Bord na Mona extension of composting facility requires planning permission

An Bord Pleanála has ruled that the extension of the boundary of an existing Bord Na Mona composting facility to include a one hectare area of planted bogland adjacent to the facility for the treatment of excess rainwater currently retained within the composting facility prior to export at Kilberry, Athy, County Kildare is development and is not exempted development.

An Bord Pleanála has concluded that -
(a) the excess rainwater in question would most accurately be described as leachate,
(b) the use of leachate as proposed is not provided for by the extant permissions and would, therefore, contravene conditions attached to such permissions,
(c) the use would raise new planning issues that would be material for planning purposes and thus constitute a material change of use, and
(d) the proposed extension of the existing composting facility would involve a material change to the permitted planning unit and constitute a material change of use of planted bogland

Discount food store application at Hotel Keadeen appealed to An Bord Pleanala

An application by the owner of the Hotel Keadeen in Newbridge for a discount food store was refused by Kildare County Council. This is the second time the Council have issued a refusal. The applicant has now lodged a first party appeal against the Council’s decision with An Bord Pleanala.

Large-Scale Housing Application in Kildare Town

An application has been lodged with Kildare County Council for development consisting of the demolition of an existing two storey office building and agricultural outbuildings and the construction of 170 No. dwellings on an 8.4 hectare site in Kildare Town.  The development will also include a two storey commercial building with separate vehicular access from Tully Road comprising a crèche at ground floor level and office accommodation at first floor level. The applicants have sought a 10 year planning permission in order to complete the development as opposed to the normal 5 year period.  A housing application of this size and scale is very much a rareity these days.

Kildare County Council: New Notice Regarding Quarries

Sections 74 and 75 of the Planning and Development Act (Amendment) Act 2010, was commenced on the 16/11/11 and inserted a new section 261A, into the Planning and Development Act 2000.  Section 261A contains new provisions in relation to the regulation of quarries. 

A new substitute consent procedure was legislated for, whereby projects requiring environmental impact assessment and appropriate assessment could apply for a form of retention – but this was necessarily limited to highly exceptional cases – e.g. a planning permission found defective by a court. 

The legislation provides that

Newbridge development gets green light

A NEW drive-through restaurant, filling station and other facilities are to be provided at a site in Newbridge town. Kildare Co Council has just granted planning permission for the development at Piercetown, Station Road, close to St Mark’s School and the Energie Fitness Centre, (formerly Jackie Skelly’s).

The approved application, in the name of Brendan O’Brien, is for a two-storey commercial development incorporating a petrol service station and shop, delicatessen with seating, kitchen, toilets and stores at ground floor level, along with a drive-through restaurant facility including order boxes, and further restaurant facilities on the first floor. The overall development also includes a car-wash area, underground storage for petrol pump services and car-parking. A new site entrance will also be developed. The site for which permission has been granted is a previously approved mixed-use development site.

The proposed development is an indicator of the growth of the Piercetown/Station Road area, where there has been a considerable amount of new housing built in recent years. As the route to Newbridge railway station and the housing estates and new school at Rickardstown, the roadway has become inceasingly busy. The new facilities will also be located directly opposite the new Department of Defence headquarters.

It is understood the development will be built by Kilmeague-based company Thoval Homes, headed by the Leeson brothers. The company has been responsible for the completion of a number of local housing and commercial projects in recent years. Planning permission was originally sought for the Station Road development on 25 March of this year and it was granted on Monday 7November.

Link to Article in Kildare Nationalist

McDonalds Lodge Application for Restaurant and Drive Thru in Kildare Town

McDonalds have lodged an application for a restaurant and assocaited drive-thru on lands adjoining Tescos (currently under construction) on the south side of Kildare Town, close to the Kildare Outlet Village.  This area of the town has been notable for the absence of any development over the period of the Celtic Tiger but since the recession has hit ironically the area has changed dramatically.  This will continue if McDonalds are successful with their permission.

New Memorial Woodland Burial Ground Proposed in Caragh, Co. Kildare

An interesting application has come before Kildare County Council. An application has been lodged for a memorial woodland burial ground at Liffey Lodge, Gingerstown, Caragh, Co. Kildare. The proposed development will provide for a varied plot type and size in a woodland setting and will include car-parking, multi faith reflection building with toilet facilities and relocated machinery/storage shed with vehicular and pedestrian access via proposed upgraded existing entrance from the R409 and will include boundary treatments foul & surface water drainage proposals and all associated site development works on lands of circa. 2.367 Ha.

An Bord Pleanal grant permission for two change of use applications from retail to off-licene

An Board Pleanala has recently granted two applications for a change of use from retail to off-licence, one in Leixlip and one in Kilkock.  The Council had granted permision in both instances but the decisions had been appealed by third parties in both instance.  These applications reflect the difficulty that some landlords are having getting new retail tenants for their premises and the need to look at alternative options.

An Bord Pleanala grants permission for Maynooth Campus Development

Following a third party appeal by local residents, An Bord Pleanala has upheld the decision of Kildare County Council to grant permission for the construction of the North Campus Student Housing Complex comprising 77 student apartments, residents office, student social room, retail unit and bicycle stores arranged in 4no. courtyard buildings from 3 -9 storeys in height.

In granting permission the Board concluded that “Having regard to the established use of the site as a university campus, the location of the proposed development and its design, it is considered that, subject to compliance with the conditions set out below, the proposed development would not be visually obtrusive and would not seriously injure the amenities of residential property in the vicinity due to the significant separation distance from neighbouring residences. Having regard to the surface water measures proposed, it is considered that the proposed development would reduce the level of existing surface water runoff from the site thereby reducing the level of existing flood risk associated with the unnamed stream to the north. The proposed development would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.

 

Naas Town Council Refuse Permission for Replacement of Protected Dwelling with Industrial/Warehouse Units

Naas Town Council have refused planning permission for the demolition of Grove Villa on Monread Road and its replacement with 3 no. warehouse/industrial units.  The reasons for refusal related to design/scale and traffic hazard.

Successful Levies Appeal, Newbridge, Co. Kildare

An Bord Pleanla have reduced the development contribution (levies) for the subdivision of a unit in Main St, Newbridge by over half the amount imposed by Kildare County Council.

David Mulcahy Planning Consultants Ltd took the case to the Board on behalf of the applicant who was unhappy with the €21,150 levy applied by the Council.  The Board agreed that the levy was excessive and had not been applied in accordance with the Council’s own development contribution scheme.  It was reduced to €10,327.

The €21,150 levy had actually been a reduction on a previous application for the same development when a €26,100 levy applied.  The second application was lodged with a view to gaining access to the Board in order to appeal the decision which was considerd to be excessive.

Interestingly a further credit against levies previoulsy paid on the floorspace in question was not supported even though the Council agreed to this credit in their submission to the Board.  The Board considered that because the levies were applied and collected prior to the commencement of the Planning & Development Act, 2000 a credit would not apply.

Proposed Sports Facilities at Newbridge College Appealed to An Bord Pleanala

The decision of Kildare County Council to grant permission to Newbridge College for construction of 1 no. all weather hockey pitch, 2 no. all weather training pitches and an all weather running track has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala.

Kildare, Naas and Athy Development Contribution Schemes 2011 – 2018 adopted

Kildare County Council along with Naas and Athy town Councils have given notice that revised Development Contribution Schemes have been adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 48 of the Planning and Development Acts, 2000 – 2010. The schemes were adopted as follows:

• Kildare County Council on the 7 September 2011

• Naas Town Council on the 13 September 2011

• Athy Town Council on the 13 September 2011

An Bord Pleanala grant permission for retention of wood chip recycling facility in Kill, Co. Kildare

An Bord Pleanala have upheld the decision of Kildare County Council to grant retention permission a wood chipping facility with a concrete slab, site office porto cabin , enclosure , weighbridge, water storage tank, welfare facilities and ancillary infrastructure Oldmilltown Industrial Estate. The development processes 20,000 tonnes per annum of timber waste.

An Bord Pleanala refuse permission for 50 dwellings in Prosperous, Co. Kildare

An Bord Pleanala has upheld the decision of Kildare County Council to refuse permission for 50 dwelling in Prosperous. The reasons for refusal related to capacity at Osberstown WWTP, deficiency in the sewage facilities/network and the impact on visual amenity.

Aldi apply for planning permission again in The Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge

Aldi have lodged another planning application for a discount food store in the gounds of the Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge having previously been refused by the Council.

An Bord Pleanalal Refuse Permission for 32 sites in Clane, Co. Kildare

 

An Bord Pleanala have refused permission for site layout and development works for sixteen serviced sites and outline planning permission for the construction of 16 number two-storey detached dwellings with individual domestic garages on the aforementioned sites and all ancillary site works at Ballinagappa Road, Clane, County Kildare.  The sole reason for refusal related to the Osberstown WWTP capacity issue.

 

Submissions sought for new Plans: Newbridge, Maynooth & Kildare Town

Kildare County Council are now seeking submissions concerning the preparation of Local Area Plans for Newbridge, Maynooth and Kildare Town. This represents an opportunity for land owners to seek to have their lands rezoned. The next opportunity will be in six years time. The deadline is the 7th September 2011. An issues paper has been prepared by the Council to highlight the relevant issues relating to each town and these are available on the Council’s website.

Temporary Ice Rink Proposed for Newbridge, Co. Kildare

An application has been lodged with Kildare County Council for a temporary ecological ice rink in the Courtyard Shopping Centre, Newbride, Co. Kildare.

Green Waste Collection and Processing Facility Proposed for Celbridge Driving Range

An application has been lodged with Kildare County Council for a green waste collection and processing facility beside the Astroturf pitches at Celbridge Driving Range.  The facility will include a 3,000sq.m concrete compound, 6 bay storage building and 30,000 litre underground surface water reclamation storage tanks.