New housing development at Clara refused by An Bord Pleanála

Planning permission for a 42 house development in Erry, near Clara, has been refused by An Bord Pleanála as it was deemed 'contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area'. The decision was made on April 24 by the board following the inspector"s report, which upheld the original refusal made by Offaly County Council last year. The applicants Ger Handy and Arthur O"Brien appealed to An Bord Pleanála but the board upheld three out of the four recommendations made by the inspector. The proposed development would have been partly located on a parcel of land immediately associated to Inchmore house, a protected structure. It would have consisted of five two to three-storey five bedroom detached houses, four two-storey four bedroom detached houses, 12 two-storey four bedroom semi-detached houses, nine two-storey three bedroom semi-detached houses, four two-storey two to three bedroom terrace houses and eight three-storey two to three bedroom duplex units. Permission was refused firstly because the development would be located on an area prone to flooding which contravened the Offaly County Development Plan 2009-2015. 'It is considered that the proposed development would be at risk of flooding and would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,' said the inspector"s report. It was also refused because the current Clara sewerage scheme is near full capacity. 'An upgrade is not planned until 2010-2014. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,' said the report. With regard to the protected structure of Inchmore House, the inspector noted that a conservation officer was not available to comment on the planning proposal. She visited the site and the house, which revealed the 'architectural quality' of the house and its setting in the garden. 'I am not convinced that the protected status of the said house has been taken into account in the design of the residential units which incorporate metal cladding, projecting window boxes and other contemporary details. It is noted that no contextual view of the houses vis-à-vis Inchmore House has been submitted,' said the inspector. She recommended to the Board that permission should be refused, as the Board is not satisfied that 'sufficient cognisance' has been taken of Inchmore House, in the design and layout of the proposed development. The Board agreed. The Board however, did not agree that the development would prejudice the Midland Gateway Strategy.