Tag Archives: Clare planning applications

CLARE County Council has expressed “serious concerns” that a €25m HSE plan for an elderly care unit on Church-owned lands at St Flannan’s College in Ennis may prejudice the future expansion of the secondary school. Putting the project on hold, the Council has sent a Further Information (FI) request to the HSE to state that it has serious concerns that the proposed development particularly on lands zoned community may prejudice the future expansion of the school. The loss of “ancillary required sports/recreational grounds” and the potential removal of a number of mature trees on the site have been highlighted. In its request for further information, the Council has stated that it has concerns in relation to the potential overbearing impact of the proposal on existing dwellings in the vicinity. As a result, the Council has asked the HSE to relocate or redesign the proposed building so that greater separation distances are maintained. The local authority has also expressed concern over …

AN ex-principal of St Flannan’s College in Ennis has emerged as one of a number of objectors to new plans for a €25m elderly care unit on diocesan owned lands at the college. Last month, the HSE lodged plans for the 100-bed Community Nursing Unit (CNU) on a seven-acre green field site at Clonroadmore at the post primary St Flannan’s College. The hospital is to replace the existing bed capacity at St Joseph’s Hospital in Ennis. The new unit is to contain 75 long-stay and 25 short-stay beds and according to planning documents lodged most residents will have high dependency needs “and a number may also suffer from Alzheimer’s/Dementia”. A total of 11 objections have been lodged against the proposal and in a detailed, hard-hitting objection against the application, Colm McDonagh has told Clare County Council that the proposed CNU “is inappropriate at this location and is not in the best interests of proper planning and development of the area”. …

AN Bord Pleanála has again rejected an appeal from Aldi to overrule Clare County Council and allow the development of a new store and cafe/restaurant opposite Shannon’s Town Centre. There has been considerable local support for allowing Aldi to go ahead with the development, with a lot of frustration about the lack of development in Shannon in recent years. However, Clare County Council and An Bord Pleanála have both now ruled twice against Aldi, with the project not having advanced at all since the first planning application was lodged more than five years ago. An Bord Pleanála inspector Adrian Ormsyby reviewed Clare County Council’s decision to again reject Aldi’s application. While he disagreed with the Council’s contention that the development should not be allowed on grounds of zoning or lack of pedestrian links to the existing Town Centre, he was still against it being given the green light. In the report he stated, “Having regard to the prominent location of …

AN APPLICATION for a major private housing scheme in Tulla is the subject of several objections, over issues including the density of the proposed 60-home development. Wiskin Property Developments is seeking permission for 15 detached houses; 36 semi-detached houses and nine terraced houses on a site of just over three hectares at Loughaun South. To date, four submissions have been sent to planners by locals living close to the site, and a representation has been made by Councillor Joe Cooney. A submission from one local couple has raised questions over the density of the development, which they maintained should only be eight to 12 units per hectare, according to the current zoning. Wiskin Developments has proposed to build 18.3 units per hectare. The submission also questioned the adequacy of parking provision and potential disturbance and intrusion from additional traffic. Another resident noted a high level of undeveloped residential land within the Tulla settlement boundary, where planning permission exists for 108 …

A PROPOSED €20 million development by Lidl Ireland “will not compete” with businesses in Ennis’ town centre the developers have insisted. Further information regarding the plans has been submitted to Clare County Council in response to a number of issues raised about the proposed development including its potential “adverse impact” on the town centre. Retailer representative group The Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association and local business owners have also voiced concerns about the plans. Lidl is seeking planning permission for the development of a new store and mixed-use development at the junction of the Clare Road (R458) and Toberteascain Road. If given the go-ahead, the development will include 20 residential apartments, a café and two commercial units. According to the supermarket giant the development will create 30 local jobs along with 100 more during construction if granted planning permission. Among the concerns raised by the local authority was the potential cumulative impact of the proposed development with a commercial …

PLANS for the development of a new supermarket in Sixmilebridge have been put on hold by Clare County Council. The site for the proposed supermarket is the old Arch Ballroom, a famous dance hall in the showband era. It was converted to an auction rooms as well as a cinema on the first floor in the nineties. The local authority has requested the developer to submit a substantial amount of new information about the impact of the plan on what is a protected structure in the village. This comes after five residents sent in submissions to the local planning authority supporting the new development. JCCMC Limited Ballybunion has lodged a planning application seeking permission to change the use of the Auction Room to a new supermarket including a retail area, café, off-licence, store, goods loading area, as well as elevation changes to the existing building. In its request for Further Information, the planning authority has asked the applicant to submit …

A POPULAR Lahinch hotel has applied for planning permission for a new bar and restaurant. An application has been lodged with Clare County Council, seeking permission for alterations at the Lahinch Coast Hotel. Blue Chip Investments Limited has made the application, and a letter accompanying it says, “The subject site is situated in Lahinch town centre, with the premises formerly in use as a nightclub which formed part of the Lahinch Coast Hotel. “Despite its prominent town centre location, the premises has remained vacant for over ten years, which has negatively impacted the vibrancy, viability and economy of the wider town centre.” It says the development would include “the demolition of a portion of the buildings northern facade to accommodate the provision of an outdoor dining area and other elevational changes including ancillary awning, service/plant equipment at roof level and fenestration changes.” It said that the layout of the bar/restaurant had been designed by Paul Haffey Design, whose previous projects …

PLANS to extend an Ennis primary school will lead to an “enhanced” school experience with “better facilities” for the existing staff and students. That’s according to a report lodged with Clare County Council as part of a planning application by the Board of Management of Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg for a two storey extension at the school. If given the go-ahead the school on the Gort Road will see the development of six classrooms, a general purpose hall, two SEN classrooms and two ball courts as well as additional staff car parking and other associated works. A mobility and management report into the proposal has been compiled by P Coleman & Associates on behalf of the applicant and lodged with the planning application. It outlines that the proposed extended school will not create any additional students or trips with no planned increase in students or staff. The existing school has 471 students and 31 staff. “The purpose of the new classroom …