Plan for 24 new homes at Ardbrae Park in Athlone turned down

A plan to develop 24 new homes to the east of the long-established Ardbrae Park estate in Monksland has been refused permission by Westmeath County Council.

In March, KDM Construction Limited submitted the planning bid for what was initially proposed as a 29-home development.

This was later revised to a 24-unit project, in response to a further information request from the local authority.

The planning application stated that the primary aim of the development was to create "high-quality homes in a sustainable, commercially viable way, situated in a well-connected and desirable location".

However, the proposal attracted a significant number of submissions from residents in Ardbrae Park who raised concerns about the impact the project would have on the area.

They cited issues including that the proposed access route for the new housing went "through Ardbrae Park’s existing cul-de-sac, replacing a longstanding green area with a vehicular connection".

Submissions from residents argued that Ardbrae Park's narrow carriageway and cul-de-sac layout could not accommodate two-way traffic and parking for 80-plus vehicles.

Concerns were also raised about ability of wastewater infrastructure in the area to cope with the additional demand, with residents mentioning that sewage blockages had been occurring in the area as it stands.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) also formally objected to the proposal. TII argued the development would adversely affect the safety and operation of the N6 and associated junctions, and that it would be "at variance" with national policy on development control along or near national roads.

In its decision, on November 7, Westmeath County Council refused permission for the 24 homes, citing two reasons.

The local authority said KDM Construction "failed to satisfactorily demonstrate that the proposed development would be served by an independent surface water drainage regime" that would not impact on "the existing N6 national road drainage system".

The council said this was considered to pose "an unacceptable risk to the integrity and functionality" of national road infrastructure.

Secondly, the council felt the scheme "fails to deliver a high-quality or contextually appropriate" housing design given its "prominent and visually sensitive" location.

"The proposal would result in a poor-quality and visually incongruous form of development," it said, which was contrary to an objective of the Athlone Town Development Plan.