Athy estate approved despite local opposition
The proposed site of the new estate at Tomard, Athy Photo: Aisling Hyland
PERMISSION for a housing development and a creche in Tomard, Athy by Bettystown Developments Ltd has been granted by Kildare County Council despite significant backlash from neighbouring residents.
The development is to be located south of Cluain Bhearu residential development and east of Monasterevin Road and White Castle Lawn housing estate and is set to include 91 houses and a creche, including 14 four bedroom, 65 three bedroom and 12 two bedroom two-storey, detached, semi-detached and terraced houses.
Access to development will be from the adjoining Cois Bhearu to the north.
A large amount of objections were made to the build of this development, mostly by White Castle Lawn’s and Cois Bhearu/Cluain Bhearu’s Resident Associations and some of their residents separately.
The main issues residents addressed were a lack of prior consultation between themselves and the developer on the proposed build, their view of the inadequacy of the proposed footpath and cycle lanes, surface water drainage inadequacy from the natural spring on the site that could result in flooding in the existing housing estates, worries about biodiversity in the area if plans go ahead and there is a significant amount of shrubbery, trees and green spaces removed.
Kildare County Council sought further information on these matters and saw to it that the developer made revisions to the proposed plan. Planners deemed that the development "is generally acceptable and accords with plans and policies in relation to within the Kildare County Development Plan 2023-2029 and Athy Local Area Plan 2021-2027”.
The proposed development includes for all associated site development works, car parking, open spaces, and hard and soft landscaping. There will be demolition works done on the medieval mill structure on site and an extension and upgrade of the footpath/cycle path to the north-west at Corráin Bhearú to connect to the path on Monasterevin Road.
The applicant has also submitted a planning application for a residential development of 38 dwellings on the adjoining lands to the south.
