Latest news with #AnBordPleanala
The Irish Sun
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Staggering 5-figure sum forked out over ‘completely unnecessary' renaming of State's planning watchdog after scandals
THE contentious renaming of An Bord Pleanala to An Coimisiun Pleanala has cost just under €77,000. New figures provided by the State's planning watchdog show an outlay of €22,045 on new signage. 2 The €76,921 outlay also included a spend of €18,450 on architect consultancy Credit: Getty Images - Getty This includes an external over-entrance sign and two corner projection signs with the new name at the agency's Marlborough Street HQ in The €76,921 outlay also included a spend of €18,450 on architect consultancy which provided design, coordination and project management services for internal ground floor signs and external signage. The spend also included €18,450 on a radio ad campaign; €5,380 on a new sign installation cancellation fee; €6,363 on newspaper notices and €3,637 on the change of name on the corporate seal and rubber stamps. Read more in News When first mooted in 2023 in the wake of scandals at the agency, trade union Forsa opposed plans to change the name as it would amount to a 'collective punishment'. In correspondence with then Housing Minister McDonnell said that the proposed change 'reflects negatively on all who work in the organisation' and is akin to 'collective punishment of all (past and present) in the organisation. O Broin said that as a member of the Oireachtas Housing Committee he tabled an amendment to the then Planning and Development Bill to have the name of An Bord Pleanala retained but this was rejected by Government. Most read in Irish News Asked about staff's attitude to the name change, a spokesman for An Coimisiun Pleanala said: 'In terms of staff feeling on the name change, while there was some unhappiness about the changing of the name when it was first suggested in early 2023, now the name change has taken place, the staff and planning commissioners of the Commission have embraced and accepted the name change." He stated that 'good developments are built on solid foundations and An Coimisiun Pleanala is built on the most solid of foundations, which is down to the part played by all former staff and Board members who have served with An Bord Pleanala over the last 48 years'. REDUCING BACKLOG As part of the bid to reduce the backlog in appeals, the number of senior planning inspectors at An Coimisiun Pleanala totals 60 at the end of June 2025 compared to 45 at the end of December 2023. The appeals board now has two Directors of Planning while the number of planning inspectors has reduced from 39 at the end of last year to 35 now though five new appointees are due to start in July and August. The most recent quarterly figures show that the number of cases on hand at the end of March this year was 1,369 which was down 878 or 39 per cent on the 2,247 cases on hand at the end of March 2024. 2 Renaming An Bord Pleanala to An Coimisiun Pleanala cost just under €77,000 Credit: Getty Images - Getty
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Planning permission approved for Slane bypass
'A great day for road safety and good news for commuters,' is how the news that planning permission for the long-awaited Slane bypass has been approved has been described. An Bord Pleanala approved the project for the construction of a 3.5km bypass around the Meath village, including a dual carriageway as well as a 258 meter long bridge over the historic River Boyne. Advertisement The development has been welcomed by Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council Wayne Harding who has long been campaigning for a new route to replace the road which takes about 17,000 vehicles daily and has taken 23 lives over the years. A previous application was refused 13 years ago amid claims by An Bord Pleanala that it would affect the World Heritage site of Bru na Boinne. Cllr Wayne Harding said: "The announcement that the Slane bypass has finally received planning permission has been met with great excitement. For decades there has been a campaign to get the very dangerous N2 out of Slane village. "The road through the village has bee scene of countless accidents causing the deaths of 23 people. Advertisement " A 2012 decision to refuse the bypass was met with deep anger and frustration. But since then an application has been painstakingly rebuilt by Meath County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. This decision today is not just on the N2 north/south bypass, but will also see millions of investment in a public realm plan which will completely transform Slane." "All aspects of village life across all generations are impacted by the road. "Every child in Slane village must use the road to enter their school, as do the members of the very popular Slane men's shed. The campaign has gone on that long that different people from the community picked up the baton to keep the need for the bypass at the forefront of all national decision makers over many years. I want to particularly mention John Ryle and Michele Cullen Power today. " "The approved project will also include a village park and interpretive centres."
Irish Daily Mirror
20-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Red light for new service station on site of Creeslough disaster
An Bord Pleanala has overturned planning permission for a new filling station on the site of the explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal in which ten people were killed. Donegal County Council granted permission to Vivo Shell Limited to redevelop a service station and shop at the site in February. The decision was appealed by a number of family members of those killed in the October, 2022 blast. Today An Bord Pleanala revealed that they are turning down the application. The planning authority said the proposed plan was "out of character" with its surroundings in the village. The body said "Having regard to the existing character and the prevailing pattern of development in Creeslough, it is considered that the proposed development (as amended), by reason of its overall architectural treatment, scale and design, would be out of character with its surroundings, would seriously detract from the architectural character and setting of Creeslough and the streetscape and approach from Letterkenny generally. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week "It is considered therefore, that the proposed development would be contrary to Policy ED-P-9, of the County Development Plan, 2024 2023 being of inappropriate layout and building design in the context of the existing landscape. "To permit the proposed scheme (as amended) at this prominent location could have such a negative effect on the visual amenity and local character of Creeslough as to negatively impact on the wider , long-term regeneration and renewal of the village. "The proposed development would, therefore, seriously injure the visual amenities of the area and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area." The proposed rebuild had allowed for the demolition of the existing building and the construction of a new structure that includes a shop, post office, deli, off-license, and fuel forecourt. A memorial garden and light-based sculpture with ten metal poles commemorating those who perished in the tragedy was also planned for the site. However, many of the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy said this was an insult to their memory considering they died in the metal and rubble of the blast. One of the family members who lost a loved one in the tragedy said "This is terrific news. When we got the news yesterday that there would not be an oral hearing we were so disappointed and feared the worst. "This is tremendous news. We simply do not want a new service station on the site in which our loved ones died." In a statement, relatives of those who died said: "The families affected by the Creeslough tragedy welcome the decision to quash the application for a new building on the site where this devastating event occurred. Phoenix Law made detailed submissions to the planning panel on behalf of the families, which were accepted by the panel, granting the appeal. "Proposing development on this site while a criminal investigation is still ongoing was deeply inappropriate. The families believe the ground should be treated with dignity and respect, given the scale of loss and trauma suffered. The initial decision to grant planning permission rubbed salt in the wounds of the families." Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law said - 'Today's decision has restored faith in the rule of law, where victims are treated with dignity and respect. We continue to call for a full public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The families remain committed to seeking truth, accountability and justice.'
BreakingNews.ie
28-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Housing crisis: Planners reject 120 new apartments over lack of three-bed units
Plans for over 120 new apartments in the Cork suburb of Ballincollig have been refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála over the absence of three-bed or larger units in the development. The ruling represents a setback for building firm O'Flynn Construction, which had sought approval for the development of 123 units in three apartment blocks up to six storeys in height at Old Fort Road, Ballincollig, Co Cork. Advertisement The proposed development consisted of 84 two-bed apartments and 39 one-bed apartments. The plans on a 1.065-hectare site also provided for a creche and multi-purpose amenity room. The company had sought planning permission for the scheme under the planning process for strategic housing developments which does not require the plans to be initially assessed by the relevant local authority, Cork City Council. However, An Bord Pleanála said the Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 sets out clear requirements on the mix of units within any new development. Advertisement It states that a minimum of 25 per cent of units in any new development of over 50 dwellings must have three bedrooms and a minimum of 10 per cent must have four or more bedrooms. The plans for the Old Fort Road site also exceed the maximum permitted proportion of smaller one- and two-bed units at 25 per cent and 40 per cent respectively. O'Flynn Construction argued that household sizes both nationally and in Cork were getting smaller. The company claimed the proposed development would appeal to a broad range of tenants by focusing on providing smaller units, affordability and quality housing. Advertisement However, An Bord Pleanála said the developer had not provided any justification why exceptional circumstances or flexibility should be used to its proposed mix of units. The board claimed the issue had not been addressed in a material contravention statement submitted by O'Flynn Construction which also concerned density and building height. An inspector with An Bord Pleanála said the unit mix would require 'a complete redesign' in order to comply with the development plan that would ultimately reduce the number of apartments in the scheme. Concerns were raised by several parties about the proposed development including the Waltham Abbey Residents Association whose estate adjoins the site being developed by O'Flynn Construction. Advertisement They claimed the density of the housing scheme was well in excess of recommended guidelines and claimed the development was 'overbearing, disproportionate, monolithic, visually dominant and out of character' with adjoining properties. The group also voiced concern that the height of the apartment blocks would have a detrimental visual impact on views of the River Lee. In a submission, Cork City Council acknowledged the density of the scheme exceeded the upper target for central Ballincollig but said it was considered acceptable given its location near the town centre. Council planners also claimed the proposed unit mix was satisfactory and they claimed the proposed development overall was in keeping with the zoning of the site subject to compliance with a number of planning conditions. Advertisement A separate decision by An Bord Pleanála in September 2020 to grant planning permission for the construction of an identical number of apartments on the same site remains the subject of an ongoing legal challenge. In September 2022, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of An Bord Pleanála in a case which sought to clarify a conflict which arose from the rulings of two High Court judges over whether the board was required to decline to deal with certain planning applications that were not accompanied by specific documents. The case partially arose from a judicial review brought by the Ballincollig-based Waltham Abbey Residents Association which claimed the board's grant of planning permission for the project on Old Fort Road in September 2020 was invalid. The Supreme Court directed that the original application should be remitted back to the High Court. Ireland Plans for almost 500 new homes put on hold after 3... Read More An inspector with An Bord Pleanála said the current proposal would be judged on its own merits. The inspector noted that the only differences between the two sets of plans were the omission of a gym at ground floor level in lieu of a multi-purpose amenity room for residents and some internal layout changes to improve daylight levels. She observed that the proposed development provided a high quality form of residential accommodation with a wide range of amenities that could create a distinctive sense of place and which would encourage social integration from generous communal open spaces. However, the inspector also recommended that planning permission should be refused because the unit mix did not comply with the Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028.
The Journal
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Controversial Mayo data centre project opposed by author Sally Rooney stalled
CONTENTIOUS PLANS TO proceed with a data centre in Co Mayo opposed by international best-selling author, Sally Rooney have been stalled. This follows a third party appeal lodged with An Bord Pleanala against Mayo County Council's decision to grant planning permission last month to Mayo Data Hub Ltd for a data centre at Mullafarry and Tawnaghmore Upper, Killala. One of the objectors to the data centre, Colin Doyle from Station Rd, Ennis, Co Clare has lodged the third party appeal. The data centre for a site located 1.8km to the south of Killala and 10.5km to the north of Ballina will require 50MW average electrical power to operate. A planning report lodged with the application by John Spain Associates states that proposed development 'will attract complementary technology-based companies within the ICT sector and complementary industries to the west of Ireland which will provide for higher paying jobs and activate the local economy'. The Spain planning report also states that the electricity grid in the west of Ireland is currently unconstrained with sufficient capacity to accommodate the required connection for the data centre. The report states that the project 'was in fact situated in this part of Ireland after consultation with Eirgrid because this location is outside grid constrained areas and in a region with a surplus of renewable power'. In his original objection with the Council, Doyle stated that his main concern was indirect greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) generated by the data centre and the resulting impact on climate. In her own objection to the centre, Sally Rooney told the Council that 'I urge you in the strongest possible terms to refuse planning permission for this wasteful, unnecessary and environmentally toxic proposal'. Rooney said that she was making this submission 'as a resident of County Mayo and a concerned citizen.' The Normal People and Intermezzo author said: 'Climate change represents an immediate and unprecedented threat to our way of life here in Mayo and to the future of human life around the world'. Advertisement She said: 'Unless we act now to stop runaway overheating, children born today are likely to witness a catastrophic breakdown of global civilisation.' Rooney said that in 2023, 'private corporate data centres accounted for 21% of Ireland's total electricity usage – more than all urban households combined'. Rooney said: 'The truth is that these data centres exist largely to support online advertising. Some estimates suggest that online ads account for 50% of internet data usage; others put the figure between 60% and 80%. She added: 'Whatever the specific figure, online advertising is extremely energy-intensive and is increasing in scale all the time, requiring more data centres, more energy, and more fossil fuels. Rooney said: 'Advertising, needless to say, is pointless. It adds no value to the real economy. It does not improve the overall quality of life for anyone. It is an utter waste of resources. At the best of times, this seems a shame; at a time of urgent global crisis, it is a catastrophe.' Rooney argued that 'wasteful consumption of electricity is a disaster. Not only does it drive energy prices upward for ordinary consumers; it also increases the total demand for energy and thus the total demand for fossil fuels' Rooney said that as the applicants have conceded that the project will result in the emission of more carbon dioxide' into our already overheated atmosphere'. She said: 'This additional atmospheric carbon will contribute to climate change not only here in County Mayo, but everywhere on the earth, as part of the catastrophic planetary crisis that is global warming.' Rooney further contended that 'Carbon credits' and 'offsetting programmes' deployed by operators of data centres 'act only as a smokescreen for corporations that want to emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere for profit'. She said: 'These gases have already been responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent people, and in the coming years we can be confident they will claim the lives of thousands more. No complicated EU policy instrument can wave that fact away.' In her six-page submission, Rooney further stated that 'Not only would this proposed data centre represent a wasteful use of precious and limited electricity; it could also endanger that vital resource for other users, including hospitals and homes.' A decision is due on the appeal in September.
