Cairn Homes has secured planning permission for 329 homes for Blessington, Co Wicklow. The builder has secured planning permission despite some local opposition and council planners concluding that the scheme materially contravened the Wicklow County Development Plan.
The scheme is made up of 270 houses, 47 apartments and 12 duplex units on a 25-hectare site within the town lands of Blessington Demesne, Newpaddocks and Santryhill, Blessington, Co. Wicklow.
The plans also include a 10 hectare park. A planning report lodged with the application states the development will make a significant contribution toward long-term policy objectives of Wicklow County Council, as well as provide significant infrastructure projects in the form of the town park and delivering an inner relief road in Blessington.
Council planners had determined that the Blessington Demesne Large Scale Residential Development (LRD) application materially contravened the development plan in relation to core strategy, settlement strategy and sequential development of zoned land.
As part of the grant of permission Cairn Homes must pay €2.79 million to the council towards the upgrading of public infrastructure.
Uisce Éireann concluded that the site can cater for 550 homes on condition that the application pays for necessary upgrades for water and wastewater infrastructure.
In granting planning permission for the scheme, the council concluded that the scheme would not seriously injure the residential amenities of adjoining properties or the visuals of the area.
Still, the Ballymore Eustace Community Development Association contended that Blessington does not have proper wastewater infrastructure capable of safely providing water services “and this application will only serve to exacerbate that problem”.
The association told the council that if 329 residential units are built in Blessington, “why should Ballymore Eustace be expected to fulfil the role of accepting wastewater into the Liffey through our village.”
The Ballymore Eustace Trout and Salmon Anglers Association also requested that the scheme be refused.
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