Kerry councillor submits major housing development application through partnership after previous failed bid

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

A Kerry councillor has submitted a planning application for a major development in an east Kerry village as part of a partnership style-entity.

Old Road Limited Partnership, in which Killarney Councillor Niall Kelleher is a partner, has submitted plans for 57 new residential houses in the politician’s home village of Rathmore.

Old Road Limited Partnership was registered in 2022 following a previous failed bid by ‘Old Road Partnership’ – a different entity associated with Cllr Kelleher – to secure approval for the development of 60 houses on the same site in 2021.

Cllr Kelleher is one of three general partners at Old Road Limited Partnership, while the Killarney-based Lackabane Developments Limited and two individuals from the retirement management company, Wealth Options Limited, are registered as limited partners.

Lackabane Developments Limited has contributed €122,500 to the partnership, with the two individuals from Wealth Options Limited putting up €65,000 each.

Cllr Kelleher has declared he owns a one-eighth share in Old Road Limited Partnership.

The proposed development at Rathmore would include the demolition of two dwelling houses to make way for the construction of 57 new residential units, including 26 two storey dwellings and 10 one-bed apartments.

Based on the most recent figures of average house prices from Daft.ie, the development could sell for around €15m.

Old Road Partnership’s original bid for a development on the lands was shot down following an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála, who found the proposal was contrary to council development plans.

The council had granted permission for the development, subject to conditions, but the planning regulator found the council’s plans only allowed 28 units to be built in the village. They also reasoned the zoning of the land as residential reserve (R4) meant development was prohibited until 80pc of residential zoned lands (R1) were built on.

However, the new County Development Plan 2022-2028 sets a housing target in Rathmore of exactly 57 houses, paving the way for the new application.

The council has requested more information on the current proposal, including landscaping plans, public lighting design, a road safety audit and a request to engage with Uisce Éireann to assess the feasibility of connection to public water services.

A submission has already raised concerns about the lack of facilities in the village to accommodate the major development. It pointed out there were no medical facilities, no recreational areas and no full time garda station in the settlement.

Commenting on the development, Cllr Kelleher said: “We’re in the midst of a housing crisis where we need to be building more houses and, besides the local authority building five years ago, there has been no housing development in Rathmore for over 20 years.

“We’ve a need for houses right across the country and I’m only a small partner in this whole overall project.”