Mayo housing development refused by An Bord Pleanála

An Bord Pleanála has refused planning permission for a 92 unit housing development in north Mayo after ruling that the proposed development would not follow a 'concentric settlement pattern'.

Earlier this year, Mayo County Council granted planning permission for a mixed unit development located to the rear of the existing Friarscourt housing development on the Killala Road in Ballina.

The applicant, Thawside Ltd, had originally applied to develop a 92 houses development consisting of 40 three-bedroomed semi detached, ten two-bedroomed semi detached, 26 four-bedroomed detached and 16 three-bed terraced units but agreed to reduce the scale of the development to 86-units following consultation with council planners. The development was also to include a creche facility and a MUGA (Multi-use Game Area).

An appeal was lodged with An Bord Pleanála by the Friarscourt Residents Association who cited concerns over the traffic management of the development and that the proposed entrance to the site will put residents at risk.

However, An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission not because of the issues raised by the residents association but because the development would be 'contrary to the zoning objective for the site'.

READ: "It's like Chernobyl" - Mayo town opposed to forestry project

The board noted that part of the site where the housing and creche are proposed is zoned for agriculture and that the objective of the Ballina Local Area Plan is to 'reserve land for agricultural and rural uses and to preserve the amenity of the town setting'.

“Noting that the population targets of the core strategy could be exceeded by the residential development and that there is a failure to follow a concentric settlement pattern whereby there are available lands closer to the town centre that would be more suitable for residential development, the development would be contrary to the zoning objective for the site, the core strategy of the Mayo County Development Plan 2022-2028 and contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area” the Board stated in giving their reasons and considerations for refusing permission.

The Board also noted that the applicant was aware of the site’s zoning and addressed this in the response to the appeal and ‘therefore the Board did not consider it necessary to invite further submissions’.

In making the appeal to An Bord Pleanála, the residents stated that they do not object to the building of additional houses in the vicinity of Friarscourt but they felt the road through the estate cannot be used for the proposed construction route.

“The estate is surrounded by land and there is potential for alternative roadways that could be accessed at the rear of the lands,” the appeal stated.

The residents added: “If you deem that this development should proceed, we appeal to the Board to make this new access road a condition of the planning permission in the interest of the existing residents of Friarscourt who have a right to live in and enjoy our homes and amenities in a safe environment which is not compromised.”