Green light for biggest private housing development in Kenmare in 20 years

An Coimisiún Pleanála has approved an 85-home development in Kenmare, the largest private residential scheme in the town for two decades, but construction cannot begin until a water connection is secured from Uisce Éireann

Large-scale residential development in Kenmare has been constrained since 2006 by wastewater infrastructure limitations. File picture

Permission has been granted for the largest private housing development in Kenmare, Co Kerry, in two decades, but construction cannot begin until a deal is reached on connecting the scheme to the town's public water supply.

An Coimisiún Pleanála has approved plans by OFSolutions for 85 homes, a pre-school, and associated works at The Parsonage, Bell Height, south of Kenmare town centre.

The development, on a seven-acre site, will require the demolition of an existing vacant building.

Building can only start once there is agreement from Uisce Éireann on connection to the public water supply, according to An Coimisiún Pleanála.

“Prior to the commencement of development, the developer shall enter into a connection agreement with Uisce Éireann to provide for a service connection to the public water supply and wastewater collection network."

Uisce Éireann, a prescribed body in the planning process, said a connection to the public water supply was “feasible” for the development, “subject to capacity upgrades”.

Large-scale residential development in Kenmare has been constrained since 2006 by wastewater infrastructure limitations. 

However, a new €25m wastewater treatment plant is nearing completion, freeing up capacity for future housing.

However, concerns about the adequacy of the town's public water supply have emerged as a major obstacle to new housing development. 

A meeting of the Kenmare Municipal District on Friday heard that the Bell Height scheme, along with other housing proposals currently in the planning system, could be delayed because of water supply constraints.

Independent councillor Johnny Healy-Rae said there was strong demand for private housing in Kenmare, where falling school enrolments and a shortage of accommodation for tourism workers were creating challenges.

He said the Bell Height development remained dependent on securing a water connection from Uisce Éireann and noted that a number of other proposed housing schemes in the area were facing similar constraints.

Mr Healy-Rae said the issue of water supply had remained unresolved since he was first elected to the council in 2011, with little progress made beyond the drilling of a small number of boreholes.

Describing Kenmare as "a bowl surrounded by lakes", he said there was no shortage of water in the area.

"Kenmare is surrounded by lakes. There is ample supply, only to get at it," he said.

Uisce Éireann is considering extracting water from the river Roughty, councillors have been told, though Mr Healy-Rae claimed the proposal would take years to complete and would ultimately fail.

A similar proposal by the county council for the river Sheen failed in 2014, at a cost to the council of €3.4m.

Meanwhile, objections to the Bell Height development centred on density as well as concern about public water supply.

The new development on the Bantry road is to compose of 16 terraced and  26 semi-detached houses, and five apartment blocks along with a pre-school.

This article was funded by the Local Democracy Scheme