This article is from page 18 of the 2006-05-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
CLARE County Council has expressed “serious reservations” at plans to transform the Ballymaley Business Park in Ennis into a retail park.
Developers Galvin Construction, Ennis Industrial Properties and Gainsbridge Properties Ltd are seeking to change previously granted planning to three large retail warehouse units.
Instead, they want to develop seven large retail outlets, claiming they would generate some €20 million in retail revenues each year, on the back of a local market for “bulky goods”, estimated at €101 million. They also want to build two light industrial units on the 23 acre site.
The council has requested the developers to submit revised plans, stating it has “serious reservations”.
The reservations are based on the County Clare Retail Strategy, which identifies the Quin Road area as the only location close to the town centre with potential for a retail warehouse park.
“Furthermore, the loss of light industrial units having specific regard to the limited amount of industrial zoned land within Ennis town is of concern,” the council states.
There is also concern that the development “may result in a serious traffic hazard, as it represents a significant deviation from the existing use of the site and the traffic generated as a result of a development of this scale is substantial in terms of servicing these units and customers.”
The council emphasised the lack of pedestrian links into Ennis.
The developers must provide a pedestrian link between the proposed development, the nearby Tom Hogan Motors and the Ballymaley halting site.
The existing access road is described as “substandard” and unable to accommodate a development of this scale. In addition, the proposed junction arrangement has been deemed unacceptable, because of its impact on existing accesses onto the N18.
It would “adversely affect any access to the lands zoned for development on the opposite side of the road”.
The developers have been asked, when submitting their revised proposals, to significantly address concerned outlined, and to explain the various figures contained in its Retail Impact Statement submitted.
A decision is due on the application later this year.