Appeal lodged over plan for new apartments at site of pub in Waterford city

An appeal has been lodged against the decision of Waterford City and County Council to grant permission for the construction of a housing development at the site of a local pub.

The project, which received conditional permission from planners last month, will see the demolition of the existing pub at Fountain Street, Ferrybank on the outskirts of the city and the construction of a new three-storey building which will accommodate a total of 19 apartments.

A number of objections and submissions were submitted during the planning process and 11 local residents have now formally appealed the decision of the local authority to An Bord Pleanála.

In the 22-page appeal, prepared by Marston Planning Consultancy, they say the decision to grant permission is "inherently flawed". 

They say planners "failed to consider the significant and material change in the design (of the existing site)" and the negative impact it will have on what they say is their "residential and visual amenity".

Concerns have been raised regarding the current zoning in the area and the appellants also claim the proposed development will result in a traffic hazard being created.

"We respectfully submit that the overall design of the proposed development amounts to an overdevelopment of the site and is poorly designed in the contexts of the overall size and orientation of the site," states documentation submitted in suppoort of the appeal.

A decision is due to be made by An Bord Pleanála by May 16.