Planning board okays Grange plans

An Bord Pleanála has approved plans for a 30 unit residential development in the Grange area of Mullingar. Although the development - planned by Sean Flanagan - had been approved by Westmeath County Council earlier this year.It was referred back to An Bord Pleanála by the developer himself, for adjudication on the extent of the development levies proposed for the development by the County Council; and by Des Sheridan and others on other issues.Mr. Flanagan had in 2006 obtained permission from An Bord Pleanála for a 63 unit development with creche on the site, but in this latest application, initially to the Council, he applied to amend the layout and to build just 53 unit and relocate the creche, and permission was granted for 34 residential units and the relocation of the creche.The appeal by Des Sheridan and others related chiefly to the removal of hedgerows along the northern boundary of the site, and to what an Bord Pleanála described as 'apparent contradictions' within the conditions in the County Council"s decision.The appeal by Des Sheridan and others also referred extensively to issues of enforcement and raised a number of wider planning issues. However, the Board said, the 'wider issues' appeared to have been already considered by the Bord in making a decision to allow development in principle on the lands.The Bord Inspector who examined the case agreed that the Council was attempting to apply, retrospectively, Supplementary Scheme Contributions to portions of the site not part of the current application, and he said that they should reassess the contributions on a remeasurement of the Appeal area.The Board of An Bord Pleanála accepted the Inspector"s suggestions, and granted permission for the development subject to 24 conditions which included a reudction of four in the number of units permitted; some relocation of houses, and of a revision of the internal layout of the creche so that the classrooms would overlook the open space.