An Bord Pleanála has upheld planning approval for 14 apartments on the Cappagh Road.
Galway city council granted approval in November 2018 for the demolition of two derelict buildings and the construction of two blocks of duplex apartments.
The proposed development will consist of two separate three storey apartment blocks close to the junction with the Western Distributor Road.
The number of units in this development was increased from 14 to 16 after meetings with the planning department of the city council.
It will consist of 6 one-bed apartments, 7 two-bed units, and 3 three-bed units.
21 caprparking spaces will be provided with this development, primarily to the rear of the duplexes except for five parking spaces located centrally.
Roughly half of the development site will be given over to open amenity space which will be landscaped by the developer.
One local resident who had objected to the project appealed the grant of planning permission to An Bord Pleanála.
The appeal cited several procedural errors in the planning documentation submitted with the city council.
Concerns were also expressed that the duplex blocks and their design are out of character with the surrounding area and will overshadow neighbouring properties.
The appellant also said that the scale of the project was an overdevelopment of the site and lacked sufficient parking.
In response the developer said that there were some inaccuracies with the initial documentation but that these had been corrected by way of further information.
It was also pointed out that the number of units in the project was increased at the request of the city council.
An Bord Pleanala said that while there were issues with the documentation at first, that should not be considered enough to derail a planning application.
The planning authority also said the size of development was not unique to the area and that “three stories cannot be considered of significant scale and height even in an outer suburban area such as Knocknacarra”.
An Bord Pleanala rejected the appeal and upheld planning permission with 25 revised conditions.
The developer must pay €129,746 to the city council for the provision of public infrastructure and amenities.
In addition, before work begins the developer must enter an agreement with the city council to provide affordable or social housing at this development to meet their Part V planning obligations.
