ABP overturns decision to grant planning for 245 unit development
ABP says that it contravenes the council's own area plan for Mullingar
An Bord Pleanála have overturned Westmeath County Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a major new housing development in the Marlinstown area of Mullingar on the grounds that it would contravene the local authority’s own area plan.
In November, the council gave local builders Andrews Construction the green light for 245 new houses on a 10-hectare site in the Petitswood townland, which borders the Dublin and Ardmore roads.
However, the decision was appealed by local residents, who objected to the development due to concerns about a number of issues, including traffic and road safety, the lack of amenities, density, biodiversity, and privacy.
While the council, which received around 20 submissions objecting to the development at the initial planning phase, gave the project the go-ahead, An Bord Pleanála overturned the decision on the grounds that it materially contravenes the local area plan for Mullingar.
It said that the plans for the proposed development do not include the “appropriate” infrastructure “to support the phased development of Ardmore/Marlinstown” as laid out in the plan.
In addition, the board noted that it had “concerns regarding the fragmented nature of public open space” and its potential impact on “the quality of amenity for future residents”. It also said that it had “concerns regarding the permeability links throughout the proposed development...”.
“The board considered that the interfaces between the residential development and the areas zoned for commercial and mixed-use development under the ownership of the applicant had not been given sufficient consideration.
“While ordinarily these [concerns about permeability] would warrant further consideration and a request for further information, in this instance, given the substantive reason for refusal above [inappropriate infrastructure], it was decided not to pursue these matters under the current appeal.”