A massive residential development in Oranmore consisting of 212 homes have been granted planning approval by An Bord Pleanála.
Arlum Limited was seeking permission for a Strategic Housing Development of 212 homes, with a mixture of houses and apartments, on an 8.7ha site in the townlands of Moneyduff and Oranhill, Oranmore.
The development will consist of 58 four-bed, semi-detached units; 54 three-bed, semi-detached units; 16 four-bed, detached houses; 16 three-bed, terraced houses; 12 two-bed, terraced homes; and 56 two-bed, duplex apartments.
Other work involved in the project will include the construction of a crèche with outdoor play areas and car parking, along with shared communal and private open space, site landscaping, car parking and other site works.
A new vehicle and pedestrian access route off the North-South Oranmore Distributor Road will also be built. The plans include 409 car parking spaces together with 146 bicycle spaces.
Arlum said that this project will “assist Galway County Council in meeting its commitment to provide for residential development and for associated support development, which will ensure the protection of existing residential amenity and will contribute to sustainable residential neighbourhoods.”
Permission for a similar Strategic Housing Development at this site was refused by An Bord Pleanála before due to deficiencies in the Natura Impact Statement, which failed to take into consideration the Cregganna Marsh and Rahasane Turlough Special Protection Areas.
An Environmental Impact Assessment was submitted as part of this planning application.
Nine third party submissions were received by the higher planning authority about this development with concerns about how this would affect local traffic and the pressure it could put on schools and amenities.
In addition, An Taisce said that the project does not meet the objectives of the Oranmore Local Area Plan, noting the potential loss of EU Annex 1 habitat.
However the inspector for An Bord Pleanála said that while there is some Annex habitat on the site, the site itself is not a designated protected area.
Planning permissions was ultimately granted for the Oranmore residential development with 24 conditions attached.
