Plan to extend Killeigh care facility appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála

The owners of a residential care complex for people with disabilities on the outskirts of Killeigh will have to wait until November to find out if they can proceed with the construction of four new dwelling units on the site, after an appeal against the proposed development was lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála.

Lightsky Ireland Ltd was granted permission on June 22 last for the construction of four one-bedroom dwelling units to be used in conjunction with an existing residential care complex for people with disabilities located at Mill House, Killeenmore, Killeigh, subject to 11 conditions.

A third party appeal against the decision of Offaly County Council to give the go-ahead for the controversial development has now been lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála (formerly Bord Pleanála) by Niall and Jenna Stack, Killeenmore, with the case due to be decided by November 17.

The appellants state that they are “wholly opposed” to the granting of four additional one-bed units in a facility which, they said, has “already posed a threat” to their sense of security as a family. They state that the existing complex has “directly impacted” their daily use of their home and their local area “as a tranquil and peaceful amenity”.

Their appeal included an account of a 2019 incident in which they said a patient left the Mill House complex and attempted to gain entry to their home. They said this incident had resulted in them having to have new gates installed along with new security lighting and CCTV “changing the feel of our home prior to what it would have been”.

The appellants also argued that the “open, unsecure model of care” for clients of the facility allows them to be on very unsafe roads “both during the day and at night time” placing not only themselves in danger but also other road users as the local road is “narrow and dangerous” and has no lighting.

They also state that the proposed development contravenes the County Development Plan as it is not serviced by public mains, sewer, footpaths or public lighting and is in an area which is “significantly removed from any town or village,” with no support services such as grocery shops, medical centre or public transport.

The appeal states that the development, since permitted, has set “an undesirable precedent” for locating other such developments "on unzoned and unserviced lands."

One of the conditions attached to Offaly County Council's grant of planning permission in June stated that the planned facility must be occupied "by persons with autism and intellectual disabilities only" and that it "shall not be occupied by persons with mental health disabilities".

The appellants stated that the wording of this condition was "entirely vague and unworkable" and has proven to be "impossible for any council to enforce on foot of a complaint".

In the event that planning permission is granted, they state that a condition of having security fencing or some way of preventing the flight risk of patients at the facility “might go some way to alleviate our concerns and that of our neighbours.”

The planning application to extend the Mill house facility in Killeenmore by the addition of four one-bedroom units attracted a large number of submissions from residents living in the area, and local TD Tony McCormack was also among those who made submissions on the plans.