This article is from page 8 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 8 JPG
SIXMILEBRIDGE’S _ status as Clare’s fastest growing village was yesterday confirmed when planning permission was granted to a €60 million commercial and residential development.
The development, by Fordmount Ltd, 1s expected to open in 2010, increase the population of Sixmile- bridge by 300 and provide a much needed jobs boost to the area.
The plan which Clare County Council passed includes the provi-
sion of a mixed-use scheme compris- ing residential, retail, community and commercial uses on a nine acre site bounded by the village’s Limer- ick and Clonlara Road.
The development, with a gross floor space of 13,367 square metres, will consist of 79 residential units, 26 four-bed detached houses, four four-bed semi-detached houses, 22 three-bed semi-detached houses, ten three-bed end of terrace houses, two three-bed mid terrace houses and four two-bed mid terrace houses. It will also include a convenience an-
chor store, nine “comparison retail units”, an office/commercial/com- munity suite, five non-retail services units, a bank facility, a hot food take- away and acréche facility.
The retail/commercial/apartment elements of the proposal provides for 2-3 storeys. The provision of 140 car parking spaces at lower ground floor level and 136 car parking spaces at surface level will serve the houses.
According to planning submission lodged by Fordmount Ltd with the Council, “it 1s anticipated that the proposed development will have a
permanent positive impact on the hu- man environment in Sixmilebridge”’.
The council granted planning per- mission having regard to the location of the site within the urban core of Sixmulebridge, the nature and pat- tern of development in the area and the policies of the South-East Clare Economic Plan.
The development would not seri- ously injure the amenities of the area or of properties in the area.
As part of the 49 conditions at- tached to the planning permission, Fordmount Ltd is to pay €781,000
towards public infrastructure and an additional €200,000 towards the upgrading of a bridge over the Owen- garney River.
A retail impact assessment lodged with the application stated that by 2012, the development would gener- ate €12.8 million and comprise of €8.2 million from convenience sales and €4.6 million from comparison sales. The retail assessment states that “the proposed development will not have an adverse effect on Sixmi- lebridge or on any other centre in the catchment area”.