New planning guidelines could lead to development explosion in Athlone

NEW planning guidelines, currently being drafted by the Department of the Environment, could lead to a development explosion in Athlone and other Gateway towns.

The guidelines, which are due to be published by Environment Minister John Gormley later this month, are thought to advise that higher densities are 'appropriate' in towns and villages close to Gateway towns. This could see the current trend of large developments springing up in South Roscommon continue in the future and may also result in a population explosion on the Leinster side to town.

And while the Minister's guidelines will address over development in most villages, villages near Athlone such as Glasson, Ballykeeran, Baylin and Mount Temple, could see a major increase in development due to their proximity to the gateway town of
Athlone.

In general the Minister plans to discourage overdevelopment in villages and the new guidelines will only allow developers to build an additional 10 to 12 houses in villages that have fewer than 400 people.

In addition planning authorities will be told not to increase the number of houses in towns with a population of up to 5,000 by more than 10 to 15 per cent over the lifetime of a seven-year development plan.

The Minister's reasoning behind these guidelines is that planning permission for greater numbers would "usually be difficult or inappropriate due to an absence of a sufficiently developed urban structure to cater for the development and should therefore be discouraged".

Currently, local authorities and An Bord Pleanala must abide by the Department's guidelines when dealing with county development plans, but councillors have had the freedom to make adjustments with local area plans. However, it is understood Minister Gormley plans to change legislation so that councillors will have to adhere to the national planning standards in the future.

The guidelines will advise councils to build first on derelict or vacant sites, while development on greenfield sites in or near the existing centres should encourage residents to walk and cycle rather than drive.

Minister Gormley is also suggesting blocking developers from building estates 'at some remove' from existing urban areas as this 'militates against proper planning' and causes problems with the lack of street lighting, footpaths and other services.

Karen Downey
Westmeath Independent

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