PLANNING PERMISSION has been refused for a €100 million development at Hazelwood House on the shores of Lough Gill in Sligo.
The project would have involved the construction of more than 200 residential units and the demolition of a disused factory in the grounds of the historic estate.
An Bord Pleanála has upheld the decision of Sligo County Council not to grant a 10-year planning permission for the project which was to incorporate the demolition of the former Saehan Media factory, the restoration of Hazelwood House and the construction of 212 residential units.
Among those making observations or objecting to the project were the Department of the Environment, the Irish Georgian Society, An Taisce, the Hazelwood Action Group and Birdwatch Ireland.
Hazelwood House was designed almost 300 years ago by Richard Castle, architect of Leinster House, Powerscourt House and Westport House, and was the ancestral home of the Wynne family for almost 200 years until the 1920s.
The developer, Foresthaze Development Ltd, had undertaken to pass responsibility for the upkeep and management of the historic home to the Irish Heritage Trust after the Palladian-style mansion on the shores of the Garavogue river had been fully restored.
The planning board found that the site was within a designated sensitive rural landscape area and a visually vulnerable area, as designated in the Sligo County Development Plan 2005–2011 and that a major portion was also designated as “green belt” in the Sligo and Environs Development Plan 2010–2016.
The proposed development would not adequately provide for the reinstatement of Hazelwood House and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, it concluded.
The board pointed out that the site was also located within the Lough Gill special area of conservation and said the proposed development would give rise to the loss of significant areas of woodland designated as part of that SAC.
In its submission, the Irish Georgian Society stressed the need to prioritise the restoration of Hazelwood House in advance of any other works given the continuing decline of the historic property. Planning inspector Mary Crowley pointed out that although two section 59 endangerment notices had been issued by Sligo County Council in 2009 there was little certainty about the type or timeframe of the restoration works planned or a date for a handover to the Irish Heritage Trust.
She echoed the views of Sligo County Council’s heritage officer that the future of Hazelwood House should not be linked to the commercial success of residential sales and stressed that the urgent conservation work required could not wait for eight to 10 years.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Councillors sharply critical of Minister
WICKLOW COUNTY councillors have criticised Minister of State for Planning Ciarán Cuffe (Green Party) over a letter he sent to the council warning the local authority that elements of its county development plan may need to be amended.
At a meeting of Wicklow County Council yesterday, councillors agreed on a draft response to the Minister over his correspondence, which made reference to a number of zonings along the N11 route. In particular, it made reference to the granting of planning permission for a six-building data centre on a site adjacent to Mount Kennedy House, near Newtownmountkennedy.
Mr Cuffe is concerned that the location of the proposed data centre could “significantly undermine” the role of “higher order” employment centres in the county. The letter also reminds councillors that “local authorities have a duty when making/amending plans to ensure that the future development of their areas is based on sound planning principles”.
Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Vance supported the draft response circulated to members, which, he said, gave a “simple explanation” to the Minister for each of the county’s zoning decisions.
“Minister Cuffe couldn’t actually stand over his own development plan in his constituency in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, where they built the Carrickmines shopping centre out in the middle of nowhere, where there was no public transport or anything . . . and we in Wicklow have no major shopping centres or industrial development along the N11,” he said.
Fine Gael councillor Derek Mitchell also supported the response to the Department of the Environment and told the council he believed the Minister “is trying to prevent jobs coming to Wicklow”. The county was “one of the best” regions in Ireland as regards sound planning, he added.
At yesterday’s meeting, councillors were also given a presentation by Brian McDonagh, a backer of the data centre project, which was granted permission by the council but has now been appealed to An Bord Pleanála by the National Roads Authority (NRA).
Mr McDonagh told members that more than 2,000 jobs would be created in the construction of the centre, which would provide data storage for some of the world’s biggest IT companies, and thousands more jobs would be provided for the county in spin-off businesses.
The project, which is to be the largest of its kind in the world, would “not be carbon neutral, but will be carbon negative”, and would firmly establish Ireland’s green economy credentials, he said. It would also provide local businesses and homes with energy.
However, Mr McDonagh warned that if planning objections were not resolved “within the next three months”, the project would be lost.
In its appeal, to which Mr Cuffe refers in his correspondence with the council, the NRA has told An Bord Pleanála that the plan would be “at variance with official policy” and is “contrary” to Wicklow’s development plan. The NRA also says traffic assessment studies submitted as part of the plans are “inadequate”.
However, Mr McDonagh said yesterday that any traffic impact would be minimal.
Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Casey expressed “anger” at the NRA. He also said he was “disappointed” with his party’s Ministers who, he said, were “running away” from organisations created by them.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
At a meeting of Wicklow County Council yesterday, councillors agreed on a draft response to the Minister over his correspondence, which made reference to a number of zonings along the N11 route. In particular, it made reference to the granting of planning permission for a six-building data centre on a site adjacent to Mount Kennedy House, near Newtownmountkennedy.
Mr Cuffe is concerned that the location of the proposed data centre could “significantly undermine” the role of “higher order” employment centres in the county. The letter also reminds councillors that “local authorities have a duty when making/amending plans to ensure that the future development of their areas is based on sound planning principles”.
Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Vance supported the draft response circulated to members, which, he said, gave a “simple explanation” to the Minister for each of the county’s zoning decisions.
“Minister Cuffe couldn’t actually stand over his own development plan in his constituency in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, where they built the Carrickmines shopping centre out in the middle of nowhere, where there was no public transport or anything . . . and we in Wicklow have no major shopping centres or industrial development along the N11,” he said.
Fine Gael councillor Derek Mitchell also supported the response to the Department of the Environment and told the council he believed the Minister “is trying to prevent jobs coming to Wicklow”. The county was “one of the best” regions in Ireland as regards sound planning, he added.
At yesterday’s meeting, councillors were also given a presentation by Brian McDonagh, a backer of the data centre project, which was granted permission by the council but has now been appealed to An Bord Pleanála by the National Roads Authority (NRA).
Mr McDonagh told members that more than 2,000 jobs would be created in the construction of the centre, which would provide data storage for some of the world’s biggest IT companies, and thousands more jobs would be provided for the county in spin-off businesses.
The project, which is to be the largest of its kind in the world, would “not be carbon neutral, but will be carbon negative”, and would firmly establish Ireland’s green economy credentials, he said. It would also provide local businesses and homes with energy.
However, Mr McDonagh warned that if planning objections were not resolved “within the next three months”, the project would be lost.
In its appeal, to which Mr Cuffe refers in his correspondence with the council, the NRA has told An Bord Pleanála that the plan would be “at variance with official policy” and is “contrary” to Wicklow’s development plan. The NRA also says traffic assessment studies submitted as part of the plans are “inadequate”.
However, Mr McDonagh said yesterday that any traffic impact would be minimal.
Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Casey expressed “anger” at the NRA. He also said he was “disappointed” with his party’s Ministers who, he said, were “running away” from organisations created by them.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Lowry welcomes council approval for €460m casino and resort plan
PLANS FOR a “Las Vegas-style” casino, sports complex and entertainment resort near the village of Two-Mile-Borris have been approved by North Tipperary County Council.
Independent TD Michael Lowry described the decision as “a major step forward” and “refreshing and positive news at a time of gloom”.
The project, estimated to cost €460 million, could create thousands of new jobs in his Tipperary North constituency. Mr Lowry estimated that 1,000 construction workers would be hired for the three-year building phase and “between 1,500 and 2,000 sustainable, permanent jobs” created in the long-term.
The Tipperary Venue is the brainchild of developer Richard Quirke, a former garda from Thurles who is best known for running a gaming arcade, Dr Quirkey’s Good Time Emporium, on Dublin’s O’Connell Street.
The proposed development, which An Taisce described as “mind-blowing” and “Las Vegas-style”, includes a 6,000sq m casino, a replica of the White House, a 500-bedroom five-star hotel, an entertainment complex with seating for 15,000 people, an all-weather racecourse, greyhound track, 18-hole golf course and parking for almost 6,000 cars.
Visitors would also be able to access the 800-acre site by helicopter as the plans include a “major” heliport.
The grounds would be landscaped and feature a “reproduction of Lafayette” – the seven-acre public park located directly north of the White House in Washington DC.
The “Tipperary White House” building would be used as “a banqueting facility” and also to host wedding receptions.
The project would require the diversion of two rivers and the building of a road to connect to the recently completed Dublin-Cork M8 motorway.
The existing racecourse at Thurles would clos when the facility is built.
Supporters of the project include Horse Racing Ireland, Coolmore Stud and leading trainer Aidan O’Brien.
An “extremely pleased” Mr Lowry said finance for the project was “not an issue”, that it would not require “any State aid or grants” and that it had already attracted “a keen level of interest from international investors”.
However, changes to the Gaming Act would be required for the casino to obtain a licence to operate. Mr Lowry said he expects the Government to shortly “publish a report it commissioned on the gaming laws” and to issue “a policy statement indicating that enabling legislation will be introduced which would allow the casino to operate”.
It is not known if An Taisce will appeal the planning decision to An Bord Pleanála.
The heritage body had made a submission to North Tipperary County Council claiming that such a development “couldn’t be more inappropriate”.
But Mr Lowry said the “biggest planning application ever lodged in north Tipperary” had been subjected to “thorough and rigorous analysis” by officials.
Mr Quirke said he “would like to acknowledge the efforts and assistance” of Mr Lowry because “this project would not have come to fruition if it were not for his time and dedication”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Independent TD Michael Lowry described the decision as “a major step forward” and “refreshing and positive news at a time of gloom”.
The project, estimated to cost €460 million, could create thousands of new jobs in his Tipperary North constituency. Mr Lowry estimated that 1,000 construction workers would be hired for the three-year building phase and “between 1,500 and 2,000 sustainable, permanent jobs” created in the long-term.
The Tipperary Venue is the brainchild of developer Richard Quirke, a former garda from Thurles who is best known for running a gaming arcade, Dr Quirkey’s Good Time Emporium, on Dublin’s O’Connell Street.
The proposed development, which An Taisce described as “mind-blowing” and “Las Vegas-style”, includes a 6,000sq m casino, a replica of the White House, a 500-bedroom five-star hotel, an entertainment complex with seating for 15,000 people, an all-weather racecourse, greyhound track, 18-hole golf course and parking for almost 6,000 cars.
Visitors would also be able to access the 800-acre site by helicopter as the plans include a “major” heliport.
The grounds would be landscaped and feature a “reproduction of Lafayette” – the seven-acre public park located directly north of the White House in Washington DC.
The “Tipperary White House” building would be used as “a banqueting facility” and also to host wedding receptions.
The project would require the diversion of two rivers and the building of a road to connect to the recently completed Dublin-Cork M8 motorway.
The existing racecourse at Thurles would clos when the facility is built.
Supporters of the project include Horse Racing Ireland, Coolmore Stud and leading trainer Aidan O’Brien.
An “extremely pleased” Mr Lowry said finance for the project was “not an issue”, that it would not require “any State aid or grants” and that it had already attracted “a keen level of interest from international investors”.
However, changes to the Gaming Act would be required for the casino to obtain a licence to operate. Mr Lowry said he expects the Government to shortly “publish a report it commissioned on the gaming laws” and to issue “a policy statement indicating that enabling legislation will be introduced which would allow the casino to operate”.
It is not known if An Taisce will appeal the planning decision to An Bord Pleanála.
The heritage body had made a submission to North Tipperary County Council claiming that such a development “couldn’t be more inappropriate”.
But Mr Lowry said the “biggest planning application ever lodged in north Tipperary” had been subjected to “thorough and rigorous analysis” by officials.
Mr Quirke said he “would like to acknowledge the efforts and assistance” of Mr Lowry because “this project would not have come to fruition if it were not for his time and dedication”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Merrion planning overturned
DUBLIN City Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a retail unit at 147a Merrion Road, Dublin 4, to be converted into a funeral home, has been overturned by An Bord Pleanála.
The board ruled that because of the restricted space on and around the site and the conditions affecting access, the proposed development would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard and obstruction of road users.
The apppellants were Maire Boland, R McDonald, Dr Sarah Carthy and Dr Enda Ryan.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The board ruled that because of the restricted space on and around the site and the conditions affecting access, the proposed development would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard and obstruction of road users.
The apppellants were Maire Boland, R McDonald, Dr Sarah Carthy and Dr Enda Ryan.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
HRI supports plans for new Tipperary track
HORSE RACING Ireland intends to adopt a “wait-and-see” attitude towards plans for building a new racecourse as part of a €460 million casino project in north Tipperary. But its chief executive admitted yesterday the idea raises some issues for horse racing’s ruling body.
North Tipperary County Council has approved plans for the controversial project which includes a 6,000-square metre casino and a 500-bedroom hotel.
Also included is a design for a new racecourse near the village of Two-Mile-Borris and on Monday the project spokesman, Richard Quirke, said that getting the green light to proceed with a new track would result in the closing of Thurles racecourse.
HRI met representatives of the new business venture last year and there are plans to meet again soon to discuss the project. HRI’s chief executive Brian Kavanagh said yesterday he was supportive of the plan’s ambitions.
“We met with them last year and you would have to be impressed with the proposal and its ambition. They are not looking for funding and overall you would have to be supportive when someone comes to you in such circumstances wanting to build a racecourse as was proposed to us,” he said.
“We would hope to sit down with them again but it does raise a lot of issues. We have to be supportive of such ambition but we will see what happens,” Kavanagh added.
HRI has been under serious pressure in the past couple of years due to the financial crisis and prize money levels have been slashed.
Fixtures have also been cut. Matters such as the design of any future new track could also be a subject of concern for the body.
Several high-profile racing figures have publicly supported the new project including trainers Aidan O’Brien and Edward O’Grady.
The influential Coolmore Stud also supports the idea which would transform an 800-acre site in Tipperary.
A three-year building programme has been proposed with 1,000 construction jobs created in that period. Up to 2,000 permanent jobs have been predicted once construction has finished.
The heritage body, An Taisce, objected to the casino proposal and could yet appeal the county council’s approval to An Bord Pleanala.
A change to the gaming laws would also be required for the proposed new casino to get a licence and the results of a government review on those laws is expected soon.
The Tipperary venue is the brainchild of former garda Richard Quirke, whose gaming interests include the Dr Quirkey Good Time Emporium on O’Connell Street in Dublin.
Independent TD Michael Lowry has been a strong supporter of the idea and has described it as “refreshing and positive news in a time of gloom”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
North Tipperary County Council has approved plans for the controversial project which includes a 6,000-square metre casino and a 500-bedroom hotel.
Also included is a design for a new racecourse near the village of Two-Mile-Borris and on Monday the project spokesman, Richard Quirke, said that getting the green light to proceed with a new track would result in the closing of Thurles racecourse.
HRI met representatives of the new business venture last year and there are plans to meet again soon to discuss the project. HRI’s chief executive Brian Kavanagh said yesterday he was supportive of the plan’s ambitions.
“We met with them last year and you would have to be impressed with the proposal and its ambition. They are not looking for funding and overall you would have to be supportive when someone comes to you in such circumstances wanting to build a racecourse as was proposed to us,” he said.
“We would hope to sit down with them again but it does raise a lot of issues. We have to be supportive of such ambition but we will see what happens,” Kavanagh added.
HRI has been under serious pressure in the past couple of years due to the financial crisis and prize money levels have been slashed.
Fixtures have also been cut. Matters such as the design of any future new track could also be a subject of concern for the body.
Several high-profile racing figures have publicly supported the new project including trainers Aidan O’Brien and Edward O’Grady.
The influential Coolmore Stud also supports the idea which would transform an 800-acre site in Tipperary.
A three-year building programme has been proposed with 1,000 construction jobs created in that period. Up to 2,000 permanent jobs have been predicted once construction has finished.
The heritage body, An Taisce, objected to the casino proposal and could yet appeal the county council’s approval to An Bord Pleanala.
A change to the gaming laws would also be required for the proposed new casino to get a licence and the results of a government review on those laws is expected soon.
The Tipperary venue is the brainchild of former garda Richard Quirke, whose gaming interests include the Dr Quirkey Good Time Emporium on O’Connell Street in Dublin.
Independent TD Michael Lowry has been a strong supporter of the idea and has described it as “refreshing and positive news in a time of gloom”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Public to have their say on underground DART plan
PASSENGERS will be able to give their views on plans to build a railway tunnel underneath Dublin city centre when a public hearing begins next month.
An Bord Pleanala will open an oral hearing into the €3bn DART underground project in November which is expected to last for at least a month.
Almost 280 parties have made submissions including government departments, politicians and residents groups.
If approved by the board, it would result in the capital having two DART lines -- one from Maynooth to Bray, and a second from Hazelhatch/Celbridge to Howth.
And Iarnrod Eireann says if the Government approves the €3bn project, the equivalent of 25 million car kilometres will be taken off the roads and there will be 30 fewer road collisions in the capital.
The confidential business report also says that 2,000 jobs will be located around each of the five underground stations at Spencer Dock, Pearse Street, St Stephen's Green, Christchurch and Heuston "as a conservative estimate".
This is because businesses will be encouraged to cluster together to make best use of the line.
The unpublished Iarnrod Eireann report, obtained by the Irish Independent, also predicts that the DART underground linking rail services between Heuston and Connolly stations will have a major beneficial impact on traffic congestion and will cut pollution from emissions.
The system was to be built by 2015 but has been delayed until 2018 because of a longer than expected planning and design process.
The Government also has to give the final green light to the project.
Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
An Bord Pleanala will open an oral hearing into the €3bn DART underground project in November which is expected to last for at least a month.
Almost 280 parties have made submissions including government departments, politicians and residents groups.
If approved by the board, it would result in the capital having two DART lines -- one from Maynooth to Bray, and a second from Hazelhatch/Celbridge to Howth.
And Iarnrod Eireann says if the Government approves the €3bn project, the equivalent of 25 million car kilometres will be taken off the roads and there will be 30 fewer road collisions in the capital.
The confidential business report also says that 2,000 jobs will be located around each of the five underground stations at Spencer Dock, Pearse Street, St Stephen's Green, Christchurch and Heuston "as a conservative estimate".
This is because businesses will be encouraged to cluster together to make best use of the line.
The unpublished Iarnrod Eireann report, obtained by the Irish Independent, also predicts that the DART underground linking rail services between Heuston and Connolly stations will have a major beneficial impact on traffic congestion and will cut pollution from emissions.
The system was to be built by 2015 but has been delayed until 2018 because of a longer than expected planning and design process.
The Government also has to give the final green light to the project.
Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Builder fury at 'wasteful' planning objections
A WAR of words has broken out between road bosses and the construction industry over claims that the National Roads Authority (NRA) was wasting taxpayers' money by objecting to new developments.
The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) yesterday said the fact the NRA had a full-time planning officer charged with lodging objections was "extremely wasteful and costly" and should be stopped.
The comments were made in a pre-Budget submission where the CIF said it was "absurd" that the NRA had a unit engaged in "fighting" with local authorities at a time when the construction industry had collapsed and jobs were needed.
"Particularly during a period of one of the worst economic downturns in history, it is absolutely absurd that one arm of the State at national level should have a unit within it engaged full-time in-fighting with other local arms of the State throughout the country," the CIF submission said.
But the NRA hit back, saying that the construction industry was responsible for wasting taxpayers' money during the boom.
"If one industry knows the consequences of inappropriate developments and irrational thinking when it comes to protecting public investment in infrastructure it's construction," a spokesman said.
Sins
"If they want to continue with this, more money will be wasted. It's important that the NRA protects public investment. We should not repeat past sins."
The NRA has an official policy to control development near national roads so that safety is not compromised by large volumes of cars entering the network at inappropriate locations.
Last June planning permission for a supermarket at Ardee in Co Louth was refused permission because it was close to the N33 which was described as a "key link road" between the M1, N2 and N52.
"The appeal site is close to this road and so there is a serious concern that traffic movements generated by the proposed development would lead to the overloading of the same, thereby compromising the performance of the strategically important national road network," the NRA said.
A 30-unit housing development was also refused permission in Donegal town after the NRA said it would join a national road where the maximum speed limit applied.
Last July, An Bord Pleanala refused permission to Kilsaran Concrete to build a showroom at Screggan in Co Offaly following objections from the NRA.
The CIF said a working group made up of senior executives in city and county councils, the NRA and the Department of the Environment should be established so potential problems could be addressed before a formal planning application was lodged.
This would save time and costs and avoid unnecessary delays to projects, it said.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) yesterday said the fact the NRA had a full-time planning officer charged with lodging objections was "extremely wasteful and costly" and should be stopped.
The comments were made in a pre-Budget submission where the CIF said it was "absurd" that the NRA had a unit engaged in "fighting" with local authorities at a time when the construction industry had collapsed and jobs were needed.
"Particularly during a period of one of the worst economic downturns in history, it is absolutely absurd that one arm of the State at national level should have a unit within it engaged full-time in-fighting with other local arms of the State throughout the country," the CIF submission said.
But the NRA hit back, saying that the construction industry was responsible for wasting taxpayers' money during the boom.
"If one industry knows the consequences of inappropriate developments and irrational thinking when it comes to protecting public investment in infrastructure it's construction," a spokesman said.
Sins
"If they want to continue with this, more money will be wasted. It's important that the NRA protects public investment. We should not repeat past sins."
The NRA has an official policy to control development near national roads so that safety is not compromised by large volumes of cars entering the network at inappropriate locations.
Last June planning permission for a supermarket at Ardee in Co Louth was refused permission because it was close to the N33 which was described as a "key link road" between the M1, N2 and N52.
"The appeal site is close to this road and so there is a serious concern that traffic movements generated by the proposed development would lead to the overloading of the same, thereby compromising the performance of the strategically important national road network," the NRA said.
A 30-unit housing development was also refused permission in Donegal town after the NRA said it would join a national road where the maximum speed limit applied.
Last July, An Bord Pleanala refused permission to Kilsaran Concrete to build a showroom at Screggan in Co Offaly following objections from the NRA.
The CIF said a working group made up of senior executives in city and county councils, the NRA and the Department of the Environment should be established so potential problems could be addressed before a formal planning application was lodged.
This would save time and costs and avoid unnecessary delays to projects, it said.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
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