Green light for €10m nursing home

WORK on the provision of a state-of-the-art €10 million two-storey nursing home in Westbury is expected to start during the summer months.
The development got the green light from Clare County Council and, barring a successful appeal to An Bord Pleanála, the Athlunkard Partnership, consisting of six Limerick businessmen, expect that construction work will start on the 110-bed nursing home over the coming months.
Athlunkard Partnership spokesman Flor McCarthy told The Clare Champion he is delighted to secure official approval for the multi-million euro development.
“The partnership sees this development as an enormous opportunity to provide the Limerick and Clare area with a nursing home built to an exceptionally high standard.
“Overall, the 20 planning conditions are fair and we are happy that we will be able to meet them in full. We are currently assessing the construction requirements of the development and hope to start work during the summer months,” he said.
The planning authority gave the go ahead after developers made a number of alterations to the original plans, including the provision of 108 single bedrooms and two double bedrooms instead of 110 singles.
It agreed to retain two of the main derelict dwellings on site near St Nicholas Church and to alter the design to a rectangular block enclosing a garden and courtyard space.
A number of planning conditions have been attached to the retention of a one and a half storey 19th century house, which is deemed to be of historical significance.
The applicant has to carry out work on the distributor road linking the subject site with the main Corbally to Broadford regional road and provide three pedestrian crossings and lighting at their own expense. A covered bicycle stand also has to be provided on site before the nursing home is operational.
Before the start of the development, the company has to pay a contribution of €135,155 to the council in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting the development.
On February 9 last, the local planning department expressed a number of concerns and made 13 specific requests for further information and revised plans, which were subsequently addressed.
A Traffic and Transport Assessment provided by CARA Traffic Solutions for the developers, predicted the junction at the Westbury traffic lights would be operating at 68% during morning peak hour and 81.3% capacity during evening rush hour. It also claimed that queuing and delays for all traffic movements on the public roadway would be minimal.
The development prompted objections from the Clare branch of An Taisce and residents, who raised concerns about the traffic impact, sewerage network, road network and its overall suitability for a residential area.
Commenting on the submissions, an executive planner stated in a planning report that the design of the building is satisfactory. “A secure outdoor garden space requires to be provided for the residents – hence the shape and form of the building. Comments concerning the traffic assessment are noted. The road design office has advised that, overall, the proposal is acceptable. It is acknowledged there will be some extra traffic generated by the development, but this is small in the overall context of traffic flow in the area.
“It is not considered that there is overlooking into Clonard having regard to the distance of the building from the site boundaries,” the report stated.
The nursing home will employ 50 staff between full time and part time employees on a 24-hour basis once it becomes fully operational.