Ashford homes plan opposed by owners of Mount Usher

A residential development at Inchanappa House in Ashford, Co Wicklow has been opposed by the owner of the nearby Mount Usher House and gardens.

Developer Brian Stokes is looking to build 145 houses at Inchinappa with 110 communal car parking spaces, a crèche with 11 car spaces as well as a wooded town park.

However, Madeline Jay of Mount Usher House and gardens says the developer has not adequately addressed the flooding and surface water drainage aspects of the proposed development which would have a direct impact on her property, which is located downstream.

Mount Usher has has one of Ireland's most extensive botanical collections comprising more than 6,000 species of plant. Jay says the property relies on water from the Killiskey and Vartry rivers and a residential development which could impact on this natural resource "would have serious implications for the property".

Her appeal also criticised the development for not including any social or community facilities.

She says the application regarding the town park is "vague and noncommittal" in relation to proposals for the woodland area and it is "not clear if it will be a public park with free and unimpeded access by all members of the community".

Mary McGrath, with an address at Broomfield, Ashford, says the scale of the proposed development is in contrast with other development in Ashford village. At present there are over 1,300 people living in Ashford and this development, which may have as many as 500 units in three phases, will put intolerable pressure on Ashford's infrastructure.

She says the development is catering for family homes with no provision for the elderly or people looking for starter homes in the area.

The developers have said there will be a range of house types in potential future phases but "for any amount of reasons these developments might not proceed as presently envisaged", says the appeal.