PLANS to build three detached homes at Rusheenaniska, Durrus, have met with some local opposition.
Applicants Mary Thornton Wood and Simon Wood, working through DMCA Consultants Ltd., have applied to Cork County Council for permission to build the two-storey homes, along with a new site entrance, access road and footpaths.
While the applicants highlight potential housing benefits for the area which is near Bantry, one neighbour has raised concerns about the planned height of the homes.
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They fear the houses could overshadow a sunroom and reduce natural light in a neighbouring home.
The development would also impact their privacy, the letter of objection points out.
Environmental and technical issues form much of the objection.
The submission says that the proposed soak pit would be less than 10 metres from their own, falling short of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines.
The neighbour requested a new percolation assessment under the EPA’s Code of Practice for Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems.
The visual impact of the development has also been questioned.
Situated next to a prominent stretch of road, the neighbour writes that the development could become an eyesore.
They are therefore calling for conditions requiring regular maintenance of boundaries and fencing.
Other concerns include the absence of an Environmental Impact Assessment, possible disruption to wildlife such as the Lesser Horseshoe bat and the use of non-native plants like Privet in the landscaping plan.
Local infrastructure issues have also been raised.
With no new street lighting or main-road footpaths included, and water capacity still under review by Uisce Éireann, the development would be premature, the objection letter states.
It goes on to say that the modern two-storey houses would be out of character with Durrus’s village setting, which has lost many of its local services in recent years, including pubs and the local post office.
Cork County Council is expected to review submissions before issuing a decision in the coming weeks.
