A MASSIVE development in Claremorris, which would have included a cinema, leisure centre, drive-through fast food outlet and petrol station, has been refused by An Bord Pleanala.
Denis O'Connell and David Curtis, c/o AP McCarthy Planning Consultants Ltd, GFSC, Moneenageisha Road, Galway, were granted planning permission by Mayo County Council on August 31 last, for the major development at Boherduff, Claremorris, subject to 32 conditions.
In his assessment to the board, Mr Paul Caprani, senior planning inspector, recommended that permission be refused for the development, as it contravened a key objective of the Claremorris Development Plan, to consolidate the existing built up area and to prioritise lands for development within the 1995 Development Plan Boundary.
The development would have included a retail motor showroom at ground floor level along with a retail trading support unit to service the fore-court petrol filling station; a separate restaurant or dining facility within this building was provided at ground level to service the development; office accommodation at first and second floor level above the motor showroom floor; a two-storey leisure complex building containing a swimming pool and associated changing areas along with a bowling facility at ground floor; a gym or health suite and a mini cinema facility was proposed on the first floor.
There were also plans for 14 bulk goods retail units with office accommodation at the first floor; a drive-through fast food facility and petrol filling station to the forecourt of the motor showrooms while car parking was to be provided at ground floor level.
The site is located on the eastern side of the old N17 Claremorris to Knock road. There is no development in the immediate vicinity with the exception of three detached houses fronting onto the former N17.
Conaty Project Management Ltd appealed the decision on behalf of Austin Garvin and others.
They said the proposal would be more suitable on lands zoned industrial or commercial. The petrol service station and retail element of the proposal would create a significant nuisance to surrounding residents. The businesses are likely to operate as late-night businesses.
The residents said the proposed development was contrary to many policy objective statements contained in the Local Area Plan including that relating to hot food takeaways, avoidance of abrupt transitions in scale and the development of land closer to the town centre.
The objectors said the potential traffic impact had not been properly investigated and the traffic generated could provide conflict with the significant volumes of pedestrians and cyclists associated with secondary schools in the area.
They also noted that it would have a significant visual impact on the surroundings.
The applicants appealed two of the conditions. The first stated they must omit five of the proposed retail warehouse units. The second said they must pay a special contribution of •33,915 towards the provision of public footpath/lighting and surface water drainage.
In his assessment to the board, Mr Paul Caprani, senior planning inspector, recommended that permission be refused for the development, as it contravened a key objective of the Claremorris Development Plan, to consolidate the existing built up area and to prioritise lands for development within the 1995 Development Plan Boundary.
He said it was contrary to the retail strategy which sought to prioritise the town centre and edge-of-centre sites for retail development and that it was premature pending the improvement of the link road along the southern boundary of the site.
The board agreed with this assessment and refused permission.
Majella Loftus
Western People
www.buckplanning.ie
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