Ballinagh social housing a step closer

Thomas Lyons

Cavan County Council is set to deliver a 15 home social housing project on the outskirts of Ballinagh following the approval by members of the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District authority at the last statutory monthly meeting.

Senior planner at Cavan County Council, Maurice Galligan, outlined to the members details of the project up for approval under Part VIII of the Planning and Development Regulations. The housing project, located at Bellananagh, Cavan Road, Ballinagh is on a site that is currently “mixed use”.
The members were asked to approve the Cavan County Council proposal to carry out the demolition of three existing dwellings and out buildings to develop the 15 house residential scheme. The plan covers the formation of a new entrance, service road, connection to existing public sewerage system, connection to surface water, watermain and all ancillary siteworks.
The development consists of four two-bed semi-detached bungalows, four two-bed semi-detached two storey dwellings, four three-bed semi-detached two storey dwellings, two three-bed dormer bungalows and a single four-bed detached dormer bungalow.
The site has been the subject of a screening report, an environmental impact assessment report and and invasive species report. The MD heard that those documents are available for inspection by the public.
The development plans were available for inspection at the Housing Construction Office, Courthouse, Cavan, and Ballyjamesduff Municipal District Office, Virginia up to January 7, 2020.
Ms Galligan told members that the site is zoned “white land”.
This is strategic reserve, where land is zoned for development at some time in the future but no objectives or specific controls are indicated.
When the council asked for submissions on the project they received correspondence from Transport Infrastructure Ireland, a local residents' group and an individual, Seamus O'Reilly. The concerns centred on the size of the development and how it would impact on local infrastructure including, roads, sewerage and water.
Ms Galligan said the concerns raised were dealt with in the 11 conditions attached to the development. Cllr Winston Bennett asked about what plans were in place for the energy rating of the new homes, particularly with regard to innovations such as solar panels. Eoin Doyle, Director of Service, said the design brief was to deliver high energy efficiency houses.
The adoption of the Part VIII was proposed by Cllr Trevor Smith (FG) and seconded by Craig Lovett (FF).