A Fianna Fail Councillor in Waterford has expressed his disappointment after planning permission was overturned for a housing development on the outskirts of Waterford City.
Development was supposed to begin recently for 285 houses in the Knockboy area of Ballygunner, however An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission.
Deputy CEO of Waterford Council Lar Power says the decision didn't make sense. He told the Metropolitan Meeting of Waterford Council that "unfortunately that planning applictaion was appealed to An Bord Pleanála and unfortunately they overruled our decision, which I think was a retrograde step to be quite honest. To me they started to contradict themselves in the overruling - on the one hand they felt the density wasn't high enough and on the other they felt it was overlooking."
Mr Power added that the houses are badly needed. "I think Waterford City and County are in need of additional housing, and I think it's very unfortunate that where we have land that is suitable and a developer with the wherewithal to do it, that An Bord Pleanála would make that decision."
Fianna Fail Councillor Adam Wyse expressed his disappointment at the refusal "when we have an extreme shortage of housing and supply, especially in the Ballygunner area. The council would be able to allocate approximately 30 of these houses to those on the social housing also which would be extremely welcome. Along with the potential for a park or residential zone in the area that Councillor Mary Roche and myself have been calling on the council to fund and construct for a number of years now. Hopefully this decision will be appealed and permission granted."
