The Government-sponsored Resort Renewal Scheme has suffered a major blow following An Bord Pleanala's refusal of planning permission for the construction of a £4 million holiday home development in Lahinch.
The board upheld Clare County Council's April decision to refuse permission, stating: "The proposed development would contravene materially a development objective in the 1994 Lahinch Development Plan."
It now seems likely the board will uphold a separate council decision next week to refuse permission for a further 64 holiday homes planned for the resort. Throughout this year members of Clare County Council have been embroiled in a series of rezoning controversies in Kilkee and Lahinch regarding the scheme.
The scheme offers tax incentives to investors of leisure facilities at 15 designated resorts throughout the country, so investment to date has tended to concentrate on larger developments.