NKA

Today we have received notification of the success of our appeal to An Bord Pleanala against Mayo Co.CO.s decision not to grant our amendment to our previously granted 2 houses on Abbey Street Cong, seeking to convert same into 3 houses.

This has been a process involving an initial application and further information requests, a grant and then an amendment sought on the 2 initially granted, converting such to 3 units, and a subsequent appeal to ABP. The site is adjacent a national monument (the Abbey) and there has been extensive archaeological involvement to date, including Heritage and the National Museum (on the discovery of skeletal remains on site). Also the area has many protected flora and fauna, and impact assessments on such were also required to be carried out.

The 3 townhouses proposed will all exceed national spacial standards internally, and so far exceed the typical townhouses found in the locality. The local development plan's requirements regarding open space (gardens etc.) have also been met and surpassed.

Currently a 1960's part two storey / part single storey building exists on the (single) site. It was felt that the current situation left a void in the street tapestry, at odds with the predominant terrace town-house character of the built fabric of the village. Evidently the Bord felt likewise, and this prominent site can now be knit together with the character and tone of the village, albeit in a contemporary yet reserved manner, not competing with the established village but adding another verse to its established rhythms, and through the generousity of the developers involved (Larch Properties), solving some of the pedestrian communication issues presented by the current site layout.

We hope our design and efforts will bring a fitting 21st century addition to this historic and scenic village, and will strengthen and hold the locale that is the John Wayne / Maureen O'Hara plaza, to be enjoyed by the current community and future generations, and of course by visiting tourists.

Irish Government review in wake of Grenfell Tower blaze ‘limited’ Existing fire safety legislation drafted in response to disturbing Stardust tragedy of 1981

I suppose I should post up this years licence to thrill?

design development progress...
planning & habitat dealt with, archaeology nearly there... well... there were a few "complications" or 33. Old towns, dark-ages monastic settlements, and national monuments eh? Some very cool stuff was also discovered about 3 feet down, recorded and buried once again! (of course we are being responsible and keeping our nation's shared heritage safe for future generations to explore.)

house at cong