Planning watchdog concerned about plans to rezone lands to extend Kerry technology park

The regulator said it had particular concern about limited evidence-based justification for an extension to Kerry Technology Park to support the scale of the proposal at what is described as a 'more peripheral location'. File picture

The State’s planning watchdog has expressed concern about proposed rezoning of lands to create an extension to Kerry Technology Park in Tralee, which it claims could undermine the viability of businesses in the town centre.

The Office of the Planning Regulator has also criticised proposals by Kerry County Council to rezone more lands for future housing, when it claimed there was already a sufficient supply of residential and mixed use lands in Tralee to supply housing targets and future population growth.

The OPR said there was a lack of evidence to justify the quantity and location of some changes in a proposed variation to the Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028.

The variation is being proposed by Kerry County Council to provide a replacement for a local area plan and town development plan for Tralee and is designed to ensure its municipal district area is developed in a sustainable manner through compact and sequential growth.

However, the OPR said the proposed variation raises concern there is a lack of focus and analysis of lands for employment uses in Tralee.

The regulator said it had particular concern about limited evidence-based justification for an extension to Kerry Technology Park to support the scale of the proposal at what is described as a “more peripheral location". 

Although the OPR acknowledged the extension might be justified in terms of the need for additional lands for employment use, it pointed out the new zoning objective for the site also provided for “shops and offices". 

It said the proposed zoning which also applied to the nearby Munster Technical University campus had “the potential to undermine the vitality and viability of the town centre which the proposed variation otherwise seeks to support”. 

The OPR said further consideration also needed to be given to the accessibility of the lands by walking, cycling and public transport.

It claimed the local authority had provided generally limited updated employment data for Tralee when it was necessary to ensure there was sufficient information “to ensure that the economic strategy for the area is clear and evidence-based". 

The planning watchdog also expressed concern about a proposed rezoning that would allow cinemas to be located outside Tralee’s town core on the site of a former racecourse at Ballybeggan and another site at Bracker O’Regan Road.

The OPR’s deputy regulator and director of plans evaluation, Anne Marie O’Connor, said there was no comprehensive overview of lands previously zoned for employment.

Ms O’Connor recommended lands should not be zoned for high-intensity employment where no such justification could be provided.

In relation to plans to rezone further lands in Tralee as “strategic residential reserve”, and “strategic reserve”, the regulator said the zoning of such sites was best placed for the next plan cycle, which will take effect from 2029.

The OPR has recommended proposals for rezonings of existing agricultural land at Cloghers and lands bounded by Dromthacker Road and Bill Kinnerk Road on the outskirts of Tralee to allow residential development should be omitted from the variation.

In a submission to Kerry County Council, the OPR made a total of six recommendations it claimed were designed to address clear breaches of either legislative provisions or national and regional planning policy.