Kildare residents stop new estate

A PLAN to build 22 new homes just north of the railway line in Caragh has been turned down by Kildare planners last week.

A Crumlin-based firm called JJMS Properties made the application back in December 2024, and was hoping to build a mixed of two and three-storey semi-detached homes, as well as six apartments on a 0.65Ha (1.6ac) site between the R409 road and Gingerstown Park estate.

However, opposition to the development was led by the residents of Gingerstown Park who have long complained about the dereliction of this site, and the plan to erect 22 homes on this size of a site was contrary to the housing density recommendations as suggested in the County Development Plan.

Also, with only provision for 43 car parking spaces, residents voiced a fear that there could be an expectation of up to 66 cars in this new estate if it had gone forward, and “where would those extra 23 cars park?” 

The only proposed access to this site was through Gingerstown Park the residents objected to the expected additional traffic through their neighbourhood as well.

They also had concerns with the expected loss of privacy and light to existing residents here due to the number of three-storey homes proposed.

They also felt that there was not enough public transport for the village, and because of this “the majority of working adults in Caragh are car owners”.

They also cited the local national school with a pupil population already at 460, and whether this school would be able to absorb any new influx of school-going kids to this development.

The planners themselves had concerns with the development and sought additional information from JJMS Properties on layout plans, outdoor lighting, drainage, tree constraints, and, because of the proximity to the Dublin-Cork railway line, an acoustic design statement.

“It is considered the ‘gap-toothed’ design along the primary route (R409) would not contribute to an attractive route in and out of Caragh,” said the planners.

“It actually turns its back on the access route and the plan to provide 10 car parking spaces at a crucial juncture with the R409 … is considered to be substandard design.

“The streetscapes are heavily dominated by car-parking, and the incidental green spaces are minimal and offer very little functionality, (also) are considered to be substandard design.

“The application also fails to accord with the provisions of the Kildare County Development Plan with regard to surface water drainage and attenuation, (and so) a refusal of permission is warranted on this basis”.