Bracknagh townhouse project gets Pleanála green light

An Bord Pleanála has cleared the way this week for the construction for three townhouses in Bracknagh village, despite its own inspector recommending the development be refused planning permission, and An Taisce raising objections to the plans so close to St Brochan's Church, a protected structure. Last August, Offaly County Council gave the green light to Thoval Properties Limited for the project in Bracknagh village, two three bedroom units and one number four bedroom unit, but the decision was later appealed by local resident Irene Murphy of Bracknagh, Rathangan. In the ruling this week, An Bord Pleanála sided with the developers even though their inspector's report recommended that the application be turned down. It considered that subject to conditions the development of the three townhouses would represent an appropriate form of development at this location in the village streetscape, and would not adversely affect the character or setting of the nearby protected structure, Saint Brochan's Church. In deciding not to accept the inspector's recommendation to refuse permission, the board accepted the position of the planning authority that the wastewater treatment plant serving the village had adequate capacity to cater for the three house development, and also considered that an occasion of local sewers being blocked would not be a reason to refuse permission for the subject development. The board argued that “the two-storey house design was an appropriate scale of development at this location and would improve the visual amenity of the streetscape and environs of Saint Brochan's Church rather than detract from same.†It was considered that provision for parking, including some on-street parking, would be acceptable at this village centre location, and sight lines were adequate given the location and village setting of the site.