Europe’s first ‘wellness centre’ gets planning go-ahead

Clare County Council gave the go ahead this week for what developers are calling “the first purpose-built wellness rejuvenation centre in Europe”.

Fintan O’Brien, Kieran Casey and Brian O’Shaughnessy applied for planning permission in 2010 to construct a wellness centre with a manager’s apartment or office, 15 ‘wellness’ tourist accommodation units, a storage shed, gazebo, waste water treatment, 32 parking spaces and associated works at Ranaghan, Ruan, four and a half miles from Corofin.
According to the application it is intended that Clare Resorts will operate the development. The three applicants are local people and in partnership with Clare Resorts, “it is proposed to create employment in the area; one [an area] that has no tourist-related employment or tourist accommodation in existence. There are no tourist facilities servicing the eastern part of the Burren and it is considered that this small scale development will bring an economic boost while not impacting on the unique landscape to the north and west.”
According to Clare Resorts the market research has shown that the development is required in Ranaghan and “once constructed will be the first of its kind in Europe”.
“This will generate tourism dollars into an area that needs it and will create local employment,” it adds.
“Clare County Council has shown great foresight in giving this planning permission,” Emelyn Heaps, CEO of Clare Resorts, told The Clare Champion. “It was a tough decision for them because of the location but it is a credit to them that they did give it.”
Back in September Clare County Council raised “serious concerns” about the development of the centre and requested further information from the developers.
It stated that it had “serious concerns regarding the proposed development from a public health point of view”.
The council also requested a Natural Impact Statement because of the proximity of the site 230m from the East Burren Complex Special Area of Conservation and within 370m of the Ballyogan Lough Special Area of Conservation and the proposal to have on site waste water treatment.
The developers supplied further information and this week Clare County Council granted planning permission for the development subject to 21 conditions.
“We still say there is no demand for this development in this area and would recommend that if there was demand that it should be placed in a less vulnerable landscape,” stated a letter from the Clare Association of An Taisce to Clare County Council dated March 6.
The letter also claimed that “the report made on the hydrology and the sewage system is well below the standard of an appropriate assessment”. 
An appeal to An Bord Pleanála can be made within four weeks of the local authority’s decision.
“I am worried about An Taisce, I don’t know what their remit is. I understand that their job is to preserve heritage but it is all very well to have heritage but it is not much good with no people in the country,” Mr Heaps said.
According to the application the project when it is up and running will employ 12 to 18 people including the management and staff to operate the development along with outside supporting contractors. It would also operate 24-hours a day for 365 days.
“Clare Resorts brings €7.5 million to the East Clare economy each year. Those are the figures. There are lots of villages and towns that this project will benefit. If we bring 50 to 60 people per week coming to the centre, that is 50 or 60 more than would ordinarily be there. This will be of benefit to local businesses but we are hopeful that they will help us too. The people living in the area have the opportunity to capitalise on this,” Mr Heaps continued.
While Mr Heaps refused to give details of the value of the project, he described the investment necessary to bring it to fruition as “sizeable.” The planning and design process so far has cost in excess of €60,000 he confirmed.
“We will shortly be looking for tenders for building work and in the current climate, we will be building it a lot cheaper than three or four years ago without affecting the quality,” Mr Heaps concluded.