Planning refused due to river concerns

A FEAR that damage might be caused to an important spawning river in Kerry was one of the reasons given by An Bord Pleanála for turning down a planning application for a multi-million euro development, it emerged at the weekend.

The proposed development included 73 dwellings, a 22-bedroom hotel and a retail block with seven outlets at Listry Cross, 8.5km from Killarney.

The location of what would have been a village-type project is on the main Killarney/Dingle road, one of the busiest tourist routes in the country.

The appeals board agreed with concerns expressed by the South Western Regional Fisheries Board regarding the disposal of surface water and foul drainage from the 5.7 hectare site.

Such a run-off could harm the River Gweestin — an important salmon spawning river and a nursery tributary of the Laune — and necessary works would have to be carried out to show no damage would come to the river, the appeals board’s report concluded.

Another reason for the refusal was that the layout of the development would contravene the objective of the local area plan in relation to the development of a mixed use streetscape frontage along the road.

The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area under section 131 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, according to Bord Pleanála.

The application for the village-type development was by Don Culloty and Sean Doolan and Sons Limited.

In his report, Bord Pleanála inspector Roy Curnow said the principle of the development was not an issue. The council had approved a similar form of development on the land previously and this type of development was advocated in the Listry/Faha local area plan.

The council was happy with the proposal except for one aspect which did not comply with the local area plan, he noted.

Mr Curnow pointed out there was a requirement in the plan for a mixed-use frontage along the road but that was not part of the appeal proposal.

“The reasoning for the frontage was two-fold. Firstly, it would give an active frontage and, secondly, it would provide the services that the expanded settlement would require,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Bord Pleanála is expected to give a decision on plans for a €30 million hotel development in Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry.

The four-star hotel is earmarked for the Reenroe site of the former Waterville Beach Hotel.

Conditional planning permission has been granted by Kerry County Council to Eccleston International Ltd for a 120-bedroom hotel.

But the decision has been appealed by a Canadian-based couple Eugene and Anne McMahon, who have a holiday home in Reenroe.