Plans for six-storey apartment blocks in Johnstown met with opposition
Residents say height of proposed development would tower over their homes
Plans for a six-storey apartment block in Dunville estate in Johnstown have been met by dismay from local residents who fear it would tower over their homes as well as create extra traffic in an already congested area.
Grandbrind Merchants Ltd recently lodged a planning application to build 46 apartments in a split level six-storey building, including top floor setback, on a 0.75 hectares site at Alexandereid, Navan.
The apartments are made up of seven one-bedroom apartments, 36 two-bedroom apartments and three thee-bedroom apartments.
The proposal includes a vehicular entrance, two new pedestrian and cycle site entrances and one pedestrian site entrance on the Dunville Road, as well as 75 surface car parking spaces, 112 bicycle spaces located at lower ground floor level. Public open space of 1,1888sqm and community open space of 549sqm are also proposed.
Local resident Eamon Cunningham who lives in Dunville Drive said one of his main concerns is the height of the proposal. "We know there is a crisis in housing and I am not objecting to houses. It is the height that we are objecting to. It is totally out of sync with the area." He added that the six storey building would also be overlooking the school campus.
He said there are duplex apartments behind his home which overlook his back garden and if a six storey building was building to the front of their homes, it would be very imposing.
Traffic congestion is also a major concern and Eamon said as it stands it is hard to get out of the estate at school times and if 46 more homes go in, many of the residents will own cars adding to the congestion.
"Traffic-wise during school hours in the mornings unless you go before 8am or wait until 9.30am, it takes an average of 25 minutes to get to the bottom of the road at Supervalu. There are huge volumes of school traffic," he said.
The lack of amenities in the area was also highlighted as an issue and he said there is nothing for the kids in the area.
Eamon also questioned where school places would come from for extra children coming into the area and said the school campus is at capacity. He added that they would have to be driven to schools outside the area which leads to move congestion.
Residents are due to meet this week to discuss lodging formal objections to the proposal. Submissions can be made up to 14th June.
A Dunville Green resident said her main objection was to the height. “The height is double the size of the apartment blocks there that already overshadow the houses,” she said.
Meanwhile, Meath Co Council is due to start public consultation regarding the use of community lands that are due to be transferred to the council.
A council spokesperson said: "It is proposed to commence the public consultation with the residents of Johnstown and stakeholders of the area in the coming weeks. This consultation will inform the development of the community use plan for the area. Engagement with the developer is ongoing in relation to the transfer of the land to Meath County Council."