This article is from page 4 of the 2006-10-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THE man behind the €135 million Skycourt redevelopment of Shannon Town Centre has expressed his disappointment at An Bord Pleanala for refusing planning permission for the next phase of the project.
Upholding a decision of Clare County Council, the appeals board refused permission to Shannon Town Management Company to construct large retail extension to the Skycourt development.
Barry Boland said: “I am very disappointed that the board has taken a very unrealistic view on what can and cannot be achieved in Shannon.”
The planned development involved the construction of a 3,616 sq.m. building comprising one two-storey retail unit and two smaller retail units, plus a garden centre of 626 sq.m along with a two-storey 4,068 sq.m. building that included a upper floor medical centre.
The board refused planning permission arising from the failure of the proposed development to provide for an adequate mix of uses in the town centre location.
As a result, the board ruled that the proposal would be premature in the absence of an agreed master plan and would constitute disorderly development.
The board inspector pointed out that the original masterplan for the town centre identified as a key principle, the increased provision of nonretail cultural, entertainment and night time facilities.
However, in their appeal, Mr Boland’s company said that every cultural, community or cultural floorspace offered to local and central Government in the redevelopment of Shannon Town Centre had been spurned.
The developers expressed frustration at the lack of involvement of the public sector in the redevelopment of Shannon town.
“In the original masterplan, it was envisaged that there would be significant public sector commitment to the achievement of goals: Clare County Council District Offices; the Courts Service and a Community Arts Centre.
“It was intended that there would be early delivery of theatre cinemas, hotel and other elements.
“There is a need for public service providers to take responsibility for the provision of public services as originally envisaged in the masterplan, rather than placing total reliance upon private sector initiatives.
“If there has been a failure to achieve all the provisions of the masterplan to date, a significant amount of that failure arises from the indifference of the local, regional and public authorities to participate in the urban regeneration programme.”