A decision by An Bord Pleanala has forced Clare County Council to remove two sites from its vacant sites register.
In first-of-their-kind cases for Clare, the planning appeals authority has decided that the two sites, both on the Tulla Road in Ennis, should be removed from the list.
A levy is charged on sites on the vacant sites register, a move designed to encourage their use, primarily for housing.
However, the owners of the sites in question have the option to appeal this addition to An Bord Pleanala, and this is the first time that has happened here in Clare.
The sites in question are located on the Tulla Road in Ennis, and in both cases the appeals were taken by businessman Padraig Howard.
A number of arguments were made as to why the sites shouldn’t be added to the register, and many of these were contested by Clare County Council.
Ultimately, the planning appeals board sided with Mr. Howard for reasons including an absence of evidence to support the case that the sites were vacant and idle for a required 12 month period, and an absence of documentation showing all registered landowners in respect of one of the sites were notified as required.
An order was issued that the entry of the sites onto the register be cancelled as a result.
