A LANDMARK crafts company in Tuamgraney has secured permission for a new apartment development which has been commended for its sensitivity to the local streetscape.
The green light has been given to McKernan Woollen Mills Ltd, subject to six conditions. While planners were assessing the designs, they raised concerns about the impact on the Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) in the scenic East Clare Village.
Those concerns were allayed through Further Information (FI) supplied by McKernans. The revised designs were then commended by the Council’s Architectural Conservation Officer (ACO) as paying “homage to agricultural architecture of the surrounding hinterland”.
The company lodged plans last June for conversion of an existing cottage into three self-contained apartments. In August, planners requested more details from the company, in relation to the potential impact on the character of the East Clare village.
In their letter, planners said they had “serious concerns in relation to the overall design of the development and the impact of same on both the Tuamgraney ACA)and the general streetscape at this location”.
Planners described the design of the rear extension as “inappropriate” and said there was “a lack of symmetry” in the arrangement of the windows in the front of the building.
Further questions were asked about the size of one of the apartments, ventilation and possible overlooking of a neighbouring amenity space.
In response, McKernan Woollen Mills outlined detailed proposals to address planners’ concerns.
Proposed new designs will ensure that “the overall appearance of the building will be like a house along the street with a barn at the back”.
The two structures will be connected with a link building. The issue over the arrangement of the windows has been addressed with what the developers describe as “a more symmetrical window arrangement”.
To avoid overlooking of the neighbouring home, a number of steps will be taken. Among these is a high strip of windows proposed for the link building on the first floor. The proposed balcony close to the roadside will have a solid wall around it.
In response to planners’ concerns about the size of one of the proposed apartments, some changes were made to the size and layout to make it bigger. Steps were also been taken to improve ventilation.
A report from the Council’s Architectural Conservation Officer (ACO) noted that the apartments are to a scale in sympathy with the surroundings and that, while the design is contemporary, it would not detract from the Architectural Conservation Area (ACA).
The officer also said the muted palette of colour for the proposed material also respect the ACA. The ACO also complimented the new build’s
The conditions attached to planning permission stipulate that the build must stick to the plans originally submitted and altered in the FI process. Public service cables must be located underground and a development contribution of €8,549 must be paid.
Meanwhile, the company has previously secured planning permission for a tea room, as well as additional workshop space at is premises in Ballyquin in the heart of Tuamgraney.