Ennis primary school extension gets green light

THE extension of an Ennis primary school, which is expected to result in an “enhanced” school experience for students and staff, has been given the green light by Clare County Council.

Planning permission has been granted for a two storey extension to Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg which will include the first Early Intervention Unit at a mainstream primary school in the town.

The school on the Gort Road will develop six classrooms, a general purpose hall, two SEN classrooms and two ball courts as well as additional carparking and other associated works.

The planning authority has granted planning permission to the Board of Management of Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg subject to seven conditions, including that a planned parking area at Glenina pitch be dedicated to Clare County Council once finished.

A proposal for a bus turning area along the side of Glenina pitch has not been permitted by the local authority.

“The purpose of the new classroom and associated facilities is to improve the facilities available to the present school’s teachers and students,” a mobility and management report lodged with the planning application outlined.

“Presently there are some sub-standard sized rooms within the existing school facility, some of which are not fit for purpose,” it added.

The development will see two pre-fabricated unit classrooms replaced and removed permanently from the site.

“Overall the school experience will be enhanced with better facilities for the existing staff and students,” the report stated.

Assessing the application, council planners had “no objection in principle” to the proposed extension which is wholly located on school grounds.

The planners’ report outlined parking is proposed for lands zoned ‘open space’ at Glenina pitch, and that the proposed parking could be used for parking ancillary to the pitch.

The report noted that under the County Development Plan “a car park on open space zoned lands is not normally permitted”.

However, the council will “consider reasonable extensions and improvements to accommodate non-conforming uses, provided that it not be injurious to the amenities of the area and is consistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.

The planner considered, “that the provision of such parking spaces would fall under the definition of non-conforming uses as the proposed spaces may, in addition to providing required staff parking, provide for additional parking spaces for users of Glenina pitch”.

This will reduce “haphazard type parking” near the pitch, the report stated.

“This element of the proposed development represents a clear planning gain to the local community and does not affect the usability of the pitch.”

However, when it came to a proposed bus turning area at Glenina, the planner found it “encroaches to an unacceptable extent onto the pitch” and is “not considered acceptable”.

“This element of the proposed development would not be ancillary to the use of the pitch as it is considered there is sufficient space in which to manoeuvre a bus within the existing road network.”

The mobility management plan compiled by P Coleman & Associates on behalf of the board of management outlines the proposed extended school will not create any additional students or trips with no planned increase in students or staff. The existing school has 471 students and 31 staff.

The mobility plan also outlines there will be no changes to bus drop off / collection within the site or external parking to the school.

The planner found that having regard to the established use on the site and the assertion that there will be no increase in pupil numbers.

“I would not accept that the proposed development will result in any additional long term noise / general disturbance than what already exists on the site.”

The granting of planning permission subject to conditions was recommended by the planner.

In granting planning permission, Clare County Council’s chief executive’s order stated the development “would not be prejudicial to public health and would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience and therefore be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

Among the conditions of planning the provision of the proposed parking area along the side of Glenina pitch is to be undertaken by the applicant and dedicated to Clare County Council on completion.

“This parking area shall be constructed in full to the satisfaction of the planning authority prior to the occupation of the proposed school extension.”

Prior to the commencement of the development an operational stage mobility and traffic management plan is to be submitted for the written agreement of the planning authority and the plan subsequently implemented.

The plan is to include details of the proposed management and supervision of the external circulation and set down areas and specific initiatives to reduce private single occupancy vehicles and the promotion of park ‘n’ stride or walking bus type initiatives. The plan is to be updated on an annual basis.

A surface water management plan is also to be submitted as well as a construction and demolition environmental management plan. The ground works of the development are to be monitored by a suitably qualified archaeologist, and if any material is found work is to cease pending a decision on how to deal with the finding.