The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
THE PLANNING appeals board has waded into the controversy surrounding the issue of ‘in-fill’ sites in rural Clare. These are gap sites that are created where housing is built on either side. Under existing planning policy, those applying to build a house on an in-fill site can bypass certain restrictions including the requirement to prove a local housing need that applies to areas designated as being under strong urban pressure. In a recent decision, An Bord Pleanála rejected a bid by a couple to build a house on a gap site around 1.5km from Lissycasey and 13km from Ennis. The board ruled the site, between two existing homes, was too large to be considered an in-fill. This meant that the applicants needed to demonstrate a local housing need, and their application had failed to do so. The decision copper-fastened the Council’s original refusal of planning permission. Assessing the appeal, lodged on behalf of the couple by an agent based in …
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