Planners decide on controversial housing development in Kilkenny


The plans submitted to Kilkenny County Council received a number of objections
The decision has been made by Kilkenny County Council to grant planning permission to Minson Property Ltd for a large housing development at 'Millbanks, New Ross, County Kilkenny'.
The application is for a site which extends to 3.61 hectares on lands located at Millbanks Road (L3443).
The development, according to original plans, is to consist of the construction of 75 residential units comprising 63 three-bed houses and 12 four-bed houses.
Also sought was the provision of a creche (216.6 sqm), the provision of a new pedestrian and vehicular access to Millbanks Road and the provision of a 4m wide setback along Millbanks Road (L3443) which includes the provision of a 2m footpath and 2m grass verge extending to the south of the proposed vehicular access.
Provision of all associated surface water and foul drainage services and connections was also sought, alongside upgrade works to the existing public mains and sewer network, sustainable urban drainage systems, and all associated site works and ancillary services.
The application included plans for the provision of communal open space, private open space, site landscaping and boundary treatments, public lighting, resident and visitor car parking, bicycle parking, pedestrian and vehicular links throughout the development, and all other associated site development works.
During the further information phase, the local authority invited the applicant 'to submit a revised unit mix for the proposed development which shall contain a broader mix of different unit types'.
"It is considered that the proposed development can achieve a higher density of around 30 units by a more efficient use of land in certain areas of the site," planners stated.
That request from the local authority was one of fourteen requests for further information made to the applicant during the further information phase.
After the applicant submitted documentation in relation to all of the areas of further information requested, varying aspects of the plans, permission was granted (subject to 24 conditions) on August 13, 2025.
There were multiple third party objections made in relation to the planning application, and submitters retain the ability to appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
