Tag Archives: An Bord Pleanála

SHANNON Airport Authority is looking for a retail operator to take on two units. One of the units is landside and 187.3 m2 in size. It is situated in a pivotal location in the main terminal building, between the check-in area and the arrivals area. According to the tender documents, the unit “is visible and accessible to all arriving and departing passengers, ‘meeters and greeters’, airport staff and the general public”. The other unit is 136 m2 in size and is in the departure lounge, adjacent to the main duty free shop. According to the documentation, the items to be sold would include books, magazines and similar publications, as well as convenience items (soft drinks, pre-packed sandwiches, mobile phone top ups etc). It also states, “SAA is currently working on a ‘Sense of Place’ masterplan, which is focusing on the essential touch points in the passenger journey from the approach road to the boarding gate and all key areas in …

PLANS for the development of a new Killaloe store, which could, it is claimed, generate a projected turnover of €9.12 million in 2019, has been approved by An Bord Pleanála, despite objections from local traders. Welcoming the decision, an Aldi spokesperson said the company believes competition is good for consumers. “Aldi will now move forward with our plans to open a new store in Killaloe, bringing our range of award-winning products at unbeatable prices to the local community. “The opening of every new Aldi store has brought greater choice, quality and value to more and more consumers across Ireland. Since 1999, we have invested €1.2 billion in our store opening programme and, last year, we spent over €700m with Irish suppliers,” the spokesperson continued. “Aldi are engaged in a three-year €100m expansion programme, with plans to open 20 new stores and creating 400 new jobs by the end of 2019.” This was the second time the German multinational submitted plans …

PLANS for the development of a supermarket and medical services centre on the outskirts of Ennis town centre have been put on hold, with an appeal lodged to An Bord Pleanála. Clare Car & Tractor Parts Ltd and Lohan Property Ltd were granted planning permission by Clare County Council for the development of the existing retail warehouse site on the Kilrush Road. The application sought the amalgamation and change of use of the four permitted ground-floor retail warehouse units to provide for: a supermarket, including a licensed alcohol sales area; eight neighbourhood centre retail units, with new independent shopfront entrances and neighbourhood centre management areas. The plans also include a medical services facility, including consultant rooms and associated waiting and administration area and more than 200 parking spaces. A total of 14 third-party submissions were received in relation to the development. Among those making submissions were local businesses, including Tesco Ireland Ltd, O’Sullivan & Hansbury Motors, Musgrave Retail Partners, as …

CLARE county councillors will be asked to support a proposed upgrading of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Car Park, despite a claim this it is contrary to a previous Bord Pleanála ruling. In a report prepared for councillors for the adjourned meeting last Monday, deputy chief executive Ger Dollard recommended that the council proceed with the works as outlined, subject to a number of conditions outlined in a local authority planning report. “The effect of the works will be to upgrade the existing car park at the Cliffs of Moher from its temporary construction state to the standard expected in a car-parking facility and which serves the second most visited tourist attraction in Ireland. “Subject to tendering process and funding arrangements, it is unlikely that works will proceed until late 2017 at the earliest,” he stated. It is expected that councillors will decide to accept, reject or adjourn a decision on this Part Eight planning application when they reconvene next …

A proposal for a new bridge to resolve the traffic chaos at Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon can be dealt with through a Part VIII planning process. This follows the receipt by County Council of confirmation from An Bórd Pleanala that the proposed improvement scheme of a new bridge upriver of the existing bridge can proceed without the requirement to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement or a Natura Impact Statement. “Clare County Council is now in a position to resume its consideration of the issue and will be liaising with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) with a view to identifying and progressing toward a solution to the longstanding traffic problems at Blake’s Corner,” a spokesperson said.

AN Bord Pleanála has rejected plans for a Barack Obama-style motorway plaza just outside Clarecastle. Earlier this year, Supermac’s Owner Pat McDonagh was granted planning permission by Clare County Council for a rest stop and drive thru on the Limerick – Gort motorway but the decision has been overturned on appeal.Supermac’s has a very successful plaza at Moneygall in County Offaly and another near the M6 at Loughrea. The planning permission in respect of the Clarecastle project was appealed by service stop rival, Applegreen, which has its own plans for a service area, 8km south of the Supermacs site. Later, however, Applegreen and Claureen Service Station withdrew their appeals and local man, Shane Brigdale was the only remaining opposition. The rejection of the plan represents a blow to the prospects of up to 100 jobs during the operation phase and up to 80 jobs during the construction phase. The appeal board refused planning on three grounds, including that it would …

AN environmentalist has been refused leave to appeal against the rejection of his legal challenge to a grant of permission for a 2km bypass around Killaloe in South East Clare. Peter Sweetman, and an environmental protection company, The Swans and the Snails Ltd, claimed the project, including construction of a 170 metre bridge over the River Shannon, would result in irreversible destruction of a woodlands habitat. The habitat, an alluvial wet willow-alder-ash woodland, is located on the western side of the proposed bridge. The High Court case was brought against An Bord Pleanala after it granted permission for the project in March 2013 to Clare County Council. Mr Sweetman, Bunahowen Cashel, Countty Galway, and the company, with an address at Rossport, South Ballina, County Mayo, claimed an environmental impact assessment carried out by the Board did not comply with the Habitats Directive or planning legislation. Mr Justice Paul McDermott dismissed their challenge last month after finding the board received comprehensive …

A WEST Clare woman has won a High Court order overturning a grant of permission for a development of four wind turbines near her home at Coore, near Mullagh. In a judgment strongly critical of absence of clarity and specificity in An Bord Pleanála’s grant of permission, Mr Justice Max Barrett said decisions of public bodies must be clear enough for people to decide if there is a legal basis to challenge them. “Proper planning was never intended to be, nor can it be allowed to become, a perk reserved for the few who can afford expert lawyers, with something less than best being the lot of the many who cannot,” he said  on Tuesday. Kathleen Connolly was “rightly insistent” there be full compliance with the law before a windfarm is planted by her homestead, he said. While the board had criticised her case as “opportunistic”, arguing it had “little or nothing to do with a bona fide concern for …