This article is from page 4 of the 2008-06-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THE largest ever private housing de- velopment proposed for Kilrush has received planning permission.
Kilrush Town Council granted per- mission to developer Tom Gallahue for 205 houses on the Cooraclare Road.
The development comprises 134 Semi-detached homes, 68 terraced homes, 18 apartments, two detached homes, a two-storey neighbourhood centre, 17 warehousing units and a creche.
The lands are zoned “other settle- ment land” which permits limited
residential development.
The council granted planning per- mission for the proposal, finding that it would “be acceptable in terms of traffic and in the interest of proper planning and sustainable develop- ment”.
The 2006 Census shows that the Kilrush urban area experienced a downturn in population from 2,699 in 2002 to 2,630 in 2006.
Mr Gallahue must contribute €526,000 towards the provision of public facilities in Kilrush and an ad- ditional €50,000 towards footpaths. The money represents a major boost to Kilrush Town Council’s finances.
Unlike his counterparts in Ennis, Mr Gallahue does not have to con- tend with local authority limitations on large developments because of over-stretched infrastructure. Kil- rush has adequate public infrastruc- ture whereas in Ennis the council has placed a moratorium on new develop- ments until 2012 when the new sew- erage system becomes operational.
“This decision represents a great vote of confidence in Kilrush and west Clare,” said Clr Tom Prendev- ile (FF) who is based in the town.
“The current climate is not condu- cive to the construction industry but the Kilrush Housing Strategy antici-
pates that there will be a 25 per cent increase in population by 2014 and this development should allow for a 33 per cent increase in population,” Jatemncy-H (6
Cllr Prendeville added that the town council was anxious that the first phase of the development would commence as soon as possible.
“Young people are the lifeblood of a community and I would hope that the houses would be reasonably priced. There is quite a demand from young couples in the area for social and affordable housing and I would anxious that they would be catered for,’ he added.