Concerns flagged with 234 house development in Gort

*An artist’s impression of the housing development. 

IARNRÓD ÉIREANN has flagged concerns with a major housing development planned for Gort.

Gort Homes Development Ltd in February lodged plans for the development of 234 homes at Lavally on the Lough Rd in Gort.

Of the 234 houses, 144 are three-bedroom homes, 31 are four-bed houses, 11 are two-bed duplexes, 11 are three-bed duplexes, 19 are one-bed senior living apartments, five are two-bed senior living apartments, three are one-bed apartments and ten are two-bed apartments.

Some of the block elements are up to four storeys high.

Included in the development also along the 4,186 sq.m of commercial floor space is a café unit, five retail units, co-working space and associated lobby, senior living communal amenity spaces, a creche and an activity centre.

Provision of a pedestrian and cyclist access link to the existing Gort Railway Station is also included.

In a submission to Galway County Council, Iarnród Éireann outlined that it has “no objection to this development, but the proposal does not meet our security requirements with respect to a 2.4m high boundary treatment and there cannot be a ledge which can provide a foothold for climbing”.

A total of twenty one conditions to be imposed have been requested by Iarnród Éireann including requesting the developer to specify necessary mitigation measures where specified noise levels are exceeded and that no trees are to be planted directly along the railway boundary as they can impair the vision of train drivers or their view of signals.

Gort Town Team detailed that they were “happy to support the overall proposal however we are concerned by a number of points that we feel need to be addressed in advance of planning permission being granted”. Vehicular access, connectivity and public open spaces are among the areas they put emphasis on. “It is very concerning and disappointing to note the absence of a crucial point of connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists between the site and the town centre, by the railway bridge in George’s Street. The provision of such an access route would ensure greater connectivity and safety for all users. This would also decrease the volume of traffic at the junctions on the Loughrea Road, reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, associated pollution and environmental damage and mitigate risk of accident or injury on the busy Loughrea Road”.

Submitted by Chairperson Annie Rozario and Bernice Forde Carolan, the submission added, “The absence of this crucial linkway between the site and Georges Street leads us to believe that the needs of pedestrians and cyclists have not been prioritised as expected in this development. There is a failure to acknowledge the level of accessibility and connectivity that will be required by residents to access employment and other destinations. The majority of retail and hospitality services, primary schools, factories, medical practices, and other public transport routes are located in or in close proximity to the town centre”.

Ballinasloe based, Alphonsus Ó hEaghra in a submission highlighted, “No integrated stormwater drainage system exists in Gort and the use of soakaways as drainage systems is not appropriate in this landscape of karst formations”.

He added, “Regarding the letters of feasibility from Irish Water, more detail is required. Timelines for capacity availability, current capacity, structural integrity of the sewage pipelines along Georges st as replacement and repairing may be required. I support the provision of housing in this proposal. I would also welcome the possibility of this site providing municipal infrastructure. The use of the rail network needs to be supported”.

Planners with Galway County Council are due to make a decision on the planning application by the end of March.