Over 1,000 hectares of land could be designated to support the delivery of new housing in Clare if a revised version of the County Development Plan is adopted.
Clare County Council has proposed a variation to the plan which would also see a number of controversial projects included in the Ennis 2040 Strategy scrapped.
The local authority is to publish a proposed variation to the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 on Friday, March 6th, which would see 1,280 acres of land designated to support the growth of towns and villages across the county.
Of this, 324 acres of land has been identified for residential use with 336 previously earmarked for long-term strategic and sustainable development sites now deemed suitable for housing.
A further 212 acres have been proposed as “village growth area” lands while the remainder has been identified as suitable for future housing development outside of the plan’s period.
The variation would also see the first formal revision of the Ennis 2040 Strategy since 2021 incorporated.
As part of this process, the plans for the Abbey Street and Harvey’s Quay carparks would be omitted entirely along with the proposed walkway over the Post Office Field.
The local authority has confirmed that the review of the Ennis 2040 DAC initiated in late 2025 is ongoing and that its outcome will be informed in part by the proposed variation of the Development Plan.
Additionally, the Ennis Local Transport Plan forms part of the proposed variation and will become a statutory plan if the variation is approved.
A copy of the variation will be on display at all council offices and public libraries from March 6th to April 7th while it will also be available on the council’s website.
Submissions and observations can be made by email to [email protected] or in writing to the Planning Department of Clare County Council.
