Planning board approves major Tullamore housing scheme

An Bord Pleanála has given the go-ahead to a largescale housing development in Tullamore.

John Flanagan Developments Limited has been granted permission for a project that includes some 89 houses and 58 apartments at land on Tyrrell's Road, Ardan/Puttaghan, Tullamore.

The site lies immediately east of the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, immediately north of the Harbour Drive, Harbour Walk and Thornsberry Estate residential estates and immediately south of the Arden Vale residential estate.

The planning board, in a ruling on two appeals, issued on January 22, approved the project, subject to 28 planning conditions.

It noted the 'new residential' zoning objective of the site in the Offaly County Development plan, and said it considered that the development constituted an acceptable quantum, scale and density of residential development in this location.

It said it considered the project would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity and would not cause serious injury to biodiversity and the natural environment, and would be acceptable in terms of pedestrian, cyclist and traffic safety.

Offaly County Council, in October last, had granted approval for the project subject to 26 conditions.

The proposal included 116 bicycle spaces and 262 car parking spaces, and with vehicular access to the proposed development was to be provided via Tyrrell’s Road and pedestrian/cycle access provided from Tyrrell’s Road, Harbour Drive, Harbour Walk and the Thornsberry Estate.

However, the council's approval was appealed to An Bord Pleanala by The Davitt Street Residents Association and Oliver Hughes, on behalf of Arden Vale Residents Group.

The main points raised by the Davitt Street Residents Association centred on traffic concerns on a route that it said was already overloaded, the vehicular access arrangements and the entrance at Tyrrells Road, the impact of the development on noise volumes, air quality and general liveability and general concerns over details on transport and road safety reports.

The appeal by Oliver Hughes, on behalf of the Arden Vale Residents Group, said the redevelopment of the site was welcomed but concerns existed in relation to certain aspects of the proposal, in particular the apartment blocks proposed. The provision of high density accommodation was queried in the context of the bungalows and two storey dwellings featuring in adjacent Arden Vale.

The overall apartment development would impinge on the residential amenity of residents in Arden Vale, the submission argued.