This article is from page 5 of the 2007-05-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 5 JPG
AN ENNIS man taking a High Court case against Clare County Council over a contentious planning decision has secured planning permission for a €7.5 million housing development near Inagh.
Last year, Bernard Madigan in- stituted High Court judicial review proceedings against the council af- ter it refused planning permission to Mr Madigan and Mary Keane for 31 homes outside Inagh in April.
The case has been adjourned a number of times and 1s due back be- fore the High Court next week. The estimated cost to the council of the proceedings is €30,000.
Last April, the council refused the planning application on three erounds: that the proposed develop- ment would be premature due to the existing deficiency in the provision of sewage facilities; that the location of the site on the edge of Inagh failed to integrate and respect the existing character of the surrounding area and the proposal would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard.
The pair re-lodged plans for 31 homes on the same site after institut- ing the legal proceedings.
A letter lodged by consultants for
the two, states that the revised ap- plication was submitted following a pre-planning meeting with the coun- cil on July 27, 2006.
The consultants stated: “The scheme has been modified to take into account the council’s recom- mendations.
“This application is being made on consideration of the recent an- nouncement by the Department of the Environment approving the Serv- iced Land Initiative (SLI) for the ex- pansion of the Inagh Main Sewerage Scheme.
“My clients are showing good faith to the area by developing a site with consequential benefit to the townland of Ballyduffbeg where the council operates its central waste facility.”
The lands are zoned for housing and the couple has secured plan- ning permission for eight detached homes, 14 semi-detached homes and nine terraced homes.
The council has granted for the plan having regard to the zoning of the land, the intended use of the pro- posed land, the pattern of develop- ment in the area, concluding that it would not seriously injure the ameni- ties of the area and be in accordance with the proper planning and devel- opment of the area.