Latest news with #WaterfordCityandCountyDevelopmentPlan2022-2028
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Tourism key as Waterford apartments blocked by An Coimisiún Pleanála
Oakshade Holdings Ltd applied to Waterford City and County Council on October 27, 2023, for permission to build the mixed use housing development at Pebble Beach, Riverstown, Tramore, Co Waterford. The plans were to change the existing ground floor mixed use development from commercial to residential, to provide for three two-bedroom apartments, along with the construction of a new second floor to the existing two-storey building. The new second floor would have provided for five new apartments consisting of one two-bedroom apartment, two one-bedroom apartments, and two studio apartments, with the provision of a new three-storey extension to the front of the building to provide a new stairwell and lift access to the new second floor. There would have been modifications to all existing facades, together with retention permission for modifications to existing external windows and doors and all associated site development works and associated site services. The council requested further information in December 2023, and this was received in July 2024. Local residents Mary Egan and Donal Blackwell made observations at the planning stage. The observations stated that the development would encroach on the observers' property within the ground floor of the premises. They maintained that a planning report recommended refusal on the grounds of the site being zoned 'tourism' and that the change of use and construction of an additional floor would be incompatible with the pattern of uses in the area. The observations also stated the drawings submitted did not represent the existing configuration. The council gave the go-ahead on October 11, 2024, subject to 12 conditions. Mary Egan and others appealed this decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála on November 11, 2024. The commission issued its ruling on Wednesday, July 30, refusing permission for the proposed development. The authority said the site was within an area zoned 'tourism' in the Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022-2028, where the land use zoning objective is 'to provide for tourist uses' and that the development plan 'zoning matrix' states that a residential scheme is not permitted in the 'tourism' land use zoning area. 'It is considered that the nature of the development of apartments for residential use as proposed would be incompatible with the area and would materially contravene the land use zoning objective 'to provide for tourist uses' of the Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022-2028, and, accordingly, would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.'
Irish Independent
08-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Appeal lodged over refusal of planned Waterford city apartment blocks
Ferryhill Properties Ltd applied to Waterford City and County Council on September 19, 2024, for planning permission to build a mixed-use development of 53 apartments, at 18-21 Ballybricken, Waterford city. The development would have consisted of the demolition of the existing buildings and the construction of a mixed-use development consisting of three buildings ranging in height from four to five storeys with 53 residences. Building A would comprise four storeys with 20 apartments and two commercial units on the ground floor. Building B would consist of a four-storey building including two communal units on the lower ground floor, two apartments on the ground floor with two duplexes above. Building C would include 29 residential apartment units over five floors. The application also proposed the provision of an open space, provision of foul and surface water connections and surface water attenuation systems, boundary treatments, bicycle storage, soft and hard site landscaping and all other development works. The proposed development aimed to transform an irregularly shaped brownfield site, currently occupied by Soundstore and its associated car park and warehouses, 'into a vibrant, sustainable, and attractive residential and commercial hub,' according to an architectural impact assessment report. The application attracted around 40 submissions and observations. The council refused planning permission on Tuesday, June 3, for two main reasons. Firstly, having regard to the existing character and the prevailing pattern of development, the location and setting of the site - which is partially located within a designated architectural conservation area (ACA) - council planners 'considered that the proposed development, by reason of its overall scale, height and massing would be out of scale with its surroundings'. '[It] would seriously detract from the architectural character and setting of the surrounding area and of the streetscape generally. 'The proposed development would, therefore, seriously detract from the architectural heritage and visual amenities of the area,' and would contravene policy objectives of the Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022-2028 which seek to preserve the special character and settings of ACA. 'The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the policies and objectives of the Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022-2028 and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.' ADVERTISEMENT Secondly, 'the proposed development would seriously detract from and negatively impact on the existing residential amenities of properties in the vicinity of the site, in particular Clashrea Place,' and as such would be contrary to a policy objective of the city and county development plan 2022-2028, which seeks to 'protect the residential amenities of adjacent residential properties in terms of privacy and availability of daylight and sunlight.' The council's decision was subsequently appealed by Ferryhill Properties Ltd to An Coimisiún Pleanála on June 26 and the case is due to be decided by October 29 next.
