SHD – Cornamagh, Clonbrusk and Coosan, Athlone - EIAR 180816a – EIAR – 2020.06.22 - F 2. BACKGROUND TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 2.1 Site of Development 2.1.1 Site Location The site area comprises 15.615ha of land located within the townlands of Cornamagh and Clonbrusk, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. The proposed site is located within the northern suburbs of Athlone, some 2km from the town centre. It is located on the Coosan Road, which acts as a local distributor road linking the N55 (Athlone to Ballymahon/Cavan road) in the east and the Hillquarter/Castlequarter Road (L1482) in the west. A site location map and aerial imagery are provided as Figures 2-1 and 2-2 respectively. 2.1.2 Site Description The site area for the current planning application measures 15.615ha. The proposed site is predominantly being used as agricultural/greenfield land. The site in question has proposed Low to Medium Density Residential and Open Space zoned lands under the Athlone Town Development Plan 2014-2020. An existing access dirt road is located between the two existing residential estates of Churchfields and Church Hills which are situated adjacent to the lands in question. With regard to the topography of the site, the lands are gently undulating throughout, however this is combined with a more hilly topography which rises from east to west along the road frontage. A number of overhead lines traverse the site including an ESB 38kV overhead electricity supply line running across the site in parallel to the road. There are no protected structures or archaeological monuments located within the application site. The lands are located in the vicinity of a number of Natura 2000 designations (European Ecologically designated sites). The site is located approximately 1.0 kilometres south of the Lough Ree Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area, approximately 2 kilometres to the northeast of the River Shannon Callows Special Area of Conservation and Middle Shannon Callows Special Protection Area. In this regard, an Appropriate Assessment Screening may be required to eliminate any possible effects on the habitats or species of the Natura 2000 sites. 2.2 Planning History A review of the Westmeath County Council online map-based planning search indicates that there have been a number of planning applications on the subject lands, most notably the following development proposal: Pl Ref. No.: 063244; ABP Ref PL.34.224398 Applicant: Rhombus Property Developments Ltd Development: Permission for construction of 106 Residential units and 1 no Creche facility Consisting of, 1 no 3 Bedroom Detached house, 1 no 5 Bedroom detached house, 21 no 4 & 5 bedroom semi-detached houses, 14 No 1 bedroom duplex units, 14 no 3 bedroom duplex units, 1 no 1 bedroom apartment, 49 no 2 bedroom apartments, 5 no 3 bedroom apartments, 1 no creche facility (262.60m2) together with connection to services and ancillary site works Decision: Permission granted on 27/02/2008 subject to 14 no. planning conditions. 2-1 Map Legend EIAR Site Boundary d n a l e r I f o t n e m n n r o i e t v a r o o G / p r d o n a C l t e f r I o s y o e r v r c i u M S e m c o n r a f n n d o r i s O s i © m 0 r 2 e 8 p 1 h 2 t i 0 w 0 d R e A t . n i o r N p e e r c s n t e o c i h L s d n n e a e l r e c r s I t y c e u v r d u o r S p e t c f n o a s n o d r r c i O M Drawing Title Site Location Project Title Cornamagh SHD Drawn By Checked By EC MW Project No. Drawing No. 180816a Figure 2-1 Scale Date 16.06.2020 MKO Planning and Environmental Consultants Tuam Road, Galway Ireland, H91 VW84 +353 (0) 91 735611 email:[email protected] Website: ww.mkoireland.ie Map Legend EIAR Site Boundary d n a l e r I f o t n e m n n r o i e t v a r o o G / p r d o n a C l t e f r I o s y o e r v r c i u M S e m c o n r a f n n d o r i s O s i © m 0 r 2 e 8 p 1 h 2 t i 0 w 0 d R e A t . n i o r N p e e r c s n t e o c i h L s d n n e a e l r e c r s I t y c e u v r d u o r S p e t c f n o a s n o d r r c i O M Drawing Title Site Aerial Project Title Cornamagh SHD Drawn By Checked By EC MW Project No. Drawing No. 180816a Figure 2-2 Scale Date 16.06.2020 MKO Planning and Environmental Consultants Tuam Road, Galway Ireland, H91 VW84 +353 (0) 91 735611 email:[email protected] Website: ww.mkoireland.ie SHD – Cornamagh, Clonbrusk and Coosan, Athlone - EIAR 180816a – EIAR – 2020.06.22 - F In deciding not to accept the Inspector's recommendation to refuse permission, the Board had regard to the revised proposals submitted on appeal and considered the proposed development acceptable in terms of design within the landscape of this residential area and would not be visually obtrusive. Pl Ref. No: 063091 Applicant: Diamond Developments Development: construction of 62 residential dwellings, connection to services and ancillary site works. This application includes the following amendments to previous application 01/1019 and subsequent An Bord Pleanála decisions PL 25130394. 1) Minor changes to house internal layouts and elevations, 2) general floor level adjustments 3) foul and storm drainage re-alignment 4) entrance wall and railing details Decision: Further Information was requested on the 19/07/2006 however no further correspondence is documented. Pl Ref. No: 00810763 Applicant: D. Dougan Development: 71 Houses Decision: Permission granted on the 07/12/2001 subject to 51 Conditions 2.2.1 Planning Applications lodged within the vicinity of the application site A comprehensive review of the Westmeath Council planning register documented relevant general development planning applications within the vicinity of the proposed works. The following developments have been included in the context of the cumulative assessment. Residential Development – Clonbrusk, Coosan, Athlone – Pl. Ref 03811290 Regional Developments Ltd. applied to Westmeath County Council for planning permission for development of 50 no. dwellings, 2 no. apartments and 1 no. creche including service roads, parking, public open space and all associated site works. Permission was granted on the 15/07/2004 subject to 26 no. conditions. This development did not commence. The site adjoins the proposed development to west. Residential Development – Clonbrusk, Coosan, Athlone – Pl. Ref 01811164 Kevin King applied to Westmeath County Council for planning permission for development of 31 no. dwelling houses, connecting to public services, providing new site entrance and access roads including all ancillary site works. Permission was granted by Westmeath County Council on the 30/12/2002 subject to 42 no. conditions. A third-party appeal was lodged with An Bord Pleanála on the 02/09/2002 however this was withdrawn on the 30/12/2002. The development commenced on the 14/07/2003. The site adjoins the proposed development to the west. Residential Development – Moran, Cornamagh, Athlone – Pl. Ref 80810516 Joseph Moran applied to Westmeath County Council for planning permission for 49 Houses. Permission was granted on the 21/08/1980. The site adjoins the proposed development to the east. Residential Development – Drumacon, Cornamaddy, Athlone– Pl. Ref 147103 Parana Properties Ltd. applied to Westmeath County Council for planning permission for 98 no. new dwellings to include 11 4/5 bedroom detached houses, 28 no. 4/5 bed semi-detached houses, 8 no. 3 bedroom detached houses, 34 no. 3 bedroom semi-detached houses, 8 no. 2/3 bedroom terraced houses, 3 no. 2 bedroom houses and 6 no. 2 bedroom bungalow houses. The development is to include the provision of all associated site development works including road networks, services, landscaping and boundary treatments. Permission was granted on the 02/04/2015 subject to 17 no. conditions. A third- party appeal was submiited to An Bord Pleanála. Permission was granted on the 20/12/2002 subject to 9 2-4 SHD – Cornamagh, Clonbrusk and Coosan, Athlone - EIAR 180816a – EIAR – 2020.06.22 - F no. amended conditions. The site is located approximately 600m to the east of the proposed development. Residential/Mixed use Development – Cornamaddy, Athlone – Pl. Ref 073123 McInerney Homes Ltd. applied to Westmeath County Council for 1 primary school, 184 no. residential units, associated site works and landscaping to circa 10.4 ha. Permission was granted on the on the 01/05/2008 subject to 17 no. conditions. The site is located approximately 550m to the east of the proposed site Residential Development – Cornamaddy, Athlone – Pl. Ref 063087 McInerney Homes Ltd. applied to Westmeath County Council for 94 residential units, associated site works and landscaping to circa 4.71 ha. Permission was granted on the on the 27/09/2006 subject to 35 no. conditions. A third-party submission lodged with An Bord Pleanála was withdrawn on the 23/11/2006.