Letterkenny is to benefit from a major housing development soon, but it has emerged that it will not go ahead until contracts for the upgrade of the Letterkenny waste water treatment plant are signed.

An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission for the controversial planning development of 213 housing units at Leck, Scribley and Drumnahoagh even though its own inspector recommended the application be turned down.

The board upheld the decision of Letterkenny Town Council to grant Co. Derry company Carn Properties Ltd planning for the development of 32 apartments, 16 town houses, 67 detached and 98 semi-detached houses, a crèche and a pedestrian bridge across the Swilly.

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But strict conditions have been placed on the developers, who will not be able to build a proposed footbridge across the Swilly connecting to Neil T. Blaney Road.

The extent of the site will have to be limited, and the Leck Road will be upgraded and the traffic signals will have to be installed at Oldtown bridge before work on the site can commence.

The capacity of the town's sewerage system to deal with the development was among the grounds for objecting to the development and the board has insisted the site will not be occupied until it is confirmed in writing that the upgrade of the waste water treatment plant is completed and there is adequate capacity for the waste water from the development.

Contracts for the upgrade of the Letterkenny treatment plant should be signed later this year and the €30m project also go ahead this year.

(BMcC/GK)