New housing developments in Maynooth

The Planning and Development Bill 2023 was approved by the Houses of the Oireachtas on October 9, 2024, and is now awaiting the President's signature to be signed into law. This significant piece of legislation is set to overhaul the planning system in Ireland

Here are some of the key changes included in the bill:

1. Statutory Timelines: Introduction of statutory timelines for all consenting processes to provide certainty to applicants
2. Reorganization of An Bord Pleanála: The planning authority will be reorganized and renamed as An Coimisiún Pleanála
3. Alignment of Planning Tiers: Greater alignment among all tiers of planning to improve consistency
4. Judicial Review Reforms: Improvements to the planning judicial review processes, including the introduction of an Environmental Legal Cost Scheme
5. Urban Development Zones: Creation of Urban Development Zones to facilitate a more plan-led approach to development
6. Strategic Planning: Introduction of ten-year strategic plans for Local Authorities
7. Anti-Abuse Provisions: Provisions to deter abuse of planning processes through spurious submissions and appeals

Good stuff. That will only help traffic problems in the town.

Hopefully ABP see sense. Doubtful though.

Can you see potential issues with traffic?

Tight squeeze to get 18 houses into that land I'd have thought. I assume they're mostly terraced?

Some of the proposed opening ups deserved objections. Our residents association objected to the 2 openings in Silken Vale

(Meadowbrook Road and to the train station car park), as the residents impacted saw no benefit. So we rightly objected.

If you are on the Meadowbrook Road and want to get to the Straffan Road there were already 3 openings adjacent to the proposed new opening.

In your humble opinion they deserved no objections. But the residents at the Meadowbrook Road end of the estate have a different view of it and that's what matters.

Why do you view it as either we have these openings or we drive to get a litre of milk? People are aware of the health benefits and environmental benefits of walking.

So your view on an issue that you say will only impact the residents of Silken Vale & The Arches, is as important as the actual residents who live there? You are of course entitled to your view, but if opinions are to be weighted the residents should be prioritized.

I'm open minded on the issue, how can we actually know how they would work out. But I respect the view of those impacted. I don't like this view demonizing anyone that objected to parts of the town plan, submission were invited, be they in favour or against the plan.

One issue that would arise and it's not illegal, is we would have more parking in the estate as there would be handier access to the train station (either via Meadowbrook or the train station car park opening) for non residents. Also, if there was access to the train station car park Silken Vale would become the drop off/pick up spot for the train station as it would be easier to get into and out of than the Irish Rail car parks. So the noise pollution and extra car emissions in the estate would be very hard to accept from this plan.