Plans rejected for major development including community centre and tourist hostel at former school in Offaly

Plans for a major development including a community centre and a tourist hostel at a former school in Offaly have been blocked by Offaly County Council. 

Shannonbridge Action Group had sought permission for the large scale development at the former school in the village that closed in 2007 and that has since fallen into a state of disrepair.

Planning permission had been sought for a community centre and tourist accommodation on the site and the application said the project would establish Shannonbridge as 'a viable destination town for tourists'. The site is classed as 'an Opportunity Site' in the Shannonbridge Village Plan. 

Permission had been sought for the demolition of an existing single-storey extension to the former school house and the refurbishment of, and minor alterations to, the protected structure for community use

Permission was also sought for the construction of a new single-storey extension to the structure also for community use, to include office space and cafe.

The plans also included the construction of a new, part single-storey and part two-storey, stand-alone building for use as a a tourist hostel with dining and ancillary facilities.

Other elements of the plan included public road improvements comprising widening and resurfacing of existing footway and carriageway, realignment of the R357 Cloghan Road for approximately 88m between Raghra Park and the R444 to facilitate off-site car parking.

There would also have been a new vehicular entrance to the site and the creation of a public realm to the front of the structure as well as other hard and soft landscaping throughout the site. 

However those plans have been blocked by Offaly County Council who has refused permission for the project. 

At the time of writing, details of why the project was blocked were not available.