An appeal has been lodged against the refusal of planning permission for a housing estate in Headford, which was shot down by the county council.
Plans were submitted by Callanan & Walsh Construction Co. Ltd for 16 houses on a site at Eallagh, Headford, off the N84 and next to the existing estate going by that name.
The county council refused planning for the development in January on the grounds the land is zoned Residential Phase 2, not considered for building in the lifetime of the current County Development Plan.
The council also said that it would create a road safety hazard on the national road via the new access point which would be built for the estate.
The first party appeal to An Bord Pleanála against this decision states that there are substantial difficulties in developing land zoned Phase 1 in the area, mainly due to access issues.
It states that there are exceptional circumstances which should allow these Phase 2 lands to be developed, as the site is already serviced and would continue the existing Eallagh housing estate.
A letter of support for the project signed by ten residents of the existing Eallagh housing estate was submitted to the council with the original application.
They said that having an additional entrance onto the N84 would be of great benefit to current and future residents of the estate.
However, two objections to the development were also received by the council, from local residents with safety concerns about the road entrance.
The appeal also stated that the proposed access point onto the N84 would allow for the future development of lands to the rear of the site, and that the Road Safety Audit and Traffic and Transport Plan which accompanied the application vouched for its safety.
An Bord Pleanála is currently due to rule on the appeal by June 5 of this year.
The housing in the proposed estate would comprise 8 three-bedroom, semi-detached, two storey units; 6 no. three-bedroom, mid-terrace, two storey units; 1 two-bedroom, single storey bungalow; and 1 four-bedroom, detached, two storey house.
