Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2660167 - F.I. Received Doc. - Other Assessments Architects | Consulting Engineers | Building Surveyors Tel: 042-9746492 info@cspringle.com www.cspringle.com MNK Engineering T/A CS Pringle Incorporated in Ireland: Reg No 640491 Registered Office: Monaghan Road, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan. Page 1 of 8 Our Ref: KOR/DS/6499 Date: 14th July 2026 Planning Office, Monaghan Co. Co. Dublin St. Monaghan Re: Additional Information for Klaine Childcare Ltd. at Drumillard Little, Castleblayney Co.Monaghan Planning Application Ref:26/60167 Dear Planner, Further to your request for Further Information in respect of Planning Application Ref. 26/60167, we enclose our response addressing each of the matters raised in your letter dated 18 June 2026. The enclosed revised drawings and supporting documentation provide the additional information requested by the Planning Authority in relation to the proposed material change of use from an existing commercial unit to a childcare facility at Drumillard Retail Park, Drumillard Little, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan. We trust that the enclosed information satisfactorily addresses the Further Information request and enables the Planning Authority to proceed to a favourable determination of the application. Point 01 To ensure the safe and efficient operation of the proposed childcare facility within a shared commercial environment, further clarity is required regarding the operational arrangements of the site. Accordingly, please submit: a) A revised site layout plan and supporting statement demonstrating: i) Clearly defined set-down/pick-up arrangements for children; i) A dedicated set-down/pick up area is provided immediately outside the childcare facility entrance to facilitate the safe drop -off and collection of children. In addition, designated short - term parking spaces, as identified on the revised Site Layout Plan, are provided for parents and guardians who wish to park briefly and accompany children to and from the facility. The proposed pedestrian guard rails provide a physical barrier between the childcare facility entrance and the RECEIVED: 27/07/2026 Page 2 of 8 adjacent internal roadway, at the main entrance to the building, helping to ensure the safe movement of children and minimising potential conflict with vehicular traffic. ii) How it is proposed that vehicles would circulate; ii) The revised Site Layout Plan illustrates the existing vehicular access arrangements and internal circulation route within Business Park. Vehicles will continue to enter and exit the site via the existing access points. While no alterations to the existing vehicular access arrangements are proposed, new traffic management measures are proposed within the parking area previously permitted under Planning Ref. 05/46. These measures include the implementation of a one -way vehicular circulation system, aligned with the existing one-way traffic arrangement within the Business Park, together with new STOP road markings. In addition, a clearly defined pedestrian walkway is proposed to provide a safe route for pedestrians through the site and to minimise potential conflict between vehicles and pedestrians. Traffic speeds will continue to be controlled through the existing speed ramps located along the internal roadway. Existing traffic signage, including one-way signs, speed limit signs, school warning signs, speed ram p warning signs and stop signs, will be retained to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the development. Existing Traffic Control on Site RECEIVED: 27/07/2026 Page 3 of 8 iii) Measures to ensure safe pedestrian movement and segregation between vehicles and children, including details of upgrades to the existing guard rails; iii) To enhance pedestrian safety and provide effective segregation between children and vehicles, new pedestrian guard rails will be installed in accordance with the accompanying drawings. The proposed guard rails will comprise standard steel pedestrian safety barriers, finished in blue, approximately 900 mm in height. Guard rail sections will have a maximum length of 2.0 m and will be positioned directly in front of the childcare facility entrance, with a 1.0 m opening provided between sections to facilitate controlled pedestrian access. The proposed guard rails will provide a physical barrier between the entrance doors and the adjacent internal roadway, discouraging children from inadvertently stepping directly into the vehicular circulation area while maintaining convenient access for pa rents and staff. In addition, the parking area approved under Planning Ref. No. 05/46 will be subject to enhanced traffic management measures, including the introduction of a one -way vehicular circulation system that aligns with the existing one-way traffic arrangement within Business Park. New STOP Road markings and directional arrows will be provided to clearly guide vehicle movements, together with a designated pedestrian walkway. These measures will provide a safe and clearly defined pedestrian route while minimising potential conflict between pedestr ians and vehicles. The traffic management layout approved under Planning Ref. No. 00440008 have been constructed in substantial compliance with the approved permission and already provide generous, good-quality pedestrian footways throughout the Business Park. Reference image for Guard Rail RECEIVED: 27/07/2026 Page 4 of 8 iv) Details of staff parking allocation relative to short-term drop-off spaces; and iv) A total of 25 existing parking spaces will be allocated to the childcare facility. The existing 9 parking spaces currently associated with the childcare facility within the main Business park will be designated as short-term drop-off/pick-up spaces. In addition, a further 16 existing parking spaces will be allocated to the childcare facility. Of these, 9 spaces will be reserved for staff parking, while the remaining 7 spaces will be design ated as short-term drop-off/pick-up spaces. The revised Site Layout Plan identifies the allocation of staff parking and short -term drop-off/pick- up spaces, ensuring that dedicated parking provision is available for both staff and parents/guardians. Parking Allocation v) Measures to avoid conflict with existing Business Park traffic, particularly during peak drop-off and collection periods. v) The proposed childcare facility has dedicated parking spaces allocated for staff and parents/guardians, reducing the potential for conflict with parking associated with the existing Business Park. A dedicated set-down area is provided immediately outside the childcare facility entrance to facilitate the efficient drop-off and collection of children, while designated short -term parking spaces accommodate parents and guardians who wish to park before accompanying children to and from the facility. The existing one-way internal circulation system, together with RECEIVED: 27/07/2026 Page 5 of 8 the proposed enhanced traffic management measures, will assist in maintaining the orderly movement of vehicles throughout the Business Park. The accompanying Children Count Timetable demonstrates that the principal drop -off period occurs between approximately 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., during which attendance increases from 22 children to 88 children. Attendance then remains relatively stable du ring the late morning before reducing around midday. The principal operating hours of the surrounding businesses are generally between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. As such, the majority of childcare drop-off activity occurs prior to the peak operational period of the Business Park, thereby minimising the potential for conflict with existing traffic and parking demand. Collection of children is staggered throughout the afternoon and early evening, avoiding a significant concentration of vehicle movements at any one time. Children count timetable b) Details of any operational measures, including: i. Staggered drop-off/collection times (if proposed); and i) Formal staggered drop-off and collection times are not proposed. However, arrivals and departures naturally occur over a range of times during the childcare facility's operating hours and are therefore distributed throughout the day rather than occurring simultaneously. This natural distribution of arrivals and departures reduces the concentration of vehicular movements at any one time and assists in maintaining the safe and efficient operation of the site. ii) General site management arrangements during peak hours. ii.) The proposed childcare facility will operate within the existing site layout and circulation arrangements serving Business Park. The parking layout and pedestrian infrastructure previously approved under Planning Ref. No. 00440008 have been constructed in substantial compliance with the approved permission and provide a safe and well-established environment for both RECEIVED: 27/07/2026 Page 6 of 8 pedestrians and vehicles. The building has historically operated as a school, generating regular drop-off and pick-up activity, and the proposed childcare facility will operate in a similar manner using the established access, circulation and parking arrangements. Accordingly, no additional site management measures are considered necessary during peak drop -off and collection periods, and the existing site layout is considered capable of accommodating the proposed use in a safe and efficient manner. Point 02 The information submitted is insufficient with regards environmental protection. Accordingly, please submit the following: a) A feasibility letter from Uisce Éireann confirming that Castleblayney Wastewater Treatment Plant has capacity to accept the hydraulic and organic loading arising from the proposed development. 2a) The Planning Authority has requested a feasibility letter from Uisce Éireann confirming that Castleblayney Wastewater Treatment Plant has sufficient capacity to accommodate the hydraulic and organic loading arising from the proposed development. Following consultation with the Environment Section of Monaghan County Council , we can confirm that the proposed development does not give rise to an increase in occupancy or wastewater loading when compared with the previously authorised use of the premises. The proposed childcare facility will accommodate a lower overall occupancy than the previous educational use (Gael Scoil Lorgan) of the building and, accordingly, will generate a reduced hydraulic and organic loading on the existing public wastewater network. The subject premises is already served by an existing connection to the public foul sewer network, which is to remain unchanged. No alterations or upgrades to the existing foul drainage infrastructure are proposed as part of this development. In light of the reduction in occupancy and associated wastewater loading, a Confirmation of Feasibility from Uisce Éireann is not required in this instance and that the existing public wastewater infrastructure is considered adequate to serve the proposed change of use. b) A revised site layout plan (1:500) clearly showing the following: I. The storm water drainage system (in blue) and foul drainage (in red); II. Location of interceptor and/or any nature-based solutions; III. The storm water outfalls; and IV. Location of any watercourses in the vicinity of the site. RECEIVED: 27/07/2026 Page 7 of 8 2b) The applicant, Klaine Childcare Limited, is leasing the existing building only and has no ownership, management responsibility or operational control over the external surface water drainage infrastructure serving the wider Business Park. The existing storm water drainage network forms part of the original infrastructure constructed under the parent planning permission (Planning Ref. No. 00440008) for the Business Park approximately twenty years ago and remains under the control and maintenance of the Business Park Management Company. The current application relates solely to the change of use of an existing building. No extensions, external works, site development, alterations to hardstanding, or modifications to the existing drainage infrastructure are proposed. Consequently, the proposed development will have no impact on the operation, capacity or configuration of the existing surface water drainage system, as previously approved. As no works are proposed to the external drainage network, the information requested in Item 2(b)(i)–(iv) relates to infrastructure that is outside the control of the applicant and is completely unaffected by the proposed development. Point 03 In the interest of clarity and to allow for a fully informed decision, please submit details of the proposed signage to include I. location, size and design of all signage, and II. details of any illumination, where proposed. 3) The proposed development includes one backlit fascia sign located above the principal entrance to the childcare facility on the front elevation of the building. The proposed sign will measure 2.50 m in width by 0.70 m in height and will display the name an d logo of the childcare facility. The sign will comprise a high-quality rectangular aluminium composite fascia panel incorporating backlit acrylic signage, finished in a clean, neutral colour palette. The simple, contemporary design and high-quality materials provide a welcoming appearance appropriate to the commercial character of Business Park while clearly identifying the childcare facility. The proposed fascia sign will be internally illuminated by means of discreet LED backlighting. The level of illumination will be modest and appropriate to the commercial character of Business Park, ensuring that the sign remains clearly legible while avoiding undue glare, light spill, or adverse impacts on visual amenity or on pedestrian and vehicular safety. RECEIVED: 27/07/2026 Page 8 of 8 Sample Reference Image- Signage The location and dimensions of the proposed signage are illustrated on Drawing No. 6910 -CSP- PL-26-05-AI, submitted as part of this Further Information response. We trust that the enclosed information satisfactorily addresses the Further Information request and demonstrates that the proposed development is acceptable in planning terms. We trust that the Planning Authority has sufficient information to proceed with the determination of the application. Yours sincerely, Kieran O’Reilly MRIAI Architect | PSDP | Director RECEIVED: 27/07/2026