In early 2017, Roughan & O'Donovan was engaged to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a 9-acre development in the scenic harbour town of Courtown, Co. Wexford.
The proposed development comprises:
- An 82-bay extension to an existing caravan park
- A designated open space and play area
- 11 visitor parking bays
- New boundary railing with screening to the eastern site boundary
- New boundary wall and railing to the western site boundary
- Bin collection areas
- All associated site and ancillary works
The project presented a number of challenges, which were addressed through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, namely:
- The site's sensitive location on the summit of a locally prominent headland
- Residential and holiday properties bounding two sides of the site
- Coastal cliffs on the eastern side
- Problematic local hydrology
To mitigate privacy, landscape and visual impacts, Roughan & O'Donovan developed a detailed landscaping plan comprising planting both within the site and along the perimeter and revised the proposed boundary treatments.
A sustainable drainage system solution was also designed to avoid the potential weakening of existing slopes as a result of increased run-off.
The scheme was submitted to An Bord Pleanála in June 2017, and approval was granted for 78 of the 82 caravan bays proposed.
In welcoming the board's decision, Christine Murphy, environmental scientist, Roughan & O'Donovan, said:
The approval is timely as it will allow the developer to construct the extension during the off-season period, thereby increasing the site’s capacity in time for the 2018 tourist season.
