A DECISION by Clare County Council to grant planning permission for 48 houses in Shannon, has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Woodhaven Developments was granted planning permission for the Smithstown development, but an appeal has been submitted on behalf of Edward Keena, owner of the Oakwood Hotel.
The document notes the site and wider landholding associated with the proposed masterplan area, essentially wraps around the rear of the Treacy’s Oakwood Hotel.
“The hotel owner is not satisfied that sufficient consideration has been given to the extent to which the proposed development may impact on the operation and day to day running of the hotel with particular reference to the function room and noise impact.”
The document added, “While not averse to development of the subject lands, the primary concern of the hotel owner is the potential for the proposed development to impact on the current operation of the hotel with particular reference to night time use and functions.
“The hotel function room and associated use for weddings and functions has the potential to conflict with future residents with particular reference to noise associated with the general use of the hotel for night time activities, including the movement of people to and from the function room, music/bands from the function room and general noise from the smoking area.
“While every endeavour is made by Treacy’s to prevent noise pollution, and in this regard to date there have been no issues or complaints, the proposed development includes for residential units as close as 13.5 metres from the hotel boundary with associated rear gardens directly abutting the hotel boundary.
“The applicant has an obligation to detail how the proposed development will integrate with existing established development and associated use, including the hotel.” Merely informing people buying houses that there may be an issue is not sufficient, the appeal claimed.
“The applicant states that as a point of contract, future occupants will be ‘informed under contract as regards to the activities associated with the adjoining hotel and concerns expressed by the owners of the hotel in their observations to the Council on this planning application”.
“On behalf of the appellant and the Treacy’s Hotel Groups it is stated that this will achieve absolutely nothing in terms of preventing or mitigating potential noise impact.
“Furthermore no point of contact associated with a house purchase or occupation overrules the Council’s obligations to prevent noise pollution or the associated protections offered to potential future occupants of the proposed dwelling with regards to the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992.”
Woodhaven Developments has also lodged an appeal regarding a condition associated with the Council’s grant of planning permission.
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.