Council maps out surplus residential land for towns

PLAN 683 sites earmarked for development across nine towns in county

Cavan County Council will include additional information in the finalised County Development Plan 2022-28 mapping out surplus or deficit land zoned for residential development in the largest towns in the county.

The recommendation came from the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) and was supported by local councillors who voted in favour of the inclusion when they met last Monday to discuss the Chief Executive’s Report on the Material Amendments Consultation Phase.

This provides in hectares the surplus or deficit of all residential zoned lands required in Cavan, Virginia, Ballyjamesduff, Bailieborough, Kingscourt, Cootehill, Belturbet, Mullagh and Ballyconnell.

According to the document, there are 261 sites currently zoned Proposed Residential Land and zoned Low Density Residential in the CDP for Cavan Town, or 13.07 hectares; with the next most in Ballyjamesduff 80 sites/ 5.01 hectares; and then Ballyconnell 64/4.57.

By largest to lowest, Bailieborough has 63 sites/3.91 hectares; Cootehill 57/3.58ha; Virginia 56/3.11ha; Kingscourt 48/3.01ha; Mullagh 39/2.75ha; and finally Belturbet 15/1.04ha.

Separately, Cllrs voted on a number of modifications to amendments made to the CDP.

They included a recommendation from the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) in respect of 1.6 hectares of land at Loreto Road, across from The Gallops housing estate. The lands were zoned Proposed Low Density Residential and it was the OPR’s belief it should be “considered for higher density in light of the established estate housing to the east and the proposed rezoning to the west of the site”.

The OPR sought that the lands in question revert back to Residential Strategic Reserve as per the draft Development Plan. The proposal was supported unanimously by the 15 councillors who voted, with Fine Gael’s Madeleine Argue abstaining.

Subsequent votes unanimously sided with the Chief Executive’s recommendations in respect of three sites in Mullagh, one in the village centre where the amendment was to rezone the lands Proposed Residential to Proposed Low Density Residential.

The Chief Executive however proposed no change be made, while zoning was retained for a site on the Moynalty Road, and removed from the development boundary in respect of another.

Similarly in Belturbet, Cllrs voted unanimously in favour of supporting Mr Ryan’s recommendation to rezone land adjoining the GAA grounds and a golf course in Belturbet from Proposed Residential to Public and Community.

The recommendation was passed despite the OPR questioning how the lands zoned as Proposed Low Density Residential could be accessed.

There were incidents too where councillors voted against the recommendations prescribed.

Regarding lands located northwest, approximately 1.5km from the edge of Virginia town centre, both the OPR and Northern and Western Regional Assembly felt the prior rezoning was “not justified” and would result in “residential development leapfrogging” to the edge of the settlement.

The recommendation therefore was for the site’s removal, only for Independent Shane P O’Reilly to counter argue that the land was an “infill site” and its proximity to the N3 gave rise to potential solution for pedestrian safety. “I’d vote against,” he said of the recommendation, with the 15 other cllrs present following suit.

In Kilnaleck, Cllr Argue again absenting, cllrs backed an amendment to extend the development boundary to include lands at Church Road, Kilnaleck.

It followed a submission made by architect Michael Fitzpatrick on behalf of Crosserlough Construction.

The Chief Executive’s recommendation was that the lands should be omitted as it would “result in ‘leapfrogging’ of development beyond the development boundary” of the village.

But Fianna Fáil’s Philip Brady felt the lands were an important inclusion, and pointed out the that planning permission had previously been attained.

The vote was passed 10 against the recommendation of the Chief Executive, with three for - Carmel Brady, TP O’Reilly, and Val Smith, all FG; and two abstaining from the vote - Shane P O’Reilly (Ind), and Winston Bennett (FG).

For detailed coverage on the new county development plan, see this week's Anglo-Celt newspaper in shops today.