Council grants permission for 65 houses in Bagenalstown

CARLOW Co Council has granted planning permission for the development of 65 new houses at Kilcarrig, Bagenalstown. The plans, submitted by Peter Bolger Consulting, will see the construction of 22 two-bedroom and 43 three-bedroom homes, along with 130 car parking spaces, on the L70031.

The development will have a mix of semi-detached and terraced dwellings ‒ 22 semi-detached units, nine blocks of three terraced and four blocks of four terraced units.

The greenfield site, spanning 2.46 hectares (6.07 acres), is located beside Kilcarrig bridge and adjoins the railway track.

The development will also be subject to part V of the Planning and Development Act. Under part V provisions, approximately 10% of the units will be reserved for social and affordable housing, subject to agreement with Carlow Co Council.

On 28 July 2025, Carlow Co Council made a number of information requests on the initial planning application, citing ‘serious concerns’ over the absence of safe pedestrian and cycle facilities and connectivity between the site and Bagenalstown town centre. The council was also concerned that heavy goods vehicle traffic from the nearby Kilcarrig Quarry, combined with the absence of a footpath, would encourage people to drive the short distance to Bagenalstown instead of walking.

Several public submissions echoed these concerns. One local resident said the bridge was unsuitable for pedestrian and cyclist access to the town centre and schools, while another described pedestrians standing with their backs to the wall on the bridge to avoid oncoming traffic as being a ‘frequent sight at peak times’.

In response, the developer submitted revised proposals, including a footpath alongside the roadside boundary and onward pedestrian connectivity to the town centre via Kilcarrig bridge.

One condition of the grant is that no houses are to be occupied until ‘necessary upgrade works and infrastructure improvements are made to the R724, including the Kilcarrig bridge, and the L70031 to provide safe pedestrian and cyclist facilities and connectivity between the area east of Kilcarrig bridge and the town centre to the west’.

In a statement on social media, cllr Daniel Pender said he was ‘delighted’ that permission had been granted and was proud to have voted with his fellow councillors to rezone the site, despite the council’s requests for it to be dezoned.

‘Delivering homes for young people in Carlow was a core pledge of mine and this is a step in the right direction,’ cllr Pender wrote.