Stinging rebuke to council over road policy

A LOCAL authority has been accused by An Bord Pleanála of putting major road developments at risk.

A stinging rebuke of Limerick County Council came as the planning appeals’ body overturned a decision on a proposed new retail complex in which a leading property tycoon was involved.

Golden Dawn Developments Ltd had been given the go-ahead for a huge development adjacent to the N20 Limerick /Cork road, near Patrickswell.

The proposed development included a retail site, car showroom and eight industrial units with a total floor space of almost 14,000 sq metres, together with 540 car parking spaces.

One of the four directors of Dawn Developments is Limerick’s top property investors Robert Butler. The other directors are Seamus Braddish, Kieran Braddish and Paul O’Brien.

The National Roads Authority appealed the council’s decision on the basis that the site was located within the study area for the proposed N20 Cork to Limerick motorway scheme — which forms part of the Government’s Transport 21 road policy.

In its ruling, Bord Pleanála stated: “It is considered the proposed development would prejudice the development of national roads infrastructure and would be premature pending the determination by the planning authority of a road layout of the area.

“The proposed development would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and suitable development of the area.”

The site is located near the old Patrickswell railway station at the junction of two national primary routes, the N20 to Cork and the N21 to Killarney.

The triangular site covers about 15 acres.

Appealing the council decision to grant permission, the NRA claimed the decision introduced a significant constraint to the overall planning and delivery of Transport 21.

The NRA further claimed the council’s decision contravened the retail strategy for the area and would undermine the development of retail outlets in key towns in the hinterland of Limerick city.

In recommending that the NRA appeal be upheld, Máiréad Kenny, a senior planning inspector with An Bord Pleanála, stated the proposed development might prejudice the development of the national roads infrastructure and was premature.

She further said the proposed development would interfere with the free flow of traffic along the national road network and would be contrary to national policy to protect the road infrastructure and contravene the Limerick County Development Plan of 2005.