Planning board urged to oppose siting apartment block by abbey

An Bord Pleanala has been urged to refuse permission for a proposed apartment complex adjacent to Ennis's 13th-century Franciscan abbey, in order to enable Ennis UDC to purchase the site for public amenity purposes.

Speaking on behalf of an Ennis resident, Dr Rory O'Keeffe, an architect, Mr Michael Leahy, told a hearing that the site was of such importance to the town of Ennis that the development should not be allowed to proceed.

He said: "To allow this wonderful walled green space, with its tremendous potential as a tourism, heritage and historic resource to be destroyed, in order to create a cramped apartment development would be to neglect our history and to betray future generations."

The Clare and Shannon Historical and Archaeological Societies; an Ennis heritage group, Oidhreacht na hInse; with two other local residents, made submissions seeking to overturn Ennis UDC's decision to grant planning permission for the three-storey 32-unit development at the one-day hearing.

In a submission on behalf of Oidhreacht na hInse, Mr Michael Corley contended that development would begin an inevitable process whereby the most important building in Ennis would be diminished and reduced in significance.

A solicitor, Mr David Casey, on behalf of two Ennis residents, Mr Joseph and Mr Patrick Daly, said the development was premature because the urban council's planned relief road for the area might have to be relocated.

However, an architect, Mr Sean Dockry, on behalf of the developer, Dwellblin Ltd, told the hearing "the development is a valuable contribution to the fabric of Ennis on this otherwise derelict town-centre site". He said the development was of the highest aesthetic standard and would be in harmony with the character and quality of the neighbouring buildings. He said the scale and massing were appropriate to the site.

Also on behalf of Dwellblin Ltd, Mr Sean Lucey urged the board to uphold the council's decision and to take account of the residential zoning of the site in the Ennis Development Plan.

He also asked the board to take account of current Government policy in relation to housing needs and the genuine endeavours of the applicants to accommodate all the requirements set down by the planning authority and the national heritage authorities in relation to the project.

In relation to the proposed relief road, the senior executive planner with Clare County Council, Mr Brendan McGrath, said the planning authority was satisfied that the proposed development was compatible with the planned inner relief road.

A decision is due on the appeal by November 24th.