This article is from page 8 of the 2006-05-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
PLANS have been lodged with Clare County Council for an expansion of the Ballymaley Business Park that will generate an anticipated €20 million in retail revenues each year.
In 2001, Clare County Council granted planning permission for three industrial units and 12 small factory units on the site.
However, the three companies involved in the venture, Galvin Construction, Ennis Industrial Properties and Gainsbridge Properties Ltd, are seeking to amend this to three large retail warehouse units.
The companies are also seeking to construct seven retail warehouse units and two light industrial units on the 23-acre site.
It is intended to take advantage of the claimed €101 million spent on bulky goods in the greater Ennis area each year.
Already, two freestanding office buildings are in place at the park. Four separate blocks are currently under construction to add to the large retail unit at the entrance.
The developers state that, “there is a clear need for the proposed development when taken together with other retail warehouse proposals in the area and the development would see the introduction of a retail warehouse offer in the north of Ennis that will better service the shopping needs of a growing population in that area of Ennis”.
They claim that the, “development would not have an adverse impact on the town centre of Ennis, or any other centre as established in the retail impact assessment accompanying this application”.
“There is more than sufficient capacity for a retail warehouse development of the proposed scale at this location,” they state.
The developers also say that the proposal, “would ensure that the rural population of the catchment has easy access to a full range of retail warehouse operators in one location”.
The developers point out that the vast majority of existing retail warehouse space is located outside the defined Ennis town centre.
“In terms of retail impact, any diversion of trade and retail impact would occur outside the defined town centre is not considered material to making the final planning decision,” they concluded.
A decision is expected on the application later this year.