Published: Friday, 18th June, 2010 11:59am

Planning board rejects 80-house Tullamore plan

An Bord Pleanála has refused planning permission for an 80-house development close to the existing Whitehall and Cluain Darach estates on the Daingean Road in Tullamore.

The planning board ruled that the proposed development, by Danum Developments Ltd, would constitute an unacceptable risk of flooding and due to its "monotonous form of development" would injure the amenities of future and adjacent occupiers.

The plans for the 80 dwellings (comprising ten two-bed, 56 three-bed and 14 four-bed homes) had previously been refused permission by Offaly County Council.

However, the developer had appealed the refusal to the planning board, which this week, refused permission.

The application to the local authority had sparked seven submissions from locals, including two from the Whitehall Daingean Road Residents Association and the Cluain Darach Residents Association.

In its appeal, the developers, through their planning consultants Clarke O'Donnell and Associates, Patrick Street, Mullingar, argued that the mitigation measures put forward adequately addressed the on-site flooding risk.

They also argued that one of the council's reason for refusal (that the development was within an area at risk from flooding and that the site and development did not satisfy flood risk guidelines) effectively meant that the lands were undevelopable, despite being zoned for housing in the relevant town development plan.

In its ruling, the planning board said the site was within the Tullamore River flood plain and in an area at risk of flooding. It said it considered that the applicant had not provided sufficient information to demonstrate that it was compliant with flood risk guidelines for local authorities. "The proposed development would, therefore, constitute an unacceptable risk of flooding" and conflict with the Ministerial guidelines.

The board also said that, having regard to the design and layout, the proposal would result in a "monotonous form of development, with inadequate surveillance of the Barony stream and would be "substandard in linkages and distribution of open space".