Planning refused for Killarney apartments amid fears of impact on bats

The application failed because of concern about how artificial lighting might disturb Lesser Horseshoe Bats on their way to and from its roost in the nearby demesne area of the Killarney National Park

An Bord Pleanála said the proposed development would result in increased artificial lighting generated at both the construction and operational phases of the development which would impact "Lesser Horseshoe Bats that commute along routes to the west of the Port Road/Deenagh River". File picture

A planning application for a three-storey apartment block in Killarney has been turned down because of concern for the commute of the Lesser Horseshoe Bat.

It is the second residential application in the Port Road, just over a kilometre from the town centre, which has failed because of concern about how artificial lighting might disturb the bat on its way to and from its roost in the nearby demesne area of the Killarney National Park.

In August 2022, the board refused permission for 228 residential units to Portal Asset Holdings Ltd also on the grounds of how lighting might disturb the bat in the SAC Park, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks and Caragh River Catchment candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) both during and after construction on a 15-acre infill site off the N71 Port Road.

That application was Kerry’s first strategic housing development and had gone straight to the board. Kerry County Council had supported the application strongly because of the shortage of all housing types in Killarney.

In the case of the latest application — this time by Ross Building and Maintenance Solutions, ℅ Declan Noonan and Associates, Dingle — Kerry County Council gave the go-ahead for 10 apartments in the three-storey building, a reduction of two apartments, on a 0.3 ha site fronting the Port Road. Car spaces were also reduced and there were several conditions.

Portal Asset Holdings ℅ HW Planning of Ballincollig, Cork, appealed the decision. It had no objection in principle but had concerns about design and effect on the tree boundary as well as over-development, it said.

An Bord Peanála's planning inspector, A Considine had concerns about internal design and "a real concern" regarding the scale of the proposal in the context of the narrow nature of the site. The proposed building would occupy essentially the full width of the site, the inspector found.

The inspector recommended refusal because of the impact on the commuting bats to the nearby SAC.

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An Bord Pleanála has ruled in accordance with the inspector. In a decision signed by member Liam Bergin, the board has refused permission "having regard to the proximity to the Killarney National Park, MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and Caragh River Catchment Special Area of Conservation (SAC)".

The proposed development would result in increased artificial lighting generated at both the construction and operational phases of the development which would impact "Lesser Horseshoe Bats that commute along routes to the west of the Port Road/Deenagh River".

There was also no adequate consideration of the protection and retention of mature trees and hedgerows on and adjacent to the site boundaries which may support foraging bats, the board felt. The submitted Appropriate Assessment Screening did not provide sufficient scientific reasoning to eliminate the likelihood of significant adverse effects.

The applicant had failed through the submitted Appropriate Assessment Screening to demonstrate that the proposed development would not adversely affect the integrity of a European Site and it is considered that the proposed development would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.