This article is from page 39 of the 2006-02-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 39 JPG
THE promoters of Ireland’s first fullscale retirement village, accommodating up to 300 residents, will have to go back to the drawing board, if they are to secure planning for their €50 million project.
Clare County Council has expressed reservations on the ambitious proposals for the 75 acres of grounds on the historic 18th century Carnelly House, five miles from Ennis.
One of the obstacles that the developers, Stamer Ltd., must overcome is that their investigation into the site has established the site is a nationally important maternity roost for the rare and protected Lesser Horseshoe Bat.
In response, the council has concluded that the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), lodged with the application, doesn’t satisfactorily assess the significance of the impact of the proposal on bats.
The developers have now been asked to put in place mitigation measures for the protection of bats.
The council has also expressed concern over the impact of the proposal on the character and setting of Carnelly House, which is a protected structure; the design and architectural style of the proposed development and the impact of the proposal on the existing woodland, ecology, wildlife and habitat of the site.
“Whilst the Council has no objection in principle to the provision of a ‘retirement village’ on the site, there are concerns regarding the scale, height and layout of the proposal, with specific regard to the proximity of the care facility and amenities building, to Carnelly House.
“In addition, it is considered that the proposed layout and distribution of the cluster units and detached housing could impact on the setting of Carnelly House, within its parkland landscape.
The Planning Authority points out that “it is considered that the amended proposals to be submitted retain Carnelly House and its associated outbuildings as the central focus for the site
They must also achieve “an arrangement for the proposed residential units and care facility which results in the minimum impact on the important parkland setting of the House”.