Kildare County Council refuses permission for 344-home scheme at Celbridge, Co. Kildare

In context

It is one of 61 housing scheme applications Kildare County Council has received in the past twelve months, against 1,568 nationally. Of the 3,037 such applications decided by councils in the past three years, 79% were granted.

What happens next

The applicant, or anyone who made a submission on the application, can appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála within four weeks of 2 January 2026. If no appeal is lodged, the council’s decision stands and a final grant issues.

The development description, as lodged

Verbatim from the Kildare County Council register. This is the source for every figure in the story above.

STRATEGIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT: for a seven year planning permission, on lands at Dublin Road and the Skinkeen Road, within the townlands of Donaghcumper and Ballyoulster, Celbridge, Co. Kildare. The application site has an area of c. 13.4 ha and bound by a greenfield site, Donaghcumper Cemetery, Retronix Semiconductor Company and the Dublin Road to the north, the Rye River Brewing Company and the Ballyoulster Park housing estate to the north east, the Primrose Gate housing estate to the south, agricultural lands to the east and Shinkeen Road to the West. Donaghcumper Medieval Church Ruins (RPS No. B11-02) and the house on Dublin Road, Donaghcumper (RPS No. B11-26), are protected structures located north of the application site. The proposed development comprises 344 No. residential units (comprising 54 No. 1 beds, 30 No. 2 beds, 210 No. 3 beds and 50 No. 4 beds), a 2 No. storey childcare facility with a GFA of c. 369 sq. m, public communal open space, landscaping, car and cycle parking spaces, provision of an access road from Dublin Road and Shinkeen Road, associated vehicular accesses, internal roads, pedestrian and cycle paths, bin storage, cycle storage, pumping station and all associated site and infrastructural works. The residential component of the development consists of 214 No. apartments/duplex units, and 130 No. houses. The development includes a total of 585 No. car parking spaces, 4 No. loading bays and a total of 770 No. cycle spaces. The proposal includes hard and soft landscaping, lighting, boundary treatments, the provision of public and communal open space, including 3 No. Local Parks, children’s play areas, and an ancillary play area for the childcare facility. The proposed development includes road upgrades, alterations and improvements to the Dublin Road/R403 and the Shinkeen Road, including the provision of new vehicular accesses and signalized junctions, pedestrian crossing points, and associated works to facilitate the same. The proposal includes internal roads, including 3 No. bridge crossings, cycle paths, footpaths, with proposed infrastructure and access points provided up to the application site boundary to facilitate potential future connections to adjoining lands. The development includes foul and surface water drainage, pumping station, 3 No. ESB Substations, services and all associated and ancillary site works and development