Tag Archives: An Bord Pleanála

THE architectural significance of Quin has been safeguarded by the planning appeals board, who have rejected attempts to erect a mast of over 20 metres in height in the village. The decision of An Bord Pleanála to refuse permission to Vantage Towers for a telecommunications tower at Quinville South has copper-fastened a refusal late last year by Clare County Council.  An inspector from the board recommended rejection of the appeal, and this was backed by the executive of An Bord Pleanála. A direction from the board found that the tower “would have an adverse effect on the character of the Quin Architectural Conservation Area, and would seriously detract from and injure the visual amenities of the area”. The direction added that in terms of the visual impact, the closeness to the ACA and the village, the proposed lattice tower did not comply with either the guidelines on telecommunications structures or those on the protection of architectural heritage. It concluded that …

OBJECTORS to plans for the construction of a new housing development in an historic Ennis area designated an Opportunity Site in the County Development Plan have insisted they don’t want it to become an “opportunity lost”. Two separate appeals by residents against the proposal have now been lodged with An Bord Pleanala following the granting of permission by Clare County Council to Eko Integrated Services Ltd for the ‘Buttermarket Development’ of 37 residential units and a cafe with digital working hub at the Drumbiggle Road, Buttermarket Street and Simm’s Lane. The site is in an Architectural Conservation Area of Ennis. An appeal has been lodged by Mary Burke and Pat Conboy who have purchased and are renovating a property on Carmody Street. In a previous submission to the council during the initial planning application, they argued that the proposed density of the development “will entirely destroy the fabric of this neighbourhood.” And a separate appeal, lodged by local Stephen Loftus …

AN Bord Pleanála has upheld a previous decision by Clare County Council to grant planning permission for 48 houses at Smithstown. It also reduced the amount the developer is required to pay in advance by €45,000. An order from its board said that subject to compliance with a number of conditions, “the proposed development would constitute an acceptable quantum of development, housing mix and appropriate density for the area”. The planning board ruled that it would not adversely impact on the residential amenities of adjoining properties or the amenities and operation of the hotel to the south of the site and would not constitute project splitting nor generate a traffic hazard. “The proposed development would, therefore be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” the report stated. It upheld a view that the developer should pay €137,000 for 250 metres of 5.5 metres road, and €50,000 for a junction upgrade. However, it ruled that a …

RESIDENTS of an historic area of Ennis are vowing to “fight to the last” against plans for a new housing development which has been given the green light by Clare County Council. They are now preparing an appeal to An Bord Pleanala following the granting of planning permission to Eko Integrated Services Ltd for the ‘Buttermarket Development’ of residential units and a cafe with digital working hub at the Drumbiggle Road, Buttermarket Street and Simm’s Lane. The site is in an Architectural Conservation Area of Ennis. The initial application had sought to build 46 units, however this has been reduced to 37. The plans include a new apartment building on Drumbiggle Road increasing from two storeys to four storeys over-semi basement with a fifth floor set back on the south west corner. This building will incorporate 26 two-bedroom units, four one-bedroom units and one three-bedroom unit. The development will also see the construction of a new two-storey terrace of six …

CONTROVERSIAL plans to increase the size of the development of a primary healthcare facility have been given approved by An Bord Pleanala. Valley Healthcare Fund Infrastructure Investment Fund ICAV had lodged an appeal after Clare County Council refused permission for the plans at the former Braids site on Station Road. Last year in a split decision, the local authority refused to amend planning permission previously granted for a mixed use development that would increase the floor area from 7,250sqm to 8,008sqm with the provision of an additional floor set back at roof top level. The plans had initially included an additional deck of car parking which was later omitted by the developers. While refusing to allow the increase in size, the local authority gave the go-ahead to other aspects of the application seeking to amend the initial health care facility plans. During the local authority planning process the proposals had been the subject of a number of objections from local …

Claim that Council decision is based on ‘subjective, unsubstantiated opinions’ unsupported by facts THE operator of a forecourt on the outskirts of Ennis has appealed against Clare County Council’s refusal of permission for refurbishment plans, claiming the decision “is based on subjective, unsubstantiated opinions”. Maxol Limited was recently refused planning permission to refurbish and rearrange the internal area of the food hall of its existing forecourt on the Ennis Road, Clarecastle. The application sought permission to expand the existing deli offering to include a branded hot-food takeaway, with 20 people to be employed. Under the proposal an existing children’s play area – closed since March 2020 due to Covid-19 and that presented difficulties regarding safe sanitation levels for future use” – would have been removed to allow for a reallocation of food hall space to provide a new layout. In refusing planning permission last November, however, the local authority concluded the plans “would result in an undesirable and haphazard intensification …

FRUSTRATION with the waiting time for decisions on planning appeals has been expressed by members of Clare County Council.  A joint motion from Councillors Pat Daly, Mark Nestor and John Crowe made a call for staffing levels at the appeals board to be increased. The members also agreed that more planners should be appointed to Clare County Council to handle a predicted surge in applications in 2022.  “The normal planning appeals decision time with An Bord Pleanála is four months,” Councillor Daly told the December Council meeting. “In recent times, the decision process at the board has totally gone over control… So many appeals in Clare are with An Bord Pleanála for up to 12 months. “One, in particular is a proposed plaza for the outskirts of Ennis. Clare County Council gave its full planning permission 12 months ago creating up to 130 jobs and there’s still no decision [on the appeal]. The reply the frustrated applicant get from the …

DEVELOPERS looking to build a 24-metre mast in Quin have offered to reduce the height of the structure as part of an appeal against the council’s decision to refuse permission. After a significant local opposition, and multiple objections, County Planners refused an application from Vantage Towers for the structure at a site at Quinnville South. The planning authority said that the proposed mast would materially contravene the zoning of the site and adversely affect Quin as an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA). In addition, planners noted national guidelines stating that free-standing masts should only be located, as a last resort, in residential areas or close to schools. County Planners added that the mast development would also impact negatively on a medieval settlement area. In an appeal lodged earlier this month with An Bord Pleanála, Vantage Towers has now offered to reduce the height of the mast to 21 metres. The company said that this is in order “to uphold the attractiveness …