Major Roscommon housing development gets planning approval 

A major Roscommon housing development has been given planning approval despite concerns from residents in a neighbouring estate over increased traffic, noise and a loss of privacy.

Roscommon County Council has given the planning go-ahead to KDM Contracts Ltd. for the construction of 34 two and three-storey houses in Monksland. These houses comprise Phase 2 of an existing development.

Twenty three submissions were lodged with the council in relation to the original planning application lodged with the council in March. 

Many of the submissions came from residents in the neighbouring Corran Riada estate, raising concerns over increased traffic, noise and a loss of privacy.

In its submission, the residents’ committee of Corran Riada objected to the housing development, highlighting its concerns about the potential connection between their estate and the new housing development.

“Whether this link is proposed via a road, pathway, or shared public space, we believe that such a connection would fundamentally alter the character of our community. Corran Riada was designed to be a quiet, self-contained area, and any direct connection to the new development would bring with it increased traffic, noise, and a loss of privacy for our residents,” the residents’ committee said.

In his submission, local Fianna Fáil councillor John Keogh said the proposed “further connection” to the Corran Riada development should not be permitted “as this would likely lead to access through the Corran Riada development becoming the preferred avenue to enter and exit the new estate".

“It will lead to unnecessary traffic through the Corran Riada development. The signalised junction for the new development should be the only access to and from the proposed development,” said Cllr Keogh.

In the planning documents, the council's Roads Department of Roscommon County Council recommended that the link with Corran Riada be an "active travel link only" to facilitate pedestrians and cyclists "and not vehicular traffic as this will facilitate rat running".

In the planner's report, it was also noted that while connectivity is encouraged between developments, any connection must be of a "non-vehicular nature only". 

The developer was asked to submit detailed design proposals, at an appropriate scale, to show a proposed pedestrian/cycle/active travel route only, accompanied with design specifications showing a tangible connection to these lands.

Thirty conditions have been attached to the planning permission. One of the stipulations directs that signalised junction works and active travel routes, including a suitably designed pedestrian footway and cycle lane, be completed prior to the occupation of any residential unit.