5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Plan for 37 new Louth homes blocked due to sewage treatment concerns in Blackrock
Andrews Construction Limited had appealed Louth County Council's decision to refuse permission for the demolition of a dwelling with associated outbuildings and the construction of 37 residential units with car parking, vehicular and pedestrian access along with all associated ancillary site works at Old Golf Links Road, Haggardstown.
The Board went against the recommendation of their own planning inspector who had recommended granting permission for the development.
In refusing the appeal they stated that having regard to the nature and scale of the proposed development and the lack of adequate capacity at Blackrock wastewater treatment plant to accept wastewater from the facility, it would be contrary to objectives of both the Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027 and the Dundalk Local Area Plan 2025-2029 which require that all new developments connect to the public supply where public water and wastewater infrastructure is available or likely to be available and which has sufficient capacity.
'The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,' they said, adding that the provision of a private on-site wastewater treatment plant as proposed by the applicant in the submission received by An CoimisiOn Pleanala/An Bord Pleanala on March 28 , 2025 would constitute a material change to the proposal which would require a new planning application.
In reference to further information provided by the applicant including the details contained in the letter of Confirmation of Feasibility from Uisce Eireann, the Commission 'considered that it had not been demonstrated that wastewater from the facility could be adequately collected and treated, and that the proposal to provide a private on-site wastewater treatment facility represented a material change which would require a new planning application, and that in those circumstances it would not be appropriate to grant permission.'
