AN APPEAL has been lodged with An Bord Pleanála over plans for 17 apartments in Letterkenny.
Millennium Unit Trust 105 was refused permission for the development in Rosemount Lane by Donegal County Council in September on the grounds of “over-development” and “excessive density beyond the site’s capacity”.
The proposed development involves the demolition of two derelict two-storey townhouses and outbuildings and the construction of a part four-storey part five-storey apartment building comprising 17 apartments and eight car parking spaces.
Refusing permission, the local authority said the proposed site in question did not have correct capacity.
“The provision of 17 apartments on a constrained site would constitute an over-development of the site and would result in an excessive density that is out of scale and beyond the capacity of the site.”
The project would result in an overly dominant and visually incongruous development, contrary to the County Development Plan 2018-2024, the planning report stated.
“Having regard to the unjustified and undocumented demolition of existing traditional townhouses along Rosemount Lane, the proposal would result in the unnecessary loss of historic dwelling stock, the scale and form of which are considered to make a positive contribution to the character and visual appearance of the historic streetscape,” the Council planner added.
In its appeal to An Bord Pleanála, applicant Millennium Unit Trust 105 said it did not accept that the site was constrained.
“This is quite large for a town centre development at 857 square metres,” they said.
“The proposed demolition of the derelict structures would remove a long time eyesore and allow a substantial open site for high density development, similar in height and scale as the adjoining apartment building to the north west to be made possible.”
They continued: “It is not considered that this is an over-development of the site. The proposed development is of similar scale to the adjacent apartment building and will ‘marry’ with the existing scale.”
The applicant described the construction of the 17 apartments as a “worthy and much needed development.”
“The application is to provide much needed residential accommodation in a well located area, close to all services, and zoned for development.”
A decision is due to be made on the development by February 16 2023.
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