Cllrs defend right to build on family farm

Councillors have voted against a recommendation that would remove the prospect of “single residential” developments in certain areas, fearing it would compromise the opportunity for farm families to build on land closer to home.

The “minor” change to the amendment on the draft Cavan County Development Plan 2022-2028 came as an observation from the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR), and was supported Chief Executive, Tommy Ryan.

He stated that it was considered appropriate to delete the proposed amendment text of ‘only single residential development that would not compromise the development of the remainder of the lands will be considered’. This was so as to “protect the long-term objective of the land” and in the interest of proper planning and sustainable development.

In its place the proposal was to enter that residential development of any type will not be permitted on these lands during the lifetime of the plan’.

“Consideration will be given to alternative uses on these lands only in exceptional circumstances,” said the CE’s recommendation.

But Fianna Fáil’s John Paul Feeley railed against the change. Engaging with the meeting at the Hotel Kilmore last Monday (May 30) virtually, he said he was “concerned” by what was being proposed and the potential impact it might have. There are, he said, a “significant amount of lands not in the Strategic Reserve” and the change, as proposed, risked “sterilising” the lands for development for a period of five years.

“If a son or daughter of a farmer wanted to build, it couldn’t happen,” he pointed out.

The observation and recommendation was voted against by all 16 councillors.

The OPR said it “appreciates the concerns of members” in respect of apartments in small towns and villages where councillors had agreed to limit the potential construction of such developments back in February.

At the time the change to the Draft CDP came on foot of a motion tabled by Cllr Feeley, who told the meeting that there had been a “lot of discussion” in the county over the alleged “quality” of some such developments and the perceived “damage” this has done to the respective areas.

Cllr Feeley’s motion was to remove certain wording and replace it with ‘apartment type accommodation in small towns and villages of the county shall comprise of over the shop type, conversion of existing housing stock type proposals or small scale sensitive backland type only’.

But the OPR responded by saying the “blanket nature” of the provision was “not considered justified” and “may very well prevent development” that might make a “positive contribution” to the regeneration of those areas.

The OPR suggested a rewording to state that there was a “presumption against” so-called “inappropriate new apartment type accommodation” in small towns and villages.

Cllr Feeley responded to the OPR’s submission by saying he did not know how adding the word “inappropriate” made much difference to his original amendment, but stated he was “glad” that the body considered such developments “inappropriate” in the context.

He opted to keep the wording as proposed initially, which was voted on by cllrs, and supported 16 in favour.

Cootehill objection

Finally, a submission by Darren Duffy on behalf of 15 local residents in the Cootehill area sought to object to the extension of zoning of General Enterprise and Employment on lands near the town. They listed a number of objections to the proposed amendment, including the “negative impact” it may have on the residential amenity of adjoining residents, as well as an increase in traffic flow, loss of biodiversity and deprecation of value of local property.

“The contents of this submission are noted and accepted,” stated Mr Ryan, while the Office of the Planning Regulator also considered the zoning of the subject lands as ‘General Enterprise and Employment’ contrary to the compact growth and sequential development.

Fine Gael’s Carmel Brady and Fianna Fáil’s Aiden Fitzpatrick both said they had spoken with local residents who were fearful of the prospect of the amendment entering the CDP.

“A lot of meetings were held,” Cllr Brady told her fellow elected members and the executive.