Castleconnell Flood Relief Scheme - Notice of Planning Application to An Bord Pleanála

Castleconnell Flood Relief Scheme

Notice is hereby given that Limerick City and County Council intends to seek approval from An Bord Pleanála under Section 175 and Section 177AE of the Planning and Development Act 2000, As Amended to carry out proposed works in Castleconnell, Co. Limerick.

The Flood Relief Scheme will comprise a series of walls and embankments along the banks of the River Shannon in Castleconnell, along with demountable flood barriers, road raising works, and removal of vegetation and alterations of a culvert on the Cedarwood Stream, a tributary of the River Shannon in the northern part of Castleconnell.

The proposed works are as follows:

• New flood walls at northern end of the scheme, along the boundary of two houses (Rivergrove B&B and Grange House), with minor changes to the layout of the garden and entrance Rivergrove B&B, and minor changes to drainage infrastructure.
• A new flood wall around Mall House, and along the length of the Mall Road, to the entrance of Island House.
• Alterations in the form of road raising and a demountable flood barrier, to the entrance and the vicinity of Island House.
• The new flood wall, at the south of the entrance on Mall Road to continue, with a realigned footpath inside it.
• The flood wall at Maher’s Pub, to continue, before transitioning into an earth embankment to the west of Meadowbrook and then transitions into road raising.
• A low-level flood wall, and road raising along Stormont House driveway.
• Road raising at the entrance to Coolbane Woods.
• A demountable flood barrier at the Coolbane Woods junction.
• An earth embankment to be constructed along the back of the houses, Coolbane Woods.
• The installing of fluvial defences will result in a change in how the existing pluvial (stormwater drainage) system operates. As such, a suite of upgrades and amendments to the network is proposed. This includes the introduction of both permanent and temporary pumping station installations, that would only operate during flood events.
• The proposed development includes removal of overgrown vegetation along the Cedarwood Stream from the railway line to approximately 300m downstream.
• Replacement of two private culverts along the Cedarwood Stream, at the northern end of Castleconnell. This will include channel alterations upstream of each culvert.
• Provision of temporary construction compounds, fencing, site development and accommodation works
• Provision of landscaping works as required throughout the scheme.

An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) have been prepared as part of the application in respect of the proposed development.

An Bord Pleanála may give approval to the application for development with or without conditions or may refuse the application for development. 

A copy of the plans and particulars of the proposed development, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIAR) and  the Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be available for inspection free of charge, (or may be purchased on payment of a specified fee which shall not exceed the reasonable cost of making such a copy) during public opening hours (excluding Public Holidays) from 29/11/2024 to 31/01/2025 (inclusive of both dates), at the following locations:

• An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902
• Limerick City and County Council, Merchant's Quay Limerick V94 EH90
• Limerick City and County Council, Dooradoyle Road, Dooradoyle, Limerick, V94 WV78

The application plans and particulars, the EIAR and NIS may also be viewed on this site or downloaded from the following websites:

www.pleanala.ie

https://www.castleconnellfrs.ie/

Submissions or observations on the proposed development in relation to:

1. The implications of the proposed development for proper planning and sustainable development in the area concerned, and
2. The likely effects on the environment of the proposed development, if carried out, and
3. The likely significant effects of the proposed development on a European site, if carried out.

may be made in writing only to An Bord Pleanála (‘the Board’), 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1 D01 V902.

Any submissions / observations must be accompanied by a fee of €50 (except for certain prescribed bodies) and must be received by An Bord Pleanála not later than 5.00 p.m. on 31/01/25. Such submissions or observations should be titled “Castleconnell Flood Relief Scheme” and must include the following information:

1. The name of the person, authority or body making the submission or observation, the name of the person, if any, acting on behalf of that person, authority or body, and the address to which any correspondence relating to the application should be sent,
2. The subject matter of the submission or observation, and
3. The planning grounds of the observation (i.e. reasons and arguments), and any items you wish to support your grounds or observation.

Any person may question the validity of any such decision by An Bord Pleanála made in respect of the application for permission by way of an application for judicial review, under Order 84 of the Rule of the Superior Courts (S.I. No. 15 of 1986, as amended by S.I. No. 691 of 2011), in accordance with Section 50 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 as amended.

Practical information on the review mechanism can be accessed under the heading Publications – Judicial Review Notice on the Board’s website www.pleanala.ie or on the Citizens Information Service website www.citizensinformation.ie.

Any enquiries relating to the application process should be directed to An Bord Pleanála (Telephone: 01 8588100).