Plan changes to devalue Nama land

LANDS owned by the National Asset Management Agency (Nama) in South-East Clare may be effectively devalued if proposed amendments in the South-East Clare Plan are fully adopted.

A substantial portion of land in a section of the sprawling Westbury Housing Estate has been zoned low residential density in the draft plan, while another section has been zoned open space. A community zoning has been placed on land owned by Nama.
The agency has taken over management of houses and undeveloped land previously owned by Chieftain Construction Limited, which went into voluntary liquidation earlier this year.
A few years ago, a planning application was submitted for the construction of over 100 houses in Westbury, before it was withdrawn following concerns from the local planning authority.
A development of this size looks increasingly unlikely over the coming years if councillors adopt the current zoning of lands in the Athlunkard area, which are currently on public display.
At the rear of the Bruachlán housing estate, which has been categorised by Clare County Council as a ‘ghost estate’ requiring urgent safety works, Councillor Cathal Crowe estimates there are five or six houses that are boarded up, another eight or nine left uncompleted at floor level, while another 20 houses have not commenced construction.
Under the draft plan, the council has included a zoning to facilitate the construction of these houses but has significantly reduced the amount of land zoned as high density residential.
Councillor Crowe has received assurances from Clare County Council that councillors are entitled to rezone any parcel of land, regardless of whether it is owned by Nama, a public body or private individual.
As part of the consultation process, Councillor Crowe made a submission proposing that all undeveloped sites and sites with expired planning permissions within the Westbury estate be designated ‘open space’.
His proposal applies to lands that had been zoned for development under the 2009-2015 South Clare Plan, excluding land within the curtilage of individual houses, such as front and back gardens.
“No new houses have been built in the Westbury estate within the last three years,” he claimed, adding that there is no demand for such.
The council has proposed that the Riverside Greenfield Site has the potential to accommodate a community facility, which will be of benefit to residents.
“Any development proposals have to ensure that the established residential amenities at the northern and western boundaries of the site are protected. An appropriate buffer has to be maintained to the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and all development proposals shall be required to demonstrate that they will not result in impacts on the SAC water quality, either at construction or operational stages.
“Taking account of the flooding history in the area, proposals for development will be required to take account of section 9.4 of the Clare County Development Plan and the OPW/DoEHLG planning guidelines on Flood Risk Management and undertake a complete Flood Risk Assessment if required,” the plan stated.