Planning permission refused for Mullingar housing development

Planning permission has been refused for a new housing development on the Ardmore Road.

The unsuccessful planning application by Shaston Development Ltd, a subsidiary of local firm Bennett Construction, included details for the construction of 71 residential units, consisting of 30 apartments and 41 houses on a 1.9 hectare site.

Council planners said that the design of the proposed development was “inappropriate...with poor residential and open space layout” and that if permitted “would fail to integrate successfully into the surrounding area”.

The council also said that “in the absence of satisfactory documentation which demonstrates that the proposal ... would not impact negatively on local biodiversity, it is considered that to permit this development would be premature”.

If given the green light, the proposed development would have been the first phase of a three part plan by Shaston to construct a total of 414 residential units (180 apartments and 234 house) on a site adjacent to the Royal Canal estate.

In the planning statement submitted with the application on behalf on Shaston, The Planning Partnership said that the proposed development “represents the suitable use of residential zoned lands in this area of Mullingar, which is in close proximity to local employment, education, and amenity services”.