Anton McNulty
THE DEVELOPMENT of five apartments and a shop in Kiltimagh, which was granted planning permission by Mayo County Council, has been recommended for refusal by An Bord Pleanála.
The applicant, Top Level Developments, applied for the demolition of two dwellings and the construction of five apartments and a retail unit with an area of 32 square metres, at Maiden Street and Circular Road in Kiltimagh, as well as the provision of five car parking spaces.
The development consisted of two three-storey buildings with a loft floor plan lit by velux lights only, which faces onto Maiden Street and two three-storey buildings facing onto Circular Road to the rear of the site with a courtyard area between both buildings.
However, An Bord Pleanála recommended refusal on the grounds that it was contrary to the sustainable development of the area.
The development was granted by Mayo County Council subject to 25 conditions, which included having the external finish plastered and painted and requiring the payment of contributions in accordance with the Council’s Development Contribution Scheme.
An appeal was submitted by Ms Marcella Doyle - who lives adjacent to the proposed development - and she gave over 20 submissions. Some of the grounds of appeal included the fact that it will totally disrupt her life during construction, the demolition would be a threat to the foundation of her dwelling and the on-site parking, which is a distance of 12 metres from her back door, will give rise to noise and pollution of the neighbouring back garden.
The inspector with An Bord Pleanála, Ms Emer Doyle, recommended that permission be refused because the design, scale and height of the proposed development would be inappropriate and therefore be injurious to the visual amenities of the area and contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
