Council rejects plans for over 60 new homes in Tipperary

Planning permission has been refused for a proposed residential development at Drummin, Borrisokane Road, Nenagh.

The application sought permission for the construction of 68 houses and two domestic garages, together with roads, footpaths, green areas and associated site development works.

The proposal also included connections to public services and access to the development through the existing Drummin Village estate road network.

The proposed development would have represented a significant addition to the residential area off the Borrisokane Road.

The site is located in the Drummin area of Nenagh, where the proposed development would have involved the construction of a new residential scheme alongside existing housing.

The refusal means that the proposed 68 home development, in its current form, will not proceed on the basis of the application submitted.

The council outlined two reasons for reusing permission to the proposed development.

One of the reasons for the refusal relates to the zoning of part of the site. Under the Nenagh and Environs Local Area Plan 2024–2030, the north-eastern edge of the application site is zoned for ‘Amenity’ use.

This zoning is intended to preserve and enhance open space, biodiversity and amenity areas. The council said the proposed house and associated residential infrastructure on this part of the site would conflict with the zoning objective and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

The second reason relates to road and pedestrian safety. The council considered the amended development layout and the recommendations contained in a Road Safety Audit submitted as further information.

However, it noted that the recommendations of the audit had not been incorporated into the amended layout.

The planning authority said it was therefore not satisfied that the proposal adequately provided for the safety of vehicles and pedestrians, having regard to the Tipperary County Development Plan 2022 and the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS).

The applicant has the option to appeal the decision by the planning authority with An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of the council’s original decision.

A resident of an existing estate, which would share an entrance with the proposed development, also raised concerns about road safety in an objection submitted to the council.

The resident highlighted particular worries about the potential impact of increased traffic on children living and playing in the estate, and the safety of young residents using the entrance and surrounding roads.