decision to refuse planning permission.
In their notice of decision, Clare County Council stated that “the Doonbeg wastewater treatment facilities are non-compliant with the emission limit values as set out by the EPA’s wastewater discharge license. Having regard to the nature of the proposed development, which would significantly increase the foul water effluent loading on the existing wastewater treatment plant, the Planning Authority considers that the proposed development would have significant adverse effects on water quality. The proposed development would therefore be prejudicial to public health”.
The local authority also noted that access to the site from the existing Church Field estate could cause traffic difficulties, highlighting that “The significant intensification” of vehicles as well as “the local demand for parking in the area associated with adjacent land uses and the restricted visibility from this access when vehicles are parked between the footpaths and the edge of the carriageway would have adverse impacts on traffic safety and free flow on the N67 National Road”.
These concerns were echoed by several objections, including a joint submission by ‘Churchfield Residents’. The objection stated that “treated effluent from the municipal wastewater treatment plant ultimately discharges to waters associated with environmentally sensitive habitats and designated European sites in the vicinity of Doonbeg Bay”, and questioned the validity of environmental assessments carried out during the planning process.
Churchfield residents also outlined the potential from traffic issues arising from the development, noting that “Residents regularly experience congestion and roadside parking within the vicinity of the estate entrance and surrounding road network, particularly during periods of increased activity within the village. Such conditions can restrict visibility and reduce the ease and safety with which residents can enter and exit the estate”.
“Given the scale of the proposed development and the duration of the construction phase, significant volumes of construction traffic, including heavy goods vehicles, will be generated. The Traffic and Transport Assessment does not fully address the potential interaction between construction traffic and existing roadside parking, pedestrian activity and constrained traffic conditions experienced by residents in the vicinity of the Churchfield Estate entrance”, the objection continued.
Following the refusal, Atlantic Building Consultants now have four weeks to issue an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála to overturn the decision.
