Dungarvan development gets go-ahead

A HIGH COURT decision clearing the way for a multi-million euro development will lead to the creation of 350 jobs in Dungarvan.

Waterford county manager Donal Connolly yesterday said he was delighted the way has finally been cleared for the development following a series of delays to the project.

This follows a decision by the High Court to refuse an application by local woman Collette O’Connell for a judicial review seeking to quash the Bord Pleanala decision to grant planning permission to Clancy Construction Ltd for the development of a major shopping centre and other facilities on a former 43 acre Glanbia site off the town centre at Shandon.

Mr Connolly said: “At long last the way is now clear for the massive project to proceed. It is extremely good news for Dungarvan and for the county as a whole.”

The planning process for what is the biggest single commercial development ever planned for the county, has been dogged by difficulties. Originally Dungarvan Town Council gave it the planning go ahead only for Bord Pleanala to turn it down on a number of specific grounds.

There were serious concerns Clancy Construction would abandon its plans with the consequential loss of hundreds of jobs to Dungarvan. But the company subsequently submitted a new planning application which was again granted by the local council and upheld by Bord Pleanala despite further objections to it.

But just as it seemed the protracted planning process had finally been sorted out local housewife Collette O’Connell sought a High Court judicial review in an attempt to quash the Bord Pleanala decision.

That attempt however failed over the weekend with costs also being awarded against Ms O’Connell.

“Thankfully this is the end of the road for the objectors, and the way is now clear for the development to go ahead,” Mr Connolly said.

With Dunnes Stores as the anchor tenant for the shopping complex, other facilities will include a four screen cineplex, restaurants, a night club, apartments, and car parking for several hundred cars.

Clancy Construction managing director Billy Clancy, said it is a “huge relief” to finally proceed with the construction programme.

“There will be up to 350 new jobs created,” he said, “and it would be very wrong if a tiny minority of objectors could deny Dungarvan those jobs.”

Dungarvan Mayor Paddy Power welcomed the development, adding the town has been crying out for the jobs bonanza the project guarantees.