Planners rule homes plan in Rahoon is substandard

Planners have rejected a proposal to build 14 new homes in Rahoon on the grounds it would create a traffic hazard and the design would be substandard.

The refusal came despite extensive revisions being made to the plans for the 1.15 acre site on the Rahoon Road at Letteragh by the applicants.

Stephen Herterich and David Heveran of Dack’s Development Ltd had originally sought permission last April to construct 10 four-bed terraced houses and 6 four-bed semis on a 1.15 acre site on the Rahoon Road in Letteragh.

However, planners expressed a series of concerns about the application, and sought revisions – new plans were subsequently submitted to replace the 10 terraced homes with eight semis.

Planners raised a red flag over blank gable walls facing onto public roads and “sub-optimal” internal layout, and sought information on locations and heights of all boundaries within the site.

Planners added that the provision of 655 square metres of space for communal recreation and amenity did not meet the 705 sq m requirement, and that a substantial section of the open space was not considered functional or acceptable.

“The Planning Authority would have concerns with regards to the usability of the rear gardens due to slope,” the Council said.

A barbecue area, seating and picnic table should have been provided under City Development plan requirements, but no such proposal was included.

They added that requirements for distance between side gables and side boundaries were not met; there was a shortfall in parking provision and no bicycle stand.

Concerns were also expressed about unacceptable sightlines at the entrance and a footpath that did not comply with Development Plan requirements.

Planners also sought revisions for on-street parking as they believed the layout would give rise to traffic conflicts at a T-junction.

Revised drawings – including the replacement of the terraced houses with semis – were submitted to the Council.

However, planners have now turned down the application on the grounds that sight lines to the east and west of the proposed entrance are obstructed by the boundaries and hedging of lands on the adjacent site.

“The sight visibility envelope would be sub-standard resulting in the creation of a traffic hazard and injurious to public safety.

“The proposed development would represent a substandard development in that it fails to provide a satisfactory standard of layout for such a housing development, including a substandard unviable open space,” the Council ruled.