*An artist’s impression of houses at Ballymacaula.
AN BORD Pleanála has given the green light for the single largest ever private housing scheme proposed for Ennis.
The appeals board has given the green light for plans by Glenveagh Homes for a €65 million 289 unit scheme on the outskirts of the town despite Clare County Council recommending a refusal and some local opposition.
The Strategic Housing Development (SHD) scheme is made up of 125 three-bed townhouses, 74 3/4 bed semi-detached homes, 66 two bed townhouses, 12 two bed duplex and 12 one bed maisonettes.
The site with an address at Ballymacaula, Drumbiggle, Keelty, Circular Road fronts into the Ennis bypass link Rd between the roundabout near Ennis Golf Club and the roundabout on the N85 Lahinch Rd.
The appeals board has granted planning permission after its inspector in the case, Colin McBride endorsed the scheme.
In his 130 page inspector’s report, Mr McBride stated that the proposed development would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity and would be acceptable in terms of urban design, height and quantum of development.
Mr McBride stated the principle of development is acceptable as the site is suitably zoned for residential development and is a serviced site.
The inspector concluded that the proposed development “is of a suitably high quality and provides for a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments and two, three and/four-bedroom dwellings, which are served by suitable quality communal, private and public open space”.
He stated, “I do not foresee that the development will negatively impact on the existing residential and visual amenities of the area. Suitable pedestrian infrastructure is available to serve the development”.
Mr McBride endorsed the scheme despite the Council recommending a refusal across four grounds.
The Council recommended refusal after pointing out that the scheme would contravene materially a zoning objective of the Clare County Development plan as the lands are zoned “Low density Residential”.
The Council also recommended refusal due to the development’s design, layout, parking, public open space and private open space layout would not provide for an appropriate standard of residential amenity for future occupiers of the development.
The local authority also recommended refusal having regard to the scale of the development and the location of the site which is at a remove from Ennis town centre.
The Council also found that the scheme constitutes a traffic hazard and would negatively impact on vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the area.
Eight third party submissions were made and the locals contended that the proposal is excessive in density and a material contravention of Development Plan policy.
The objectors claimed that the development is out of character and scale at this location, which is rural in character.
In compliance with its Part V Social and Affordable housing obligations, Glenveagh is proposing to sell 57 homes to Clare County Council and has put an indicative price tag of €12.4m on the 57 homes.
The two sides can now enter negotiations on a final price with planning permission now granted.
