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New hospital for Ennis and €1.3m for county council

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THE developers of a new private hospital in Ennis, granted planning permission lastweek, have to pay development contributions of over €1.3 million to Clare County Council, before work can commence on the project.
Planning permission for the €40 million five-storey 100-bed hospital off the Shanaway Road in Ennis was granted at the end of last week subject to numerous conditions and development contributions.
Originally, a planning application was made for 120 beds earlier this year but revised plans were submitted to Clare County Council at the end of August seeking permission for 73 in-patient beds, seven gynae/cardiology beds and 20 day surgery beds, a total of 100 beds. The developers have predicted that the construction of the new hospital will create over 100 jobs, with between 400 and 500 full-time jobs directly generated once it becomes fully operational in 2012. The new private hospital will provide a full range of medical and healthcare services including general surgery, urgent care, cardiology, radiation, oncology, cosmetic surgery, four operating theatres and endoscopy. Other related services will include physiotherapy, laboratory, x-ray, radiology, MRI/PET scans, ECG, mammogram, renal dialysis, ultrasound, pharmacy and dental facilities.
Last week, county councillors voted to allow a material contravention of the Ennis Development Plan to rezone the land at Woodstock off the Shanaway Road to accommodate the private hospital planned by Lisdoonvarna builder John Stack and Donegal developer, Pat Bonner. Following this decision, the council’s planning department granted permission for the private hospital.
Work is expected to begin in the new year.
A total of 39 contributions have been attached to the planning permission, including two separate development contributions, amounting to over €1.3 million.
The planning department has ordered the developers to pay a contribution of €706,548.02 in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefitting the development. The developers have been further directed to pay a special development contribution to Clare County Council of €604,900, towards the provision of cycling routes, footpaths, a pedestrian crossing and a roundabout at the N85/Shanaway Road junction, which are necessary to facilitate the development of the site and the overall area.
The planning authority has also stipulated that no works shall commence on site until the upgrade to the Clonroadmore Wastewater Treatment Plant is complete and made operational, unless otherwise agreed with the authority.
In addition, a management company will be responsible for the management and maintenance of the development including all roads, open spaces, refuse, lighting and services.
The council’s planning department has also requested that prior to the commencement of the development, a full landscaping and planting schedule will be forwarded to them for written agreement.
Other conditions include details of all boundary fencing, a full schedule of all signage and external finishes to the hospital to be forwarded to the authority prior to commencement of the development.
Details of the hospital’s waste compound, foul hydraulic and biological loading, foul water sewers, grease traps in the sewers, as well as wastewater, watermains and surface water drainage must also be agreed with the authority.
Also, the council has instructed that a traffic management plan for the construction phase of the development be submitted and agreed to in writing with the planning authority prior to any work starting on site.

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