A farmer is fighting nearly 300 new Waterford houses for fear his land will flood
Dublin developer Jackie Greene Construction is planning a major development near Waterford city.
A FARMER HAS objected to plans to build nearly 300 houses at a site in Waterford, saying that the development could lead to increased flooding on his land.
According to planning documents, developer Jackie Greene Construction recently received approval from the local council to build 285 housing units in Knockboy, a suburb near Waterford city.
The development is to be a mix of four-bed detached and semi-detached houses, three-bed semi-detached and two-bed terraced houses.
It will also include an upgrade for local vehicle and pedestrian access, as well as new public play areas.
Dublin-based Jackie Greene Construction first applied for planning permission in December. The company is mostly involved in projects in the capital and the surrounding commuter area, constructing a mix of residential, office and industrial units.
Objection
Waterford City & County Council granted the firm permission at the end of April to go ahead with the project, despite the appeals of local farmer James O’Sullivan.
He has now appealed that decision to An Bord Pleanála, which will make a final ruling on the project.
In O’Sullivan’s initial complaint to Waterford council, consultants acting on his behalf said that the proposed development could damage his land. He owns farmland between the Dunmore River and the River Suir.
The submission said that he has seen the Knockboy area become developed and has had no objection to this providing that the work has no adverse impact on his land or on his business.
“His principle concern is that the existing storm and sewage infrastructure serving all of the lands to the south of the Dunmore River at Knockboy and elsewhere locally is currently incapable of supporting the existing development,” it said.
He said that his land is part of the public service water network, and that water from the south and elsewhere enters his land via pipes in the form of a stream.
The stream on O'Sullivan's land
He said during periods of heavy rain the drainage channels can’t hold the volume of water and flooding occurs.
Further development would “simply exacerbate” the problems, compounding the issues of flooding and sewage pollution on the farmer’s land, the submission added.
The council previously found in favour of Jackie Greene Construction, although it ordered that the company pay a development contribution of €1.2 million to improve public facilities in the area.
However, work on the project has been delayed following O’Sullivan’s appeal to the planning board. The case is due to be decided by 25 September.
This article was updated to clarify that Knockboy is near Waterford city.
