Revised designs for development in Clare village approved

DEVELOPERS of a landmark site in Crusheen have been granted permission to change the design of several of the homes, after citing the raising price of building materials and labour.

In June of last year, Woodhaven Developments was approval for a mixed-use building with shop and office space, as well as a total of 29 houses on a site on the northern side of the village. 

In November, the company submitted an application to make amendments to 22 of the proposed housing designs. In the application, Woodhaven outlined a number of reasons for seeking to alter the plans.

“Using the revised house design instead of the original approved, will assist the developer in complying with the recent amendments to the Building Regulations which require new dwellings to have an increased energy performance,” the application stated.

“The proposed revised designs will lessen the financial pressure currently being felt as a result of price increases in materials and labour and recent times, and therefore will help with maintaining affordable house prices in this development. We believe that the revised designs still reflect the proportions of the original proposals and is effective in providing aesthetically pleasing house designs.”

County planners judged the proposed design changes to be acceptable and have given permission subject to one condition. The developer is required to carry out the project in accordance with the designs submitted and in compliance with the conditions originally imposed with the estate was first granted permission. 

The proposed estate is on a site of 2.29 hectares, which is less than one-third of the total land bank owned by Woodhaven in Crusheen. Open space within the current development accounts for 0.65 hectares, with a cycle way and pedestrian link under construction to create a link to the village centre.

The layout of the development takes account of an existing monument, documented by The Heritage Service and the homes are arranged around an open green area. 

When the plans were originally lodged last February, the company noted that the development represents a multimillion euro investment in rapidly-expanding village.

During the public consultation phase, a number of submissions were received. In response, the council asked the company for Further Information. Revised plans, taking account of public concerns, were put out to further consultation and no further submissions were received. 

In a design statement submitted as part of the original application, Woodhaven said they plan to begin work on the new development as soon as work on the nearby Cluain Fia estate is complete.

Last month, the council approved the name Radharc an Dún for the new housing development. The name ‘Fort View’ will also appear in English on signage at the estate.

In respect of the current application for revised designs, the council has given February 2 as an indicative decision date. 

Meanwhile, planners have sought Further Information (FI) on an application from Woodhaven for 42 new homes on a nearby site. The proposals, submitted in November, represent the next phase of a masterplan for lands close to the village centre, on the Gort side. The site is zoned for mixed use and transport utilities.

That application seeks permission for 34 two-storey homes; four two-storey homes with additional attic space and four single storey houses. In January, planners raised a number of concerns.

In their FI request, planners said that “the current proposal when considered together with developments permitted… would constitute an intensity of residential development unsuited to a ‘large village which may not presently have the range of community, educational or commercial services to support such development”.

The developer was also asked to address concerns over surface water from the site and the layout of parking spaces. Woodhaven is required to respond to the FI request by June.