An Bord Pleanála will have final say on the matter
Drogheda Councillors have given a unanimous thumbs down to a proposed development which would include 275 apartments in four buildings ranging in height from 5 to 12 storeys on the banks of the Boyne beside Scotch Hall.
The development which has been proposed by Galway based Hallscotch Venture Ltd. as a Strategic Housing Development has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) who will ultimately decide on the matter.
It came up for discussion at yesterday’s Borough District meeting because the Council CEO must make a report to ABP which must include the views of the elected members.
Councillor Pio Smith was the first to comment, he said that the 275 apartments would add significantly to the current traffic congestion on the Marsh Road which he described as “unbelievable.”
He also said that there was no community infrastructure on the Marsh Road and he feared it would end up as “lots of flats but no community facilities for the people living there.”
Councillor Joanna Byrne said it was the first time in her tenure as a councillor that a strategic housing development had been brought to An Bord Pleanála.
“Like Councillor Smith I have reservations with regards to the lack of infrastructure and the supports for this development. I’m not opposed to housing, I know it is badly need but I think the area can take it.”
Councillor Declan Power said he was also deeply concerned about additional traffic congestion on the Marsh Road.
“From a tourism view, if I was a resident in to the dHotel I wouldn’t want to have this overpowering and overshadowing tower block of apartment’s looking down at me
“There is no doubt that whole area needs to be developed but I would have reservations about this particular development.”
Councillor James Byrne asked about the mention of poorhouse Lane in the application while Michelle Hall expressed concerns that there doesn’t seem to be any playground or games area and also the height of the development.
Kevin Callan said he too had very serious concerns about the proposed development. “This is about quality of life” he said, “not only for the people who already live and work in the area but also for the people who would be living there if this were to be constructed.
“We’ve seen a lot of towns and cities around the country where, for the sake of development, projects were undertaken that really shouldn’t have been. It’s seen as progress but in the end it is anything but that.”
Callan asked the official for a timeframe and what the members had to do to ensure their opinions were taken on board by An Bord PLeanala. He was told that the latest date for making submissions was April 14th (tomorrow) but that any comments made at the meeting would be included in the Chief Executive’s report and in the assessment of the planning authority’s opinion.
The development consists of:
- 275 apartments, 219 of which are 2 bedroom and 56 are one bedroom. All apartment blocks are provided with bicycle and bin stores at ground floor level.
- Block A is eight storeys in height and will comprise 59 apartments, with two retail/café/restaurant units.
- Block B is eight storeys and will comprise 63 apartments.
- Block C comprises two elements that are 8 and 12 storeys respectively and will comprise 98 apartments, with a residential management and amenity area at ground floor level.
- Block D is five storeys and will comprise 55 apartments, with Childcare Facility and associated outdoor play area at ground floor level. All apartments are provided with balconies or outdoor private amenity areas.
- The scheme also includes 94 car parking spaces in total 84 car at surface level and ten spaces at third floor level within the multi-storey car park serving Scotch Hall shopping centre.
- There is also provision for 301 bicycle parking spaces
- Primary vehicular and pedestrian access is provided from the existing access road serving the Scotch Hall shopping centre to the west of the site.
- External communal amenity space of c. 2,154 sqm is provided at surface level and in the form of external roof terraces on Blocks C and D.
For more details see www.scotchhallshd.com.
