Tag Archives: planning permission

A RELIGIOUS renewal group has secured conditional planning permission for a small-scale housing development in Tuamgraney, for older members of its community.  The Christian Community has been given the green light for 12 new accommodation units and the updating of their existing facilities at Drewsborough. A design statement submitted with the application last June, outlined how the existing centre is made up of a chapel, priest’s house, visitor accommodation, therapy rooms and associated services. Subject to 11 conditions, planners have given the go-ahead for the demolition of part of an existing building, the extension of the chapel and the creation of a new accommodation block. While assessing the application, planners raised a number of concerns, including the possibility of future interment of cremated human remains at the site. Through a Further Information (FI) request, they also queried elements of the design and landscaping and how the building would integrate into the traditional streetscape of Tuamgraney. Other questions about the ownership …

THE HSE will present 3-D drawings and a model for a proposed €25 million 100 bed community nursing unit for Ennis at a public consultation meeting this week. The meeting on Wednesday, June 22, at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis from 1pm to 3pm will set out plans for the construction of the 100-bed unit on a 5.09 acre greenfield site near St Flannan’s College. Details of the public consultation have come ahead of the anticipated lodging of a planning application with Clare County Council for the development at the end of this month. The proposed new unit if given the green light for planning by the local authority will replace long stay and short stay beds at St Joseph’s Hospital. A design team has completed an outline design phase of the project. The proposed unit will include 88 single and four twin rooms, and four palliative care facilities. The project has been included for funding in the HSE …

EXPANSION is on the cards at Beckman Coulter’s O’Callaghan’s Mills plant, with the company seeking permission for facilities to accommodate an additional 60 staff. Details of the new jobs are revealed in a planning application currently being considered by Clare County Council. The medical diagnostics company is looking to create additional first floor laboratory and office space, as well as a new roof plant area at its existing eastern warehouse. The planning application has stated that an 60 additional staff will be added to its existing 420-strong workforce, and will occupy the new extension. A planning report, from DRA Consulting Engineers, outlined that the first floor area would more than treble in size, if given the go ahead. On the issue of the visual impact, the report stated that this would be minimal as most of the new development would be located internally, within an existing structure. A new roof plant area, of 80 square metres, would have the most …

RURAL development is being seriously stifled by restrictions on ‘in-fill’ sites, a West Clare councillor has said.  At this week’s local authority meeting, Councillor PJ Kelly described the situation as “a landmine” and he called for all references to in-fill sites to be removed from the forthcoming Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029. The Fianna Fáil member said that some people were being refused permission to build a home, on the basis that developing their site would create an in-fill site, a situation the Council did not want to see.  “I know of situations where a farmer wants to give land to a son for example,” he outlined. Planning permission is refused because if son got it, there would be an in-fill site beside it.  This situation is not good enough and it’s downright discrimination. If there’s an in-fill site, someone with plenty of money can come in from outside and build. I have no objection to that and Iove to …

QUESTIONS have been raised over plans for a major new housing development proposed for Quin, following a number of objections.  Planners are seeking Further Information (FI) on proposals from Datcha Construction, to build 41 homes on a large site at Quin Gardens in the heart of the historic village.  In January, the company applied for permission for 13 detached, 10 semi-detached and 18 terraced houses on a site of just under two hectares. During the submissions window, five objections were received. These include a joint submission from Quin Garden Residents. The submissions have raised concerns over issues including flooding, road safety, traffic volumes and the protection of wildlife. One document details incidents of flooding in Quin in 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2017. Other submissions highlight the requirement under the County Development Plan for hydrogeological assessment for any plans on the development site. Concerns were also raised by some residents about potential overlooking of existing homes.  In addition, The Development Applications …

A LANDMARK crafts company in Tuamgraney has secured permission for a new apartment development which has been commended for its sensitivity to the local streetscape. The green light has been given to McKernan Woollen Mills Ltd, subject to six conditions. While planners were assessing the designs, they raised concerns about the impact on the Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) in the scenic East Clare Village. Those concerns were allayed through Further Information (FI) supplied by McKernans. The revised designs were then commended by the Council’s Architectural Conservation Officer (ACO) as paying “homage to agricultural architecture of the surrounding hinterland”. The company lodged plans last June for conversion of an existing cottage into three self-contained apartments. In August, planners requested more details from the company, in relation to the potential impact on the character of the East Clare village. In their letter, planners said they had “serious concerns in relation to the overall design of the development and the impact of same …

LAKESIDE activities of all kinds are planned as part of ambitious proposals to develop a pavilion at Aistear Park in Mountshannon.  Earlier this month, the Community Council formally lodged plans with Clare County Council for the  facility, after extensive public consultation. The roofed, open structure, which will provide shelter from the elements, and have water and electricity installed, will be able to cater for festivals, performances, classes, social events and a host of other activities. Also awaited is an announcement from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, to which the Community Council has lodged a funding application.  “We looked at the situation with Covid,” explained Joanne Dunphy-Allen, Chairperson of Mountshannon Community Council. “We’re always looking to enhance the the community and to improve areas and boost what we have. We looked at situations where we’d had events and festivals. We had groups that were having difficulties being able to meet inside and do things, because of Covid. Also, we live …

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, …