Regulator asks Kerry council to remove multi-storey car park from Killarney plans

The Office of the Planning Regulator said the proposal was made at the same time that the council believed there was already sufficient car parking within the town

The OPR noted that there had already been a recent public consultation over a proposal for an additional 139 parking spaces at Green Lawn off Mission Road, Killarney. File picture: Denis Minihane

The State’s planning watchdog has called on Kerry County Council to remove plans for a new multi-storey car park in Killarney which are contained in a proposed revision of the existing Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028.

The Office of the Planning Regulator claimed the measure is not consistent with national and regional policy objectives to improve air quality and promote sustainable transport.

The OPR raised concerns about a policy objective within the proposed variation to the development plan that states the council will “facilitate the provision of a multi-storey car park in Killarney at an appropriate location". 

Council officials have previously identified the existing New Street Car Park in Killarney as a suitable location with estimates that a multi-storey facility on the site could provide 516 spaces.

It was projected that the three-storey building could deliver a net gain of almost 300 parking spaces at an estimated cost of €12.7m.

However, the OPR pointed out that the proposal was being made at the same time that the council considered that there was already sufficient car parking within the town – both on-street and in car parks.

According to the local authority, there are a total of 1,373 car park spaces in public car parks in Killarney with additional parking spaces available in private car parks and on-street spaces.

The OPR noted that there had already been a recent public consultation over a proposal for an additional 139 parking spaces at Green Lawn off Mission Road, Killarney.

Councillors in Killarney voted last week by a narrow majority to proceed with plans for the car park near St Mary’s Cathedral, despite strong opposition from local residents and reservations by gardaí that it would exacerbate traffic congestion in the area.

The variation has been proposed by Kerry County Council to provide a settlement plan for the Killarney Municipal District Area in order to provide a comprehensive local planning framework with clear policies and objectives.

The council said the proposed variation was also informed by a Local Transport Plan (LTP) which was welcomed by the OPR for promoting a shift from private cars to use of sustainable transport modes.

“This will be essential to achieving national mandatory climate action targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030,” said OPR deputy regulator and director of plans evaluation, Anne Marie O’Connor.

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However, in a submission to Kerry County Council on behalf of the OPR, Ms O’Connor expressed concern that measures and strategy contained in the LTP have not been adequately prioritised in the proposed variation.

She recommended that more explicit policy supports should be given by the council to ensure the use of more sustainable transport modes was encouraged and implemented.

The OPR noted that it only issued recommendations in response to what it regarded as “clear breaches” of planning legislation and policy objectives.