Oakway asked for further information by planners
Oakway Homes, seeking permission for a new development on the New Abbey Road, have been asked to submit proposals to address concerns raised in 118 third party submissions which were made following a public meeting on the matter, writes Brian Byrne. The instruction is among 18 points in a Further Information request from Kildare County Council and Oakway have two months to submit their reply.
Key issues raised in the FI request relate to a possible future relief road, inappropriate buildings height and finish, conservation of heritage features, and vehicular traffic and active travel matters.
The developers have been asked to revise their proposals in the light of proposed amendments to the Kilcullen Settlement Plan, notably in relation to a revision of a roads objective to the south of the developer's land.
Negative visual impacts from a proposed 4-storey commercial building have prompted planners to limit the height to three storeys, and the developers have also been asked to reconsider the viability of such a building. Elimination of red brick entirely from proposed finishes through the development has been ordered, the planners saying the material is not in keeping with Kilcullen.
A proposal to completely remove a stone boundary wall has been knocked back by the Council, who say it should be retained because of its heritage value. A similar note is made about two stone gate piers at the proposed second entrance on the New Abbey Road — the developer has been told that they have to stay in any revised proposal. There's a request for the retention and supplementation of a boundary hedge between two zoned areas within the development, and also the retention of an existing beech tree on the New Abbey Road.
On Transportation, the applicant has been asked to develop proposals to advance a road objective in the current County Kildare Development Plan to link the New Abbey Road with the R448 south of the development. The planners also want a 2-metre footpath on the New Abbey Road between the two vehicular access points and to engage with third party landowners to achieve this — or alternatively pay €150,000 to the Council to have this done. More detail on the proposed footpath to McGarry's Lane is requested.
A full review of the existing crossroads at the main street with the New Abbey Road R413 has been asked for, with a detailed design for improvements that would provide greater capacity at the junction for both vehicles and pedestrians.
Where it is proposed to provide pedestrian and cycle links through existing estates, the developer has been asked for more detail and to survey existing roads and identify where it is achievable to make improvements to footpaths whilst maintaining carriageway widths for vehicles owned by existing residents.
The developer has also been asked to provide proposals for dedicated EV charging points within the development, to facilitate residents with street parking so they can access charge without having to pay the high commercial fast charging rates.
Other information asked for includes the identification of bus shelters possibilities, preparation of a Construction Traffic Management Plan showing the effects on the immediate roads network and existing traffic movements during construction, and more detail on equipment in the proposed playground.
The applicant is also required to seek a new Confirmation of Feasibility letter from Uisce Éireann on whether the development can be connected to the existing water and wastewater infrastructure.
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