Over 70 proposed homes in Ennis have been given the green light.
Clare County Council has granted planning permission for a large-scale residential development at Tobarteascáin despite concerns raised in relation to planned pedestrian walkways connecting it to adjacent housing estates.
Datcha Construction Limited submitted its plans for 74 residential units, consisting of 36 semi-detached homes, 23 terrace houses, 12 duplexes and three detached properties, at Tobarteascáin on Clonroad More in Ennis on December 19th 2024.
In addition to surface car parking as well as vehicular and pedestrian access from the Tobarteascáin Road, the application outlines plans for pedestrian access into both the Abbey Ville and Abbey Court estates.
A total of 23 submissions were made outlining concerns relating to the project, including from Clarecastle Sinn Féin Councillor Tommy Guilfoyle and Ennis Green Party representative Bridget Ginnity.
These raised issues involving traffic, pedestrian safety, privacy, water and wastewater capacity, and the effect of the development on the natural environment.
Clare County Council requested further information from the developer on February 21st last year and this was submitted on November 20th.
Following this, it ordered the applicant to omit the proposed pedestrian access point to Abbey Ville and instead consider a “high-quality and passively surveilled” alternative in a different area of the estate to provide a “natural break in the line of dwellings”.
Now, the local authority has granted planning permission for a total of 73 units subject to 22 conditions.
Among these is one unit be removed to allow for extra car parking spaces and that details of the proposed pedestrian link to the Abbey Court estate be agreed with the planning authority before construction begins.
The developer must enter into a water and wastewater agreement with Uisce Éireann prior to the commencement of the development, and a bat box must be provided in the interest of protecting natural heritage.
The project is also subject to a Part V agreement meaning between 10% and 20% of the homes will be designated as social or affordable housing.
