39 new homes in Birr given green light

Offaly County Council has approved plans by Property development company Fitzpatrick & Heavey Homes Ltd for the construction of 39 new residential units in Birr.

The proposed development will see construction of the residential units on lands to the rear/east of properties 15-20 Woodlands Park, fronting Burke's Hill in the Townparks are of the town.

The company sought permission for the demolition of an existing single storey shed to the south-west of the site to make way for the construction of 39 residential units, consisting of eight one-bedroom maisonettes, 13 terraced two-bedroom houses, two semi-detached two-bedroom bungalows, 10 terraced three-bedroom houses, four semi-detached three-bedroom houses and two detached three-bedroom houses.

The development includes private amenity space for all units, the provision of a shared car and pedestrian entrance via Burke’s Hill with internal access roads to serve all residential units and 55 parking spaces

A 22-page planning report compiled by Hughes Planning in support of the planning application concluded that the proposed development would deliver a “high-q uality residential development” in close promitity to “local facilities” and would not detract from the “visual or residential amenities” of the area.

The report also stated that the subject site, due to its close proximity to the town centre of Birr, has the capacity to accommodate “additonal residential accommodation and respond to the current housing shortage.”

Planning permission was granted subject to 23 conditions.