AN BORD PLEANÁLA has upheld a decision to reject construction of a residential development for 62 homes in Gort.
Mount Fuji Ltd’s appeal to the planning authority was rejected. They had hoped to demolish a vacant building and begin the process of building an older people’s housing estate.
As part of the project, Mount Fuji Ltd planned to demolish a ruined home known as ‘Flowervale’ and other buildings on a 1.17ha site between Station Road and Gort River Walk.
Plans for 62 residential developments for older people at Lavally, Gort had been lodged. The new estate would have comprised 52 apartments and 10 houses, along with a tea room, in a development specifically aimed at older people. The estate plans included 34 car parking spaces, as well as 59 bicycle spaces.
County planners in Galway refused planning permission in March 2022, finding that it fell short of standards for a town centre and residential development. This prompted Mount Fuji to appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
Officials in An Bord Pleanála agreed with the County Council’s original judgement to refuse planning for the development, sharing the view of the local authority staff on the quality of scheme from a design and layout perspective.
In refusing planning permission, the board raised a number of concerns about the design of the estate, the public open space and car parking in particular. The decision said that the estate’s relationship with the river walk and “lack of animation” of the street integrated poorly, and that the communal open space lacked amenity.
Insufficient car parking is included in the plans according to An Bord Pleanála who warned that the layout of the parking could create a traffic hazard. Questions on whether the existing sewerage infrastructure could serve the new estate were also flagged.
