Council putting 250 jobs at risk, says Cashel developer

The row over the threatened demolition of 52 holiday homes overlooking the Rock of Cashel in Co Tipperary escalated yesterday when the builder accused the county council of a "blunder" which is putting 250 jobs at risk.

Liam Campion, director of Campion Concrete Products Ltd, said a "grave error" by the planning authorities was jeopardising a €75 million project and had cost him millions of euro in tax breaks.

However, the county council, through its solicitor, vehemently denied his allegations.

The row over the threatened demolition of 52 holiday homes overlooking the Rock of Cashel in Co Tipperary escalated yesterday when the builder accused the county council of a "blunder" which is putting 250 jobs at risk.

Liam Campion, director of Campion Concrete Products Ltd, said a "grave error" by the planning authorities was jeopardising a €75 million project and had cost him millions of euro in tax breaks.

However, the county council, through its solicitor, vehemently denied his allegations.

The company had secured planning permission to build a 120-bedroom hotel and 52 holiday cottages at Ballypadeen outside Cashel. Mr Campion claims that some slight changes to the plans were agreed at a meeting with council officials last year which "were accepted as minor alterations and amendments, not requiring a fresh planning application".

Construction commenced at the site and the 52 houses were built when planning inspectors decided that "the works had not been carried out in compliance with planning permission".

In May, the council issued an enforcement order demanding that the company cease all development at the site, remove the 52 houses, and restore the land to its condition prior to the commencement of the development.

Mr Campion did not comply with the order and declined to comment to the media at the time. The council then commenced legal proceedings which are expected to come before the courts later this year.

Mr Campion broke his silence yesterday and said he is "dismayed and incensed over the local authority's decision to try to force through the demolition of the houses".

He said the development was being built in accordance with plans submitted and approved at a meeting with the planning department in July 2006.

"It is clear that an error has been made by South Tipperary County Council, and instead of admitting to this, they want to demolish the houses and restore the location to a greenfield site, which will bring an end to the entire project and deny a major economic boost for Cashel. "

According to Mr Campion, the project has the "capacity to create 150-plus direct jobs and 100 or more indirectly."

Fred Binchy, a solicitor in Clonmel, whose firm acts for the council, said: "The county council planning office and its officers emphatically dispute any allegations or complaints made by the developer of any improper or unfair actions by it . . . with respect to this development".

The 52 houses have been built on an elevated, 15-acre site where the Cashel Kings Hotel once stood and are visible to motorists on the N8 Dublin to Cork road.

Mr Campion had planning permission to build an international trade centre, an international arbitration centre, a 120-room aparthotel, 52 cottages and a car park. The hotel, trade and arbitration centres have not been built.

Michael Parsons
© 2007 The Irish Times