Approval of large Ratoath residential development appealed to Bord Pleanála

The granting of planning permission for a large residential development on the Ballybin Road in Ratoath has been appealed to an Bord Pleanála by local residents.

Just before Christmas, Meath County Council gave the green light to Marshall Yards Development Company Limited to build 130 new homes on a 13.5 acres site adjacent to Fox Lodge Manor.

The Glenveagh company had initially sought permission for 141 homes but in response to further information, amended the proposal reducing the number of units to 130.

Over 100 submissions were made on the plans raising a number of issues including concerns over changes to the open space in Fox Lodge Manor, the removal of mature trees and hedgerows, the design of the houses and the lack of passive surveillance.

The major issues for residents in the immediate vicinity and the wider general area was the impact the proposal would have on traffic with many fearing that the proposals would make the traffic situation even worse than it already is. Part of the proposal would see the existing roundabout replaced with a four-arm signalised junction.

An appeal against the granting of planning permission has now been lodged with An Bord Pleanála on behalf of a number of Ballybin Road residents. It outlines that their main concerns relate to traffic safety, traffic congestion and sustainable transportation. It also raised concerns about the lack of an environmental impact assessment in the context of significant road works and the proximity of the Ballybin LRD to a floodplain. It states that any planning proposal should provide a partial or comprehensive solution to the traffic problems on the Ballybin Road as part of good planning practice but this proposal would “make the traffic problems worse”.

An appeal has also been lodged by Gillian Toole, who was elected as a TD in Meath East in November. She claims that the concerns of 133 residents including traffic congestion, delays, road realignment, boundary wall removal and merger of open space, had been “completely ignored”.

She said there were no external transport consultations with the NTA or Bus Eireann on the road realignment which she says will exacerbate traffic delays. She also asked that Bord Pleanála take account of the fact that the Ballybin Road serves all of South Meath and not just adjudicate in the context of Ratoath alone.

Meanwhile, local councillor Nick Killian says locals are very concerned that the proposal will create further traffic delays for commuters and there are concerns about where the new bus stop will be located.

He said: “It is about the traffic and where the new bus stop will be placed. There is a general widespread belief within the village that the new proposed road, which is removing an existing bus stop, will result in the bus stop being placed somewhere that could cause traffic delays. They are the concerns that many residents have been expressing to me.

“It is less about the actual houses, it's more about the infrastructure out on the road. We are very much aware that we have a very busy bus stop at present where the site is, and that bus stop must be put in a safe place number one, but also must be put in a place that doesn't delay or impede traffic particularly in the morning time when commuters are travelling to work in Dublin.

“To me it's not clear where it will go. I am seeking a clarification from Glenveagh on this.”

He said traffic in Ratoath is extremely busy, and that last week commuters experienced delays of around 20 mins between the busiest hours 7.30 and 8.30am in the mornings.

“If a bus stop was put in the incorrect place, it could delay the traffic further. That is the clarification I'm being asked about. It is less about the houses. We need to construct more houses. I'm more concerned about traffic movements through Ratoath village, on the Ballybin road and out onto the Ashbourne Road.

“To be fair, Glenveagh have said they would do all in their power to assist in putting it in the appropriate place but it is not coming across clear in the planning application to me.”

He feels Bord Pleanála has to be concerned about traffic movements and the impact the proposal could have on traffic in the area and the delays it could cause for commuters