Council approves €300m town plan

Dungarvan Town Council has decided to grant planning permission for a €300 million retail, commercial and residential development…

Dungarvan Town Council has decided to grant planning permission for a €300 million retail, commercial and residential development in the town.

The council has approved plans by Tipperary-based Clancy Construction that will extend the town centre by utilising a 40-acre site formerly occupied by Waterford Foods and Glanbia.

Supporters of the project have claimed it would revitalise the town centre and help stop Dungarvan losing out to Cork and Waterford.

However, a previous decision to grant planning permission for the same site was overturned by An Bord Pleanála after appeals were lodged by the grocers' body, RGDATA, as well as An Taisce and Friends of the Irish Environment.

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RGDATA claimed the project, which included plans for a shopping centre, apartments, houses, a pub and a multi-screen cinema, was not properly integrated into the existing town centre and that retailers would suffer. An Bord Pleanála said the project failed to meet the key principles of the town's development plan.

While accepting that the planning permission granted by Dungarvan Town Council on Friday may also be appealed before the January 27th deadline, Mr Billy Clancy of Clancy Construction said he was pleased with the council's decision.

He also said he was satisfied that amendments made to the original plans for the site will prove sufficient to meet the requirements of most objectors.