By Dan Walsh at Gorey Civic Centre
Members of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council today gave their full backing to an application to An Board Pleanála for the construction of housing development including 421 residential units on lands at Kilnahue and Gorey Hill, the Carnew Road and Kilnahue Lane at the May monthly meeting held in the Civic Centre.
James Lavin, Senior Executive Planner with Wexford County Council addressed today’s meeting to discuss the application with members and to display maps and documents relating to the application and to listen and address any concerns members may have before the application is submitted at the end of May.
Cllr Donal Kenny said; “You could not be interested in housing if you didn’t support this application”, he stated the road would be widened and residents’ concerns addressed. “We need houses. Families are desperate trying to find homes for their children.
Cllr Willie Kavanagh promised that “If we can remove any obstacles, we will get them removed. We need houses.”
Cllr Joe Sullivan, who has been a vociferous critic of the Housing Section of Wexford County Council regards ‘the lack of housing in North Wexford’, gave his support to the application and was “confident” it will work out well even if it causes “an upsurge in traffic in the area.”
Cllr Diarmuid Devereux believes it is a great step forward for the town (Gorey). He said those buying the units would free up more units. “People have been waiting for a long time for this to come along and we (the Council) have a duty to support it.”
Cllr Anthony Donohoe said he was happy with the development and happy with the access on the Carnew Road. “It is massively ambitious and well thought out,” he added.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Pip Breen accepted the full support of all members for the 37.8-acre development and expressed support for the An Bord Pleanála application which may be decided in about six months. “Full support. No dissenting voices,” concluded the Cathaoirleach.
Gerard Gannon Properties are making the application to An Board Pleanála. The development will consist of the demolition of all existing, derelict structures on site and the construction of a mixed-use development comprising of 421 residential units (133 houses, 228 apartments, and 60 duplexes); with one childcare facility, two retail units and two community rooms.
The development provides for a total of 759 car parking spaces and 480 bicycle spaces. The development also provides for two vehicular accesses and one pedestrian/cyclist crossing and associated road upgrade works, all on Kilnahue Lane (L10112); one vehicular access on Carnew Road (R725) and associated road upgrade works; proposed upgrades to public realm including footpaths and cycle lanes, with proposed upgrade of the Carnew Road/Kilnahue Lane junction to a signalised junction; landscaping including a neighbourhood park, a playground and MUGA with associated neighbourhood parking; pocket parks; boundary treatments; public lighting; and all associated engineering and site works necessary to facilitate the development including proposed new sewer and associated upgrade works to existing engineering infrastructure on Carnew Road, Kilnahue Lane, Main Street and Esmonde Street.
The application contains a statement setting out how the proposal will be consistent with the objectives of the Wexford County Development Plan 2013-2019 and Gorey Town and Environs Local Area Plan 2017-2023.
The application contains a statement indicating why permission should be granted for the proposed development, having regard to a consideration specified in section 37(2)(b) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, notwithstanding that the proposed development materially contravenes a relevant development plan or local area plan other than in relation to the zoning of the land.
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