A DECISION is expected tomorrow on whether a proposed housing development in Letterkenny, which has drawn objections from residents, will be given the green light.
Applicant Letterkenny Rosemount Homes Limited lodged plans with Donegal County Council on November 6, 2025.
Planning permission is being sought for a period of ten years for the development, consisting of 42 new dwelling units. The units will comprise a mixture of semi-detached dwellings and terraced dwellings in Lisnenan.
Proposed plans also include connection to all existing services already on site, including foul water drainage, storm water drainage, water mains, footpaths, roadways and all associated site works.
In a written objection to Donegal County Council, Lios Na Greine residents voiced strong concern should the development proceed in its current scale.
“There are no services or amenities within a 4km radius of the proposed development. This proposed development does not provide easy pedestrian access to any essential services or amenities as it is located out of town up a very steep hill.
“There is no retail, recreational or social fabric to sustain such a development in our immediate area, which leads to a higher dependency on the use of cars for transport as it is a one hour walk into the centre of town. This would impact negatively on the environment with more car journeys necessary leading to more congestion and pollution,” the objection states.
The residents carried out a survey among those living in the area and found that, on average, each household makes 10 car journeys per day in and out of the estate.
“If the proposed development was to go ahead with 42 units, this would increase the car journeys within the new estate to more than 400 car journeys which would gravely impact negatively on us the current residents with noise pollution, congestion, disruption of peace, and would make the area less safe for children to play. The projected 400 car journeys would be exiting through Lios Na Greine onto Lisnenan Road which is a very dangerous road for speeding with numerous accidents occurring often.”
The residents said they believe the proposed high density urban development is “totally out of character with the area and the previous plans for the site”, as the area consists of one off single detached houses and private bungalows.
They also raised their concerns for a loss of privacy should the proposed development get the green light.
“The proposed development will be overlooking some of the current residents as their back gardens and houses face directly into the current residents’ properties, which invades their privacy and reduces our quality of life.”
INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY
Elsewhere, in a joint objection, homeowners of Castlebane told of their concerns for safety, infrastructure capacity and long-term sustainability of the area.
“The current proposal, which seeks to replace the originally approved development of 24 detached and six semi-detached homes with 42 units comprising 32 semi-detached and 10 terraced houses, constitutes a significant and inappropriate intensification of the site. Such a departure from the established pattern of development is not in keeping with the surrounding area and would have a detrimental impact on both the visual character and the social fabric of the community.”
The objection added: “The site remains an undeveloped greenfield parcel within a rural or low-density suburban setting. The proposed intensity of development is unsuitable for this type of land and conflicts with the sustainable planning principles outlined in the Donegal County Development Plan 2024–2030, which favours compact, serviced, and infrastructure-supported development. Over-intensifying a greenfield area without corresponding infrastructure, transport links or amenities is inappropriate and inconsistent with responsible long-term planning.”
