This article is from page 16 of the 2008-04-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
PLANS have been lodged for the largest ever residential housing
scheme in Clare with a €200 mil- lion proposal to create a new suburb of Ennis.
Ennis-based Crystal Partners Ltd is seeking approval for 471 residential units in the first phase of a master- plan that will ultimately deliver 700 new homes in the Gaurus area on the eastern outskirts of the town.
The first phase of the ‘Gaurus Vil- lage’ development involves an invest- ment of €125 million with the over- all value of €200 million put on the project.
The company ultimately plans to build 700 new homes which will al- most double the current population of Doora parish.
The overall site covers a 95 acre landbank which will incorporate a creche, a 16-teacher school and asso- ciated playing field, a neighbourhood
centre with shopping facilities and 14 residential serviced sites. There are also plans for walking trails and natural habitat areas including a 6 hectare lake.
The plan provides for an upgrade of Gaurus Bridge to include a footpath, cycle path, a pedestrian crossing of the river and a new water main.
The site was formerly used as a sand and gravel pit with lumber yard.
A spokesman for Crystal Partners described the project “as a vote of
confidence in the future growth and prosperity of Ennis”.
The application makes Crystal Part- ners well placed to become Clare’s largest developers.
Already, the company has_pur- chased lands formerly owned by the Diocese of Killaloe at Clareabbey, where it has secured planning per- mission for 219 residential units. The company is currently seeking permission for 240 residential units on the Kildysart Road outside Clare-
castle.
The Crystal Partners spokesman said: “Ennis is one of the fastest erowing towns in Ireland with a pro- jected population of 40,000 by 2016 and this project will attract people to Ennis from all over Ireland, particu- larly from Limerick and Galway. .