Large-scale Kildare housing development gets green light

PERMISSION has recently been granted for a major residential development on New Abbey Road, Nicholastown in Kilcullen.

The large-scale residential development proposed by Oakway Homes of Dublin will consist of 152 houses and 28 duplex/apartments, alongside a range of community and commercial facilities, including a crèche, healthcare units, and office space, as well as associated and ancillary works.

The housing will be split into 85 three-bed houses, 67 four-bed houses, 10 two-bed duplex units, 8 two-bed apartments, and 10 one-bed apartments.

The plan also indicates vehicle and pedestrian access from two points off New Abbey Road, and a pedestrian and cyclist access point to Sunbury Close.

The project had received planning permission from Kildare planners but had been appealed to an Coimisiún Pleanála with submissions made around the access routes proposed, and suggestions to connect them with major points in the town to increase permeability. Submissions were also made around the alleged poor design of the initial plan, inadequate allocated public open space, and the potential impact on property value in existing properties on the boundary of the development due to loss of privacy/residential amenities and traffic impact.

Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer submitted observation on the development which asked for the introduction of a relief road to take pressure of the already heavily trafficked New Abbey Road.

However, the inspector’s report suggests that no relief road will be delivered as part of this development.

While the planning authority attempted to impose a condition requiring road connections to the R448 and included a special contribution of €1.5m towards the construction of the relief road, the appellant argued that they cannot be required to build connections across land they do not own. Instead, the development will provide connections from its access points that might connect the road if delivered by the council under the Kilcullen Settlement Plan.