This article is from page 17 of the 2008-06-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
AN TAISCE has warned against any further large-scale housing develop- ments in Doonbeg.
Arising from the development of the nearby €150 million golf resort at the dunes overlooking Dough- more beach, a small group of land- owners are reaping a windfall from a number of large-scale applications lodged with the council.
Applications for almost 200 homes
in the west Clare village are current- ly being processed by the council’s planning department.
Already, the golf club has been a factor in Doonbeg increasing its pop- ulation by 17 per cent going from 586 to 700 in the last census and bucking a trend in many areas of west Clare which have seen a population drop.
Graigue Properties Ltd are one of a number of companies seeking planning permission for a housing development on a zoned site in the
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However, An Taisce has raised con- cerns over the fact that 15 per cent of dwellings in Doonbeg are unoccu- pied throughout the year.
According to a submission by An Taisce, “There is also a seven to nine per cent unemployment figure in the village. These figures suggest that there is no demand for further large housing estates within Doonbeg. If considering the opening of the En- nis bypass and marketing on long-
distance commuting, we should not encourage this because of the effect on our carbon footprint.”
However, the council has stated that the principle of development is acceptable at this location in relation to the zoning of the site and also its location within the village of Doon- eres
However, the council has stated that it has serious concerns in rela- tion to the design and layout as well as traffic issues pertaining to the site
and are not favourably disposed to the granting of permission in its cur- Kos s1 MaKe) MONEE
The council state that the layout would not provide for an accept- able standard of residential amen- ity for future occupants and would therefore not be in accordance with proper planning and development of atom Dusre
The council has also suggested that the developers include a commercial component to their plan.