Ashfield residents’ concerns on proposed housing proposal

Residents in a Mullingar estate have submitted planning objections against a proposed housing development on an adjoining site, which if given the go ahead will be the first phase of one of the largest residential projects planned for Mullingar since the crash in 2008.

Householders in the Ashfield Estate have raised a number of concerns about plans to construct a 98-unit development at Rathgowan, Mullingar. The application by Glenveagh Homes also includes details for the construction of a childcare facility and a pumping station, as well as a shared cycle and pedestrian path running along the site’s southern, western and northern boundary, footpaths, parking, landscaping and amenity areas. Access to the development is to be from an existing entrance on the C-Link.

In one submission, signed by nine householders in Ashfield, concerns are raised about the location of two social houses directly behind their estate and they called for them to be relocated elsewhere in the development.

The residents stated that they are “extremely concerned about anti-social behaviour and littering problems that are associated with similar social houses within other estates in Mullingar and the impacts they have on those residents”.

“We want to avoid these problems from escalating from the proposed development directly onto the adjoining private residents in Ashfield.”

The residents also express concerns about the finish floor levels of the two-storey residential units in the proposed development, which they say are “significantly higher” than the Ashfield properties, and the separation distance between houses in the two estates which, they say, in some cases would be less that the minimum standard of 22m. The high finish floor levels, the separation distance, as well as the removal of existing trees and hedgerow would leave to a loss of privacy, residents claim.

The residents also raised concerns about the dust and noise pollution that would be generated during construction and are against “any direct access” between Ashfield and the proposed development, which they say would “generate additional pedestrian traffic, discarding of shopping trolleys, littering and anti-social behaviour which is being experienced in the nearby estates of Raíthín and Grange”.

Another submission, signed by more than 30 members of the Ashfield Residents Association, called for a reduction in the number of units and the provision of larger green areas. The residents also express concerns about the potential rise in anti-social behaviour and stated that there should be no access points between the two adjoining estates.

The decision due date for the application is April 24.

The application is the proposed first phase of a larger project. Last Tuesday, March 23, Glenveagh applied for planning permission for a further 83 housing units on the site. The decision due date for the application is May 17.