Athy housing finally gets planning green light
Church Lane
AN Bord Pleanála (ABP) has sided with a Kildare County Council decision to grant permission to convert a listed building in Athy into 16 assisted-living dwellings.
The decision to convert the former doctor’s surgery in Athy Lodge was granted last December but was appealed by local couple Connor and Jacinta O’Carroll through local architect Brian Wachorn.
The permission, with a number of additional conditions, was confirmed earlier this month to Kilkenny developer Baidera Properties, in the care of Martin Gittens.
The O'Carroll objection had covered a number of areas and they maintained the proposed design was detrimental to their property, would destroy their view, while the construction materials did not complement the area.
The permission will allow for the conversion by sub-division of the existing Lodge into four apartments, the refurbishment of the surgery and a number of outbuildings into five more self-contained dwellings, and the construction of seven new, mews-style, two-bed homes.
The entrance off Church Road will be upgraded, and a new one developed from the Carlow Road (R417).
“The proposed development would constitute an acceptable quantum and quality of residential development at this location," said an Bord Pleanála.
"It would not adversely impact on the amenities of surrounding properties or detract from the character, heritage value, or visual amenities of the area, and would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety to pedestrians and road users."
Amendments include the installation of opaque or frosted glass on the upstairs bedrooms on the south-facing property, and that “the application of film to the surface of clear glass is not acceptable".
Because of the lodge’s listed status, the inspector has insisted that “the development will be monitored by a suitably qualified architect with conservation expertise and accreditation”.
There must also be accommodation made for the local bat population, as initially indicated in a bat survey that accompanied the original application to the council back in 2023.
Work on the site is limited between 7am and 7pm on weekdays, and only until 2pm on Saturdays “to safeguard the amenities of property in the vicinity”.
In all, there are 24 conditions attached, although apart from those mentioned above, the rest are predominantly to deal with the practical application of the construction and services installation.
