130-home Ratoath development plan upheld by An Bord Pleanála

The granting of planning permission for a large residential development on the Ballybin Road in Ratoath has been upheld by An Bord Pleanála following an appeal by local residents.

Just before Christmas, Meath County Council gave the green light to Marshall Yards Development Company Limited to build 130 new homes on a 13.5 acres site adjacent to Fox Lodge Manor.

The Glenveagh company had initially sought permission for 141 homes but in response to further information, amended the proposal reducing the number of units to 130 and also included the provision of a childcare facility.

Over 100 submissions were made on the plans raising a number of issues including concerns over changes to the open space in Fox Lodge Manor, the removal of mature trees and hedgerows, the design of the houses.

The major issues for residents in the immediate vicinity and the wider general area was the impact the proposal would have on traffic with many fearing that the proposals would make the traffic situation even worse than it already is. Part of the proposal would see the existing roundabout replaced with a four-arm signalised junction.

An appeal against the granting of planning permission was lodged with An Bord Pleanála on behalf of a number of Ballybin Road residents with their main concerns relating to traffic safety, traffic congestion and sustainable transportation.

It also raised concerns about the lack of an environmental impact assessment in the context of significant road works and the proximity of the Ballybin LRD to a floodplain.

It states that any planning proposal should provide a partial or comprehensive solution to the traffic problems on the Ballybin Road as part of good planning practice but this proposal would “make the traffic problems worse”.

An appeal was also lodged by Gillian Toole, who was elected as a TD in Meath East in November who claimed that the concerns of 133 residents including traffic congestion, delays, road realignment, boundary wall removal and merger of open space, had been “completely ignored”.

The planning inspector considering the appeal felt the revisions to the road network would be of benefit to the wider area. “Overall, I am satisfied that the revised road layout is acceptable, will reduce traffic congestion in the wider area and significantly improves pedestrian/ cyclist safety,” the inspector said in his report.

“The removal of the roundabout and rationalisation of the road layout in the area will significantly improve road safety and allow for proper pedestrian/ cyclist crossing points to be integrated into the traffic signalling system.

“The realigned Ballybin Road will directly connect into the new signalised junction, whereas at present it does not connect into the roundabout, resulting in congestion and potential traffic safety issues. It also requires drivers to have to navigate a number of junctions whereas the new layout requires only one junction to be accessed/ crossed.”

The Board went along with the inspector's view that planning should be granted subject to conditions and concluded that it “would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity, would ensure the appropriate redevelopment of a greenfield site for residential development in an area with demand for such accommodation, would be acceptable in terms of urban design, height and quantum of development and would be acceptable in terms of pedestrian/ cyclist and vehicular safety and convenience” and that “the proposed development would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”