Developers address concerns over Clare village apartments

A LANDMARK crafts company in Tuamgraney has given an assurance to planners that a proposed new small-scale apartment development will be in keeping with the village streetscape, writes Fiona McGarry.

McKernan Woollen Mills Limited lodged plans last June for conversion of an existing cottage into three self-contained apartments.

In August, planners requested Further Information (FI) 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 on both the Tuamgraney Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) and the general streetscape at this location”.

Planners described the design of the rear extension as “inappropriate” and said there was “a lack of symmetry” in the arrangement of the windows in the front of the building.

Further questions were asked about the size of one of the apartments, ventilation and possible overlooking of a neighbouring amenity space.

McKernan Woollen Mills have now responded to planners’ questions. The developers have outlined proposals to address the concerns raised in the FI request.

Proposed new designs will ensure that “the overall appearance of the building will be like a house along the street with a barn at the back”.

The two structures will be connected with a link building. The issue over the arrangement of the windows has been addressed with what the developers describe as “a more symmetrical window arrangement”.

To avoid overlooking of the neighbouring home, a number of steps will be taken. Among these is a high strip of windows proposed for the link building on the first floor. The proposed balcony close to the roadside will have a solid wall around it.

In response to planners’ concerns about the size of one of the proposed apartments, some changes have been made to the size and layout to make it bigger. Steps have also been taken to improve ventilation.

McKernan Woollen Mills have also provided planners with details of the external building materials they propose to use.

They outlined that a pre-connection enquiry was also sent to Irish Water in October, to which no response had been received by the start of February.

Meanwhile, the company has already secured planning permission for a tea room, as well as additional workshop space at is premises in Ballyquin in the heart of Tuamgraney.

A report from planners cited that the objective of the County Development Plan to support the crafts industry, in collaboration with the Local Enterprise Office (LEO), and “to proactively seek new market opportunities for locally produced crafts at local, national and international level”.

The report also referred to the Scariff-Tuamgraney Settlement Plan and the objectives of providing for amenity, leisure and tourism-related development “to contribute to the tourism product based on the network of loughs, harbours and walkways in Scariff/Tuamgraney and the wider area’.

The objectives of expanding local services and increasing the population are also cited, as is the aim of increasing employment opportunities.

There were no objections to the development and permission was granted subject to nine conditions. These include the submission of a Construction Management Plan, before any works begin.

Public service cables must be located underground and materials and finishes that are considered “appropriate to this area” must be used.

No objections have been made to the apartment development and planners have given an indicative decision date of March 3.