Planning board gives go-ahead for 65 new homes in Coosan area
An Bord Pleanála has upheld a decision by Westmeath County Council last year to grant planning permission for a 65-home development in the Hillquarter area of Coosan.
Last June the council approved revised plans for the new estate, which is earmarked for a 0.408 hectare Hillquarter site that would include a connection to Coosan Road.
The housing itself is due to consist of mostly three or four-bedroom semi-detached or terraced homes.
The council's decision last summer was referred to An Bord Pleanála by four appellants, and earlier this year a report from the planning board's inspector recommended that planning permission be refused.
However, this was overruled by a 2-1 margin at a meeting of the board on February 5, where it was decided the project should be given the green light.
Mistledale Limited, directed by Helena Moore, care of Mary Thornton & Associates in Oranmore, Galway, is the company behind the residential development, which was originally due to involve 67 units before the density was reduced slightly.
The planning application was initially lodged with the council in May 2023, and it attracted more than 15 objections from local residents or people with connections to the area.
After the council granted planning approval last June, appeals was lodged with An Bord Pléanala on behalf of John Rattigan; Sinead Kelly; and David and Clodagh Dickson; all with addresses in Hillquarter; and Paraic Rattigan, with an address in Limerick.
The points raised by the appellants in their submissions were summarised by An Bord Pléanala inspector Caryn Coogan as including concerns over the potential negative impact of the development on adjoining properties, issues raised over the zoning of the land, inadequate infrastructure locally, and access issues.
There were also concerns raised about surface water drainage and wastewater connections, road safety impacts, the density of the housing units, and their environmental or ecological effects.
In her report, Ms Coogan said she concurred with the appellants' concerns about the suitability of the site, saying it was "underdeveloped" as a location for housing of this nature.
"The location lacks basic infrastructure in terms of footpaths, public lighting and social infrastructure," wrote Ms Coogan.
"The site is an isolated site that does not follow the existing pattern of development in the area and is not included in the Local Area Plans of the Athlone Town Development Plan, and it does not represent and urban extension to an existing built-up area.
"Notwithstanding the low-density residential zoning, I consider the proposal to be ad hoc and piecemeal, and should be refused because it does not follow the adopted planning policy for sequential and sustainable residential development for Athlone on greenfield sites," she stated.
However, the planning board took a contrasting view when it met in early February, opting to grant planning permission subject to 23 conditions.
An order signed by An Bord Pleanála member Declan Moore on February 17 said Athlone's status as a 'Regional Growth Centre' in the Government's National Development Plan had been factored into the final decision.
"In deciding not to accept the Inspector's recommendation to refuse permission, the board noted that Athlone is a designated Regional Growth Centre according to the Settlement Hierarchy of the National Planning Framework, the Eastern and Midland Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (2019-2030) and the Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027."
The board's decision also noted that "the site is zoned residential, is serviced, and the proposed development provides for a mix of housing types."