PERMISSION HAS been granted for one of the most ambitious development projects ever in Tralee, Co Kerry, involving a new shopping centre on the GAA grounds and the building of a new GAA stadium on the racecourse near the town.
An Bord Pleanála has authorised the conversion of the Austin Stack GAA ground in Tralee to a multi-storey shopping centre and granted permission for a new GAA stadium on the Ballybeggan racecourse on the outskirts of the town.
The plan, estimated at costing €100 million by local developers Séamus O’Halloran and John Casey, involved several organisations including two local authorities, Tralee Town Council, as well as the county council, the GAA and the local race company. It met with resistance from racegoers as well as town traders.
Tralee Town Council had granted permission to John Casey Project Management for the mixed-use town centre development of Austin Stack Park, but this was immediately appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Kerry County Council had also given the go-ahead for a GAA stadium at Ballybeggan racecourse to the management company and this too had been appealed.
Yesterday the board – which held an oral hearing in Tralee into the Austin Stack development – ruled that the 38,821sq m development of the Stacks and nearby John Mitchells GAA club would not harm the town centre.
The board also noted the proximity of public transport facilities, including Tralee bus and railway stations, to the development.
In the case of Ballybeggan, it said the GAA stadium with full-size pitch and terracing and stands to accommodate 15,000 people was in accordance with the historical and long-established use of Ballybeggan as a recreational and sports facility and amenity use.
Sinn Féin said €43 million would be injected into the local economy and this would be “a lifeline to Tralee and Kerry”.
Town councillors Cathal Foley and Toiréasa Ferris said that up to 1,500 medium- and long-term jobs would be created “at a time of deep economic gloom”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label tralee planning and development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tralee planning and development. Show all posts
Friday, 20 February 2009
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Town gets green light for €200m land swap deal
A €200 MILLION development, set to be the largest ever built in Tralee town centre, was yesterday given the green light by the town council.
The project, which involves a land swap, will see the relocation of the historic Austin Stack Park and the adjoining John Mitchel’s GAA Club.
The 11 acres, currently occupied by the club and the county GAA board, will be turned into residential, office, retail, leisure and community facilities.
Some 400 jobs will be created during the construction process, while 1,000 full and part-time positions will be in place when the development is complete.
Tralee Town Council yesterday indicated its intention to grant planning permission for the project and work could start next year. The consortium behind the development said it would be a boost for the town and would create substantial employment at a challenging time for the economy.
Businessmen JJ Casey and Seamus O’Halloran said in a joint statement: “We are delighted with the council’s decision. The project makes a bold, confident statement about Tralee town and its potential.”
The news was welcomed by Tralee mayor Miriam McGillicuddy, who said: “It is a tremendous project and will be very good for business locally. The fact that the office element will include financial services is also a major plus.”
Under the deal, which sees the 11-acre town centre site being swapped for 200 acres outside Tralee, Kerry County Board is to develop two new complexes to replace Austin Stack Park.
A 15,000-seater stadium, a practice pitch, 20,000sq ft of offices and parking for 1,200 cars are planned for Ballybeggan, plus a 30-acre training academy at Currans in mid-Kerry.
The John Mitchel’s club has obtained planning permission for the development of a new sports complex at Skehanagh, Tralee.
As part of the deal, The Kingdom County Coursing Club is also to develop new coursing facilities at Ballinorig, Tralee.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The project, which involves a land swap, will see the relocation of the historic Austin Stack Park and the adjoining John Mitchel’s GAA Club.
The 11 acres, currently occupied by the club and the county GAA board, will be turned into residential, office, retail, leisure and community facilities.
Some 400 jobs will be created during the construction process, while 1,000 full and part-time positions will be in place when the development is complete.
Tralee Town Council yesterday indicated its intention to grant planning permission for the project and work could start next year. The consortium behind the development said it would be a boost for the town and would create substantial employment at a challenging time for the economy.
Businessmen JJ Casey and Seamus O’Halloran said in a joint statement: “We are delighted with the council’s decision. The project makes a bold, confident statement about Tralee town and its potential.”
The news was welcomed by Tralee mayor Miriam McGillicuddy, who said: “It is a tremendous project and will be very good for business locally. The fact that the office element will include financial services is also a major plus.”
Under the deal, which sees the 11-acre town centre site being swapped for 200 acres outside Tralee, Kerry County Board is to develop two new complexes to replace Austin Stack Park.
A 15,000-seater stadium, a practice pitch, 20,000sq ft of offices and parking for 1,200 cars are planned for Ballybeggan, plus a 30-acre training academy at Currans in mid-Kerry.
The John Mitchel’s club has obtained planning permission for the development of a new sports complex at Skehanagh, Tralee.
As part of the deal, The Kingdom County Coursing Club is also to develop new coursing facilities at Ballinorig, Tralee.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 17 March 2008
LNG concerns not relevant
The HSA are advising An Bord Pleanála - who are charged with deciding on the planning process in relation to the terminal - on health and safety issues surrounding the plans; chiefly how the storage of millions of gallons of liquid natural gas could might pose a threat to locals and how much of a threat it would constitute.
However, the HSA ran into some controversy in January - prior to the oral hearing held by An Bord Pleanála into the matter in Tralee - when they made their positive advice to the board before their deadline for submissions from members of the public had actually expired.
They had stated in a letter to the board: (T)he authority DOES NOT ADVISE AGAINST (sic) the granting of planning permission in the context of Major Accident Hazards.
With the Kilcolgan Residents Association - comprising scores of people from the landbank opposed to the current plans - on the point of submitting their health and safety concerns to the HSA, the apparent decision by the authority came as a major shock.
They objected to the curtailed deadline and the HSA quickly recanted, saying they would alter their decision should the KRA have pointed up anything they might have overlooked in their survey of the health and safety issues surrounding the proposal.
But in a letter to An Bord Pleanála this week, the HSA said they found no evidence to change their advice based on the comprehensive health and safety submission put forward by the KRA.
Signed by Senior HSA Inspector, Patrick Conneely, the HSA letter states: The Authority has now had the opportunity to examine, in detail, the documents submitted to it by Kilcolgan Residents Association on January 10, 2008, in relation to the proposed LNG facility at Kilcolgan Lower, Co Kerry.These have been reviewed in conjunction with both the oral and written evidence given to An Bord Pleanála during the health and safety module of the Oral Hearing on the Shannon LNG project.After careful consideration of all of the relevant material, the Authority finds no basis to alter the advice given to An Bord Pleanála as contained in the letter dated January 9, 2008.
At the time of print The Kerryman was unable to make contact with the chief spokesperson for the Kilcolgan group for comment.
The Kerryman
www.buckplanning.ie
However, the HSA ran into some controversy in January - prior to the oral hearing held by An Bord Pleanála into the matter in Tralee - when they made their positive advice to the board before their deadline for submissions from members of the public had actually expired.
They had stated in a letter to the board: (T)he authority DOES NOT ADVISE AGAINST (sic) the granting of planning permission in the context of Major Accident Hazards.
With the Kilcolgan Residents Association - comprising scores of people from the landbank opposed to the current plans - on the point of submitting their health and safety concerns to the HSA, the apparent decision by the authority came as a major shock.
They objected to the curtailed deadline and the HSA quickly recanted, saying they would alter their decision should the KRA have pointed up anything they might have overlooked in their survey of the health and safety issues surrounding the proposal.
But in a letter to An Bord Pleanála this week, the HSA said they found no evidence to change their advice based on the comprehensive health and safety submission put forward by the KRA.
Signed by Senior HSA Inspector, Patrick Conneely, the HSA letter states: The Authority has now had the opportunity to examine, in detail, the documents submitted to it by Kilcolgan Residents Association on January 10, 2008, in relation to the proposed LNG facility at Kilcolgan Lower, Co Kerry.These have been reviewed in conjunction with both the oral and written evidence given to An Bord Pleanála during the health and safety module of the Oral Hearing on the Shannon LNG project.After careful consideration of all of the relevant material, the Authority finds no basis to alter the advice given to An Bord Pleanála as contained in the letter dated January 9, 2008.
At the time of print The Kerryman was unable to make contact with the chief spokesperson for the Kilcolgan group for comment.
The Kerryman
www.buckplanning.ie
Saturday, 22 December 2007
M&S opt for Killarney after planning setback
Marks & Spencer is to open a store in Killarney after An Bord Pleanála turned down its appeal for a store at a retail park in Tralee.
Earlier this year, in a controversial decision, Tralee's councillors denied the retail giant a material contravention.
The Killarney M&S outlet will open in May at the Deerpark shopping centre employing 80 people, and its arrival has been gleefully welcomed in the town.
Although anxious to play down ancient rivalries, councillors and the business community can hardly believe their luck and see the arrival of M&S as boosting considerably the tourist town's retail cachet, which had fallen behind Tralee in recent years.
"The increased presence of international brands will appropriately compliment the superb traditional indigenous retail offerings for which Killarney is well known internationally," the Killarney Chamber of Commerce said this weekend.
Earlier this year, to considerable public surprise, town councillors in Tralee refused to grant M&S a material contravention of the town plan to allow them into the retail park at Manor West on the outskirts of Tralee.
Instead they hoped to persuade them to locate to a shopping centre nearer town.
Originally, a smooth passage was expected for M&S at Manor West, in line with other retail giants who now operate from there.
However, shortly before the first vote on the matter local developers announced plans for a shopping centre in the Austin Stack Park, Tralee, nearer the town centre.
The expectation was that M&S would be moved into the new retail park at Austin Stack Park. Some councillors said alternative locations nearer town might be considered.
However, there was a public outcry at the councillors' decision and even the Church of Ireland rector wrote to parishioners and joined in a protest outside the council chambers in support of M&S.
The rejection of the retail giant was the single biggest issue on the doorstep in the general election last May, candidates found, and cost Labour candidate Tralee Cllr Terry O'Brien and Fianna Fáil Cllr Norma Foley dearly in votes.
The Killarney store will open in May at the Deerpark shopping centre where Tesco are the anchor tenants.
It will generate 80 full-time jobs. Moreover, it will be smaller than the €6 million store originally planned for Tralee but will also include a food hall, clothing store, bakery and cafe.
Chief executive of Marks and Spencer in Ireland Neil Hyslop said he was disappointed with the planning board's decision - especially as there had been overwhelming support in Tralee for the store, but confirmed the decision to open in Killarney.
The company had no plans to open elsewhere in Tralee, he said.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Earlier this year, in a controversial decision, Tralee's councillors denied the retail giant a material contravention.
The Killarney M&S outlet will open in May at the Deerpark shopping centre employing 80 people, and its arrival has been gleefully welcomed in the town.
Although anxious to play down ancient rivalries, councillors and the business community can hardly believe their luck and see the arrival of M&S as boosting considerably the tourist town's retail cachet, which had fallen behind Tralee in recent years.
"The increased presence of international brands will appropriately compliment the superb traditional indigenous retail offerings for which Killarney is well known internationally," the Killarney Chamber of Commerce said this weekend.
Earlier this year, to considerable public surprise, town councillors in Tralee refused to grant M&S a material contravention of the town plan to allow them into the retail park at Manor West on the outskirts of Tralee.
Instead they hoped to persuade them to locate to a shopping centre nearer town.
Originally, a smooth passage was expected for M&S at Manor West, in line with other retail giants who now operate from there.
However, shortly before the first vote on the matter local developers announced plans for a shopping centre in the Austin Stack Park, Tralee, nearer the town centre.
The expectation was that M&S would be moved into the new retail park at Austin Stack Park. Some councillors said alternative locations nearer town might be considered.
However, there was a public outcry at the councillors' decision and even the Church of Ireland rector wrote to parishioners and joined in a protest outside the council chambers in support of M&S.
The rejection of the retail giant was the single biggest issue on the doorstep in the general election last May, candidates found, and cost Labour candidate Tralee Cllr Terry O'Brien and Fianna Fáil Cllr Norma Foley dearly in votes.
The Killarney store will open in May at the Deerpark shopping centre where Tesco are the anchor tenants.
It will generate 80 full-time jobs. Moreover, it will be smaller than the €6 million store originally planned for Tralee but will also include a food hall, clothing store, bakery and cafe.
Chief executive of Marks and Spencer in Ireland Neil Hyslop said he was disappointed with the planning board's decision - especially as there had been overwhelming support in Tralee for the store, but confirmed the decision to open in Killarney.
The company had no plans to open elsewhere in Tralee, he said.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
Traffic issues to determine €30m town project
A NUMBER of key traffic issues will have to be resolved in Tralee before a €30 million project goes to the planning stage, it emerged yesterday.
Proposals have been drafted for a conference and exhibition centre at Fels Point, Tralee. Behind the venture is developer Liam Carroll, owner of the Fels Point Hotel.
Tralee, however, has chronic traffic/parking problems and measures will have to be introduced to improve the situation.
Recently, traffic in Tralee was almost brought to a standstill when about 2,000 farmers came to town for the annual meeting of Kerry Co-op.
There are plans for a ring road but it looks as if it will not be built for many years to come. Members of Tralee Town Council have been shown Mr Carroll’s plans which are for a site next to the hotel.
The three-storey complex would include a 3,800-seat conference and entertainment centre, which would be capable of drawing high profile events.
It is also possible the annual Rose of Tralee festival would be held there. This year’s festival will be based at the Fels Point Hotel.
In Killarney, property developer and businessman Pat Duggan has plans to revitalise High Street for shopping.
His €20m proposal is for a four-storey retail and parking complex which would involve the demolition of a bar and the former Hilliard’s shoe factory building. A 260-space car park is also included.
In recent years, all of the substantial new shopping developments in Killarney have been in out-of-town locations.
Irish Examiner
Proposals have been drafted for a conference and exhibition centre at Fels Point, Tralee. Behind the venture is developer Liam Carroll, owner of the Fels Point Hotel.
Tralee, however, has chronic traffic/parking problems and measures will have to be introduced to improve the situation.
Recently, traffic in Tralee was almost brought to a standstill when about 2,000 farmers came to town for the annual meeting of Kerry Co-op.
There are plans for a ring road but it looks as if it will not be built for many years to come. Members of Tralee Town Council have been shown Mr Carroll’s plans which are for a site next to the hotel.
The three-storey complex would include a 3,800-seat conference and entertainment centre, which would be capable of drawing high profile events.
It is also possible the annual Rose of Tralee festival would be held there. This year’s festival will be based at the Fels Point Hotel.
In Killarney, property developer and businessman Pat Duggan has plans to revitalise High Street for shopping.
His €20m proposal is for a four-storey retail and parking complex which would involve the demolition of a bar and the former Hilliard’s shoe factory building. A 260-space car park is also included.
In recent years, all of the substantial new shopping developments in Killarney have been in out-of-town locations.
Irish Examiner
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