Board upholds permission for 113 houses and 42 apartments near Dungarvan

One of 25 conditions attached aims to prevent the bulk buying of the homes by investors

S&K Carey Limited, Waterford, had acquired permission from Waterford City & County Council to build 113 detached, semi-detached and terraced houses, along with 42 apartments in four three-storey duplex blocks on a five-hectare site, located 2km from Dungarvan town centre.

The planning appeals board has upheld permission for a 155-unit housing project at Duckspool, Dungarvan, but has urged the developer to ensure the homes do not fall into the hands of bulk-buying investors. 

S&K Carey Limited, Waterford, had acquired permission from Waterford City & County Council to build 113 detached, semi-detached and terraced houses, along with 42 apartments in four three-storey duplex blocks on a five-hectare site, located 2km from Dungarvan town centre.

The application also included a créche and a new spine road connecting to the public carriageway, along with internal roads, footpaths, bicycle and car parking and public open spaces on the site.

The decision was appealed over concerns about traffic congestion and environmental vulnerability.

Conditions of approval

However, the appeals board upheld the planning permission, but with 25 conditions attached, including one which aims to prevent the bulk buying of the homes by investors rather than prospective individual homeowners.

A condition of the planning seeks a commitment that the scheme prioritises occupation “by the individual purchasers — those not being a corporate entity and/or by those eligible for the occupation of social and/or affordable housing, including cost rental housing”.

The developer must also contribute €751,750 towards a new roundabout at a junction with the N25.

Other conditions require that all service cables be located underground, the provision of broadband infrastructure and a minimum of 20% of all car parking spaces provided with electric vehicle charging stations.

Monitoring measures, including an ecological impact assessment, a site-specific flood risk assessment and a construction environmental management plan, must be carried out in full.