Decision time for two major local housing projects

Offaly County Council is set to rule on plans for two major housing projects encompassing almost 200 new homes in Tullamore over the coming days.

May 17 next is decision day for a proposal for a Large Scale Residential Development (LRD) of 102 homes at Daingean Road, Cappincur, while another development of 95 homes proposed by James Spollen Ltd will learn its fate just days later on May 24. The latter project would be accessed via the existing Hophill Avenue and The Cedars estates along Church Road.

Daingean Road Residential Ltd, the company behind the largest development, wants to build a mix of houses, duplex and apartments on a site on the L2025.

A total of 62 of the homes would detached, semi-detached and terraced units, with the balance (40) a mix of apartment or duplexes housed in four separate three storey buildings to the northern and western end of the site.

The apartments would range from one bed to three bed in size.

A creche in an L-shaped premises is also earmarked for the site with public open spaces, outdoor amenity/play areas and 173 parking spaces also part of the plans first lodged in October last year.

In December, Offaly County Council sought further information from the developers on several elements, notably given its close proximity to the N52 roundabout it asked for traffic and transport assessment, and further data on aspects of wastewater, drainage and pedestrian/cycle lanes, all of which was supplied in March allowing a final decision to be made.

Three submissions were received in relation to the project, who articulated concerns about traffic impacts, flooding, the layout of the project and impacts on ecology.

The second major project up for decision in the coming days is for 95 homes proposed by James Spollen Ltd, the majority of which are terraced homes of various sizes, along with some semi-detached and detached homes accessed via the existing Hophill Avenue and The Cedars estates along Church Road.

First lodged in April of last year, it attracted 23 submissions from locals worried about a variety of subjects including traffic access, privacy, density and wastewater provision among others.

The council subsequently sought a large amount of further information from the applicants including a street design audit, road safety, house designs and queries about open space and hedgerows.

Offaly County Council is due to announce a decision on this project by May 24 next.