Plan for apartment blocks in heart of Wexford town gets green light on appeal to An Coimisún Pleanála
In refusing the application, Wexford County Council planners stated that the development would have 'a significantly detrimental visual impact on the character of the area', as well as having safety concerns relating to the access road into the site.
The planned apartment blocks, one four-storey and one three-storey, consist of eight one-bed and twelve two-bed apartments, as well as a widened vehicular entrance into the development from Distillery Road.
Residents in the area had major concerns around the scale of the proposed development and this was reflected in more than 14 submissions made to Wexford County Council on the initial application, which was refused.
However, following an appeal to the planning authority, Bawn Developments has now been given the green light to proceed with the plan, despite the concerns of Wexford County Council and local residents.
In it's decision, An Coimisiún Pleanála said: 'Having regard to the pattern of development in the area and the policies which generally seek to encourage higher density residential development on infill sites in close proximity to existing services and town centres as set out in the Wexford County Council Development Plan 2022-2028, it is considered that the proposed development would not seriously injure the visual or residential amenities of property in the vicinity; would not lead to the creation of a traffic hazard or obstruction of road users; would improve pedestrian permeability within the area and would not be prejudicial to public health.'
The commission's report rejected the local authority's concerns around environmental impacts to the Horse River, surface water drainage and visual impact.
On the final point, the report stated that 'the Commission considered that the provision of two modestly sized apartment blocks, three to four storeys in height, was the most successful approach to developing the site in terms of urban design and achieving appropriate density'.
The Coimisiún also considered that 'the overall size and scale of the apartment blocks did not adversely affect the visual amenities of the area, and the siting, layout and orientation of the blocks protected the surrounding residential amenity'.
For the reasons outlined, the commission opted to grant permission, subject to conditions such as the developer submitting additional details in relation to layout of pedestrian access and external colours, textures and finish of the apartment blocks.
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The developer is also required to construct a culvert beneath the proposed access road and 'the proposed river crossing shall not involve the provision of a bridge across the Horse River, as indicated in the drawings submitted'.
Other requirements include the provision of a detailed traffic management plan and the installation of car charging points outside the apartment blocks.
The proposal for The Knock is not the only controversial development that Bawn Developments are progressing in Wexford town.
Plans for the construction of a three-storey apartment block and terraced houses in The Faythe, which will see a historic 300 year old cottage demolished, has sparked protests from locals, bearing the campaign name 'Fight for the Faythe', one of the oldest parts of Wexford town.
Bawn Developments were granted permission to proceed with The Faythe development after An Coimisiún Pleanála overruled the recommendations of its own inspector, who stated that the property at no. 90 should be preserved.
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