Permission refused on appeal for 22 homes at Gingerstown Park, Caragh, Co. Kildare

JJMS Properties Limited applied to Kildare County Council under planning reference 2461392, received on 20 Dec 2024, for a residential scheme of 22 homes on a site of about 0.65 ha at Gingerstown Park, Caragh, Naas, bounded by Gingerstown Park, the railway line, the R409 and agricultural lands. The scheme as first lodged had 16 houses and a block of 6 apartments. Revised plans received by the council on 30 Oct 2025, after a request for further information, redesigned the layout as 6 houses and a three-storey block of 16 apartments and duplex apartments.

Kildare County Council refused permission on 20 Nov 2025. On the applicant's appeal (case PL09.500485, lodged 17 Dec 2025), An Coimisiún Pleanála refused permission on 21 Oct 2026, for one reason. On the information submitted with the application and the appeal, the Commission was not satisfied that the arrangements for managing and discharging surface water were adequate, in line with policy objective IN O23 of the Kildare County Development Plan 2023-2029, which requires new developments to reduce storm water run-off and to dispose of it on site or attenuate and treat it before discharge. It considered an underground attenuation solution in the form of an oversized pipe unacceptable in this instance, and found that the scheme did not include sufficient sustainable drainage (SuDS) and nature-based solutions given the extent of roadways, parking and hard landscaping. It considered a revised SuDS layout submitted with the appeal, but could not rely on its calculated run-off rates because rain gardens were proposed in the private rear gardens of units 1 to 6, where future occupants could remove them. It found the development contrary to Policy IN P4 of the plan and to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

The Commission's decision closes the appeal and the refusal stands. Work is not expected unless a new application is granted. The record page carries the application's dates and links to the council's file and the appeal record.