Plans for 36 apartments near a Laois primary school rejected

Controversial plans to build 36 apartments in three blocks near a school in the centre of Mountmellick have been rejected by An Bord Pleanala. 

An appeal had been lodged with the planning watchdog after Laois County Council approved  plans to construct  36 two bedroom apartments at Davitt Road, Mountmellick subject to 19 conditions in August 2023. 

The proposal by Corrigeen Building Company Limited would have required the demolition of an existing building and the provision of 78 new parking spaces. 

The Board of Management of Scoil Phadraig Naofa and Mary Coss along with residents of Davitt Road  Acragar, Davitt Road, Brockview and Acragar Environmental Awareness Group appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala in September 2023. 

The residents queried the proximity to the local primary school and noted that a previous and similar application for apartments at the site had been rejected by An Bord Pleanala. 

Fitzgibbon McGinley Architects submitted a third party appeal on behalf of the Board of Management of Scoil Phádraig Naofa National School. 

They too argued that “there should be no overlooking of the school playground from a child protection point of view.” 

They said the plan would raise concerns in relation to “child safety” and they also queried the impact of the plan on traffic. The architects raised concerns about density and over-development and noted there was no mix of units which would better suit families. 

Fitzgibbon McGinley Architects also questioned the drainage plans and the amount of private and communal open space available.   

An Bord Pleanala’s Planning Inspector recommended that the plans be refused. 

“The proposed development by virtue of the design and layout of the site and buildings, the poor quality open space provision, and the impact on adjoining properties, would result in a substandard form of development that fails to integrate with the surrounding area, would negatively impact on the amenities of future residents and the public in general, would be contrary to the provisions of the Laois County Development Plan 2021‐2027 not to affect the general character of the area and to produce high quality residential environment, and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” she concluded. 

The Board agreed and rejected the plans. They took issue with the quantity, quality and distribution of communal open space across the site required to serve the development. The also too issue with the surface car park and associated roads and the location of one of the proposed blocks near another site.  

“The Board considered that the proposed development would result in a substandard form of development that fails to integrate with the surrounding area, would negatively impact on the amenities of future residents and does not represent the optimum design solution for this town centre site. The proposed development would, therefore, seriously injure the amenities of property in the vicinity and be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” they concluded.