Planning permission granted for 19 homes in Kilcormac
By Rebekah O'Reilly
Planning permission for a new 19-home development in Kilcormac has been granted under 18 conditions.
The application was made by Droughill Builders Ltd in December last, with the decision received on Wednesday, September 23.
The development is set to comprise a mix of single and two storey houses, including two two-beds, 13 three-beds and four four-beds at Frankford in Kilcormac.
New road and footpath connections will also be developed to the adjoining Frankford estate, including two new vehicular entrances, as well as car parking, new site boundary treatments, hard and soft landscaping, ancillary site services and all associated site works.
Each unit will be provided with two parking spaces. The developer added: "As these are own driveway the provision of electric charging can be easily provided. Additional visitor parking has been included on the site with a focus to provide parking close to the open space."
The developer noted that while there is currently no public transport directly from this site, "a 500m walk, cycle or run will bring you to the main street of Kilcormac".
"The Local Link bus service operates in the town, providing a weekly service to Tullamore and a weekday service to TUS Athlone (term-time). A private bus operator provides a daily service to Birr, Tullamore and Dublin and onwards to the train station on the south of the town."
The development will be subject to a total of 18 conditions imposed by Offaly County Council.
Among these conditions is the need for the developer to agreements covering Part V housing obligations and a Section 47 agreement restricting first occupation to individual purchasers and people eligible for social, affordable or cost-rental housing. The restriction may be lifted for individual homes after two years if the developer can demonstrate that they could not be sold to eligible purchasers.
The developer will also be required to pay €85,500 in development contributions to Offaly County Council, based on a charge of €4,500 per dwelling, and lodge a €95,000 security to cover the satisfactory completion and maintenance of roads, footpaths, utilities, lighting, open space and landscaping.
A number of infrastructure works must be completed before any homes can be occupied. These include roads, footpaths, public lighting and underground services, as well as modifications to the junction serving the existing Frankford estate and works to the L6041 public road.