From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Local opposition to plans for 227 apartments in Knocknacarra was mounting this week, as nearby residents urged a “push back” against the developer.

Glenveagh Living Ltd has submitted plans for the development which spans seven high-rise blocks at Gort na Bró – adjacent to the entrance to Gateway Shopping Park.

This marks the second application from Glenveagh for the six-acre site, after its 2020 proposal to construct 330 apartments was thrown out by An Bord Pleanála following 27 objections and a petition signed by more than 700 local residents.

The reduction in scale this time around does not appear to have allayed those concerns as houses nearby the proposed development received flyers from opposition groups warning that “the equivalent to a small town” was about to be “dropped into the space between Gort na Bró and Dunnes roundabout”.

The group behind the campaign, identified as ‘Residents opposed to Knocknacarra District Centre’, warns that 900 people could reside in the new development which they argue will exacerbate traffic by adding “up to 500 cars to already overwhelmed roads”.

“The entrance to Dunnes will be blocked off, creating even more traffic mayhem on Bóthar Stiofáin,” they stated.

The group, which held the latest in a series of meetings on Wednesday evening last, has been stoking opposition to the plans since they were revealed in January.

In their application, Glenveagh are seeking to develop five blocks ranging in height from three to five storeys – with 85 one-bed units, 139 two-bed units; and three three-bed units.

Meanwhile, a Galway-based company has created a free-to-access interactive 3D model of the proposed development.

RealSim, which is based in the Business Innovation Centre at University of Galway, used the design specifications lodged with the City Council as part of the planning application to create a tool which allows residents to see exactly how the development might impact them.

According to RealSim Director and Knocknacarra resident, Gavin Duffy, this online model provides a clearer picture to all interested parties – the public and planners alike – as to how the development would fit into the area.

“What’s available in developments such as this in Ireland at the moment is the planning documentation and the developer’s website which has all the documents on show.

“But the design specifications are often buried in that and it’s not really designed for public engagement,” he said.

“What we do is we take the style descriptions of the construct of the development and turn it into a 3D model which can be viewed from every angle.”

Planning applications of this scale usually include architect’s impressions, but they are in photographic from and are from very particular angles.

The model for the Glenveagh development is available to view on PCs at RealSim.
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read more coverage on the Glenveagh plans and the RealSim model, see the February 10 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.