Council gives green light for Moate housing development
A new 40-unit housing development on Moate's Jones Lake Road has been given the green light by Westmeath County Council.
The project was referred to in planning documents as 'phase 2' of the Ard na Locha housing development.
Planning permission was granted by the council, subject to 21 conditions, on May 19, and will see two bungalow houses removed from the originally submitted plans and replaced with designated car parking and open space to serve apartment and duplex dwellings in the development.
Permission was sought last year by Markayla Ltd for the development of 42 homes, consisting of 28 houses and 14 apartments.
A breakdown of the proposed new homes showed 10 four-bedroom, detached, two-storey houses; 16 four-bedroom, semi-detached, two-storey houses; two one-bedroom, semi-detached, bungalow houses; seven two-bedroom, ground floor apartments and seven two-bedroom, duplex apartments, along with associated site development works including roads, services and landscaping at Jones Lake Road.
A total of 21 conditions were attached to the grant of planning permission, addressing issues such as road design, site design, surface water, connections to water and wastewater services, public lighting, landscaping and a construction management plan.
In relation to design details, the council stipulated that 'house type D' (one-bedroom bungalows) should be omitted from the development and replaced with car parking and a landscaped open space.
A pedestrian/cycle access pathway is to be provided through this corner of the site, linking the estate to the Lake Road.
Another condition impoised by the council stipulates that balconies on duplex units to the front and rear must be finished with a high-quality privacy screen material.
The planning authority had previously sought further information on the development, which included a Stage 1 and Stage 2 road safety audit. It has specified that the grant of planning permission was conditional on the development being constructed in accordance with the 22 recommendations outlined in the audit, and the council must receive a revised site layout plan demonstrating conformity with these recommendations.
A minimum of 10% of all carparking spaces are to be allocated for electric vehicle charging stations, and all service cables are to be placed underground.
First occupation of the dwellings is to be restricted to individual purchasers and those eligible for social/affordable housing, including cost rental housing.
Construction work is to be carried out between 7.30am and 7pm Mondays to Fridays and between 8am and 2pm on Saturdays. It is not permitted on Sundays or bank holidays.
The developer must pay a development contribution of some €116,000 to the council.
Submissions made to the council on the proposed development included concerns about restricted visibility at houses 44-46, main entrance design, insufficient public lighting, overlooking issues, the high volume of traffic, construction noise and the addition of apartments to the site.
The council planning report stated that the comments were noted and would be considered in its assessment of the development.