Anger at council’s move to ‘freeze’ zoned land

MOVES by Clare County Council to “freeze” 720 acres of zoned land in the greater Ennis area from housing development has sparked an angry response from landowners, with one threatening High Court action.

The council move to freeze the zoned lands from any building from now to 2014 is in response to the Department of the Environment expressing concerns in relation to over-zoning.

Prior to the department’s intervention, the council was proposing the inclusion of 940 acres for housing that could be built over the next four years.

However, in a new variation to the Ennis and Environs Development Plan, the local authority is proposing only 220 acres in Phase One of the 940 acres can be built.

Therese McCarthy has a parcel of land zoned for housing located adjacent to the Ennis by-pass. It has been zoned residential since 2003. But, the council has omitted the lands from Phase One, effectively freezing them from development until 2014.

Her consultants, Leahy Conway Architects, said: “The land was purchased at full development value. Any decision to restrict zoning would result in it being reviewed by the High Court.”

In a separate submission, Denis Kenny states that the omission of lands he owns at Cappahard, Ennis, from Phase One will create a negative financial impact on the value of the lands.

However, in response, the council claims that “financial considerations cannot be considered in determining the zoning /phasing of the land”.

Clare County Council is due to discuss the draft plan next week.