WOODHAVEN Developments Limited has received planning permission for the construction of 55 houses and a childcare facility at Smithstown, Shannon.
The County Council granted planning permission subject to 28 conditions, three of which require the developer to make separate payments, which, added together, come to over €600,000.
One of the conditions requires “a contribution of €311,801 to Clare County Council in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the Planning Authority that is provided for, or intended to be provided by or on behalf of the authority in accordance with the terms of the development contribution scheme under Section 38 of the Planning & Development Act 2000”.
A separate requirement is for a cash security of €275,000 until the development is taken in charge by the Council or until there has “satisfactory completion of the development”.
Separately before work starts a Special Development Contribution must be paid to Clare County Council, towards the upgrading of a section of the L 3172 and towards the cost of lighting a section of it. While the amount payable will be based on the contribution rate applicable at the time of payment, the amount currently due would be €70,000.
One local resident had made a submission on the development, stating that while he was not objecting to it going ahead, he had a number of issues, which he would like to be addressed.
One of the issues he raised was related to noise.
“I have concerns about noise during the development and dust. Currently we are living beside a construction site and have endured 18 months of unsociable working hours, mostly six days a week, rock breakers going from 6am, trucks delivering concrete.”
The hours of work are to be limited to 7am-7pm on weekdays, and between 8am and 2pm on Saturday, with none at all allowed on Sundays or public holidays.
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.