Permission refused to complete unfinished housing estate in Carlow village

An Bord Pleanála has upheld the decision of Carlow County Council to refuse planning permission to complete an unfinished estate in Co. Carlow.

The developers behind the proposed project - Cieval Ltd - had sought permission to complete an unfinished estate at Gort na Greine, Ballinabranna.

The proposed development included the building of 31 homes, including 22 bungalows, eight semi-detached houses and one detached property.

Planning permission was refused by the local authority early last year and an appeal against that decision was subsequently lodged.

During the planning process, concerns were raised over capacity constraints of the existing wastewater treatment plant serving the village.

In a report, prepared for An Bord Pleánala, planning inspector Catherine Dillon said the lack of capacity at Ballinabrannagh Wastewater Treatment Plant remains a significant concern.

While the need for an upgrade of the plant has been agreed and funding allocated, there are currently no design proposals for the project or a precise timeline.

"Given the public sewerage system constraints at this time, it is evident that the development of the village of Ballinabrannagh has been permitted to exceed the capacity of its treatment plant and the need to effectively cease to increase development within the village is a necessity until such time as appropriate upgrading of basic public services has taken place," wrote Ms Dillon.

The planning inspector added that she considers it would be unreasonable to grant planning permission for an additional 31 units "subject to the units not being occupied, until the existing estate has been taken in charge by Irish Water and is in compliance with their Code of Practice."

Having considered the appeal, including Ms Dillon's report, members of An Bord Pleánala formally refused permission for the development at a meeting earlier this month.