Appeal against school extension overturned

AN Bord Pleanála has rejected an appeal by a landowner against the development of a rural school outside Westport on the grounds the development will lead to flooding on his lands.

Mayo County Council granted planning permission to Brackloon National School last August for the development of a school extension to include three new classrooms, one set room, one toilet and two classroom base special needs suites.

Permission was granted by the local authority after planners had initially raised concerns over the proposed new wastewater treatment system.

The school is located 5km outside Westport off the N59 Leenane Road. The new school was developed in 2013 and the old school building on the opposite side of the road is used as a pre-school facility.

An appeal was lodged with An Bord Pleanála by John Kearns of Midgefield, Westport, who is a neighbouring land owner to the development. He stated that he did not want to stop the development but raised concerns regarding effluent discharge and flooding onto his property.

In his appeal, Mr Kearns stated that the construction of the original school had narrowed a stream running between the respective properties causing flooding at different times of the year on his property.

Upgrade

In a response to the appeal, the applicant stated that the outfall from the new wastewater treatment system will discharge via a new foul sewer line to be constructed in the adjoining public road, east of the appeal site and ultimately discharging to the Owenwee watercourse to the south-east of the appeal site. The applicant stated that the outfall to the watercourse will, therefore, not affect the watercourse between the appeal site and the property of the appellant.

In his report to the board of An Bord Pleanála, Fergal Ó Bric, Inspector with ABP, stated that he was satisfied that the ‘principle of the provision of a school extension would be acceptable’ and the design and layout of the proposed building will integrate positively with the existing school buildings.

He noted that the groundwater vulnerability for the site is classified as ‘Extreme’ but added that the new wastewater treatment proposals would constitute an upgrade to an existing wastewater treatment system and is satisfied that the wastewater proposals are acceptable.

Regarding Mr Kearn’s concerns regarding flooding onto his land, Mr Ó Bric said he was satisfied that the development would not increase the risk of flooding within the appeal site nor within the adjoining lands.

Mr Ó Bric stated he also explained the flood data available from the OPW and noted that the appeal site is not identified as being located within an area at risk of flooding nor is there any record of flooding history. As a result he stated he was satisfied the surface water management proposals will not increase the risk of flooding within the appeal site boundary nor within the adjoining lands.

His recommendation that planning permission be granted for the development was approved by the Board of ABP, who granted planning permission subject to nine planning conditions.