An Bord Pleanála set to rule on Limerick housing project

AN BORD Pleanála is to decide on an application to build almost 100 new houses in the suburbs after a string of objections.

Rockspring Developments had secured conditional planning permission from Limerick City and County Council for the major development at Baunaclocka in Raheen.

What’s planned there is a new estate comprising 97 residential units.

The proposed development will include two detached houses, 16 semi-detached homes, 40 terraced units and 38 living spots split into blocks numbering between two and four storeys.

A creche would also be provided.

While the council's planning web site said 96 homes were to be provided - with two detached houses - the appeal to An Bord Pleanála lists 97 units, with three detached houses rather than two.

An inspection of Rockspring's original planning application would suggest that the latter figure is actually the correct number.

Either way, the planning application attracted almost 50 objections when it came before council planners.

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One of them, local farmer and former senior county hurling manager Tom Ryan has escalated the case to An Bord Pleanála which will decide whether to grant or reject the plans by September.

In his objection to the local authority, Mr Ryan pointed out that the Loughmore Canal and Barnakyle River runs through his lands, with the water course being the outfall for storm water from the proposed development.

For many years, he wrote he has raised concerns with the council around the capacity of the outfall, and claims that because the discharge is not controlled “no further developments should take place in the area.”

A number of other parties also wrote to the council expressing their concern over the development.

Local Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler believes it “contravenes national guidelines in terms of urban sprawl.”

“The land is prone to flooding and is at a lower level of The Grange estate. Any rising of the ground levels will likely displace water into The Grange. Adequate drainage on site is not provided for,” he added.

In response to the submissions, Rockspring representatives pointed to a report from a roads consultant outlining a number of recommendations to tackle any flood issues.