Hazelwood Road, Hazelwood Demesne, Co. Sligo, Sligo
Hazelwood Road, Hazelwood Demesne, Co. Sligo
a residential development of 99 no. dwellings, a childcare facility and two GAA playing pitches and clubhouse facility. The proposed development will consist of the following: the demolition of the existing agricultural structures on site (276.8 sq.m); the construction of 99 no. residential dwellings consisting of 10 no. one bedroom duplex units, 20 no. two bedroom house units, 50 no. three bedroom house units, 7 no. four bedroom house units, and 12 no. five bedroom house units; the provision of 168 no. car parking spaces and 50 no. bicycle spaces for the residential units; the construction of a standalone childcare facility (455 sq.m) with 12 no. designated staff parking spaces and 6 no. drop off spaces; the provision of 3,072 sq.m of public open space and 61 sq.m of communal open space; two GAA playing pitches on an area of 1.895 ha to the west and south-west of the residential development; a two storey Clubhouse (522 sq.m) with a car parking area providing for 2 no. bus spaces, 30 no. car parking spaces and 6 no. accessible spaces, associated with the GAA Pitches; the provision of a new entrance onto the R286 Hazelwood Road for vehicular, pedestrian and cycling access; the provision of a new pedestrian footpath and cycle lane (88m) along the R286 Hazelwood Road and a pedestrian crossing; and all associated and ancillary infrastructure (including surface water and foul water drainage and water supply), bin storage, internal streets, public lighting, landscaping, boundary treatments and development works, all on a site of 8.2 ha to the south of the Hazelwood Road (R286)
- Having regard to the location of the site outside the Development Limit of Sligo Town, its separation from the established built-up area by intervening lands, and the fact that the residential element of the proposed development is located on lands designated as Strategic Land Reserve, the Planning Authority is not satisfied that the proposed residential component of the development would represent the orderly and sequential expansion of Sligo Town or accord with the Compact Growth principles as set-out in the Sligo County Development Plan (CDP) 2024-2030 (as varied). Furthermore, the applicant has failed to demonstrate that the release and development of these Strategic Land Reserve lands is justified having regard to the objective of ensuring Compact Growth, and given that the site’s infrastructural deficit in terms of transport infrastructure. The proposed development would therefore be contrary to policy P-SLR-2 of the CDP, and is therefore contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and contrary to the Compact Growth objectives and Strategic Land Reserve provisions of the CDP.
- Policy P-SWD-1 of the Sligo County Development Plan (CDP) 2024-2030 (as varied) requires all new development to provide a separate foul and surface water drainage system and to incorporate sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDs) where feasible. Policy P-SWD-2 of the CDP requires that planning applications are accompanied by a comprehensive SuDs assessment. It is considered that the information submitted in support of the application has failed to demonstrate that the proposed method of surface water disposal for the development would be suitable for site. As such, surface water run-off from the development may exacerbate flooding or have a detrimental effect on water quality. The proposed development would materially contravene Policy P-SWD-1 and P-SWD-2 of the Sligo County Development Plan (CDP) 2024-2030 (as varied) and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
- Policy P-BD-2 of the Sligo County Development Plan (CDP) 2024-2030 (as varied) seeks the protection of habitats of protected species. Policy P-BD-3 of the CDP requires that the ecological impacts of all development proposals on habitats of species are appropriately assessed by suitably qualified professionals in accordance with best practice and follows the precautionary principle where uncertainty exists. Due to the absence of a bat dusk emergence survey, the applicant has failed to confirm that the existing agricultural buildings are not used as a roost for bats, and therefore is not the habitat of a protected species. As such the proposed development, may lead to the destruction of the habitat of a protected species and is thus contrary to policies P-BD-2 and P-BD-3 of the CDP and is inconsistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
- Policy P-BD-2 of the Sligo County Development Plan (CDP) 2024-2030 (as varied) seeks the protection of habitats of protected species. As outlined within the Ecoloigcal Impact Assessment included with the application the proposal will result in the disturbance or loss of a badger sett(s) which is the habitat of a protected species. The proposal fails to provide details relating to the adequate mitigation for the loss of this habitat. As such, the applicant has failed to submit adequate information in relation to a habitat for badgers, and to demonstrate that the proposed development, will not lead to the loss of the habitat of a protected species and is thus contrary to policy P-BD-2 of the CDP and is inconsistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.