A BUSY Corofin store is aiming to address a planning compliance issue.
Plans have been lodged with Clare County Council to retain the existing Lakeside Service Station in Corofin, amid questions surrounding planning compliance. The North Clare service station is looking to retain an extension to the supermarket retail facility.
Lakeside Service Station have applied for “permission to retain the existing extension to the supermarket retail facility, retain existing dry storage sheds, sewage treatment system, open storage yard and car wash facility”.
Retention planning permission is typically sought after a development has been carried out without planning permission. Essentially, it is a way to regulate an unauthorised structure or development by seeking the appropriate planning permission after the work has been done.
In this case however, planning permission for an extension had previously been granted for the Lakeside Service Station but the development was greater than what was originally granted by the Council.
A steeltech storage shed built at the site used to house a car wash facility measures in at 99.720m2 opposed to the 44m2 that was originally granted. The existing supermarket extension and dry storage facilities are also slightly bigger than what was originally granted.
The popular service station is one of the few supermarkets in the North Clare village, located just outside the main settlement close to Lough Atedaun. It caters for local residents as well as passing motorists on their way to the several walking and hiking trails in the Burren National Park nearby. The business also provides agricultural and hardware supplies for farmers.
No objections have been received thus far for the development. Clare County Council are due to make a decision on the development by the 18th of June 2025. A decision on whether or not to grant retention will take into account if the development has had any negative impact in terms of the environment, visual amenity or traffic.
Should the retention be refused, the Lakeside Service Station may be forced to reverse the completed works or make a number of alterations in order to bring the premises in line with planning department regulations.
