Plans frozen for 'new urban neighbourhood' in Tullamore pending High Court decision
A case involving Offaly County Council and Consdorf Investments ICAV is up for mention this month in the High Court.
In February 2022, the High Court placed a ''stay'' on part of the Offaly County Development Plan in a dispute over a proposal by Steinfort Investments Fund which is seeking permission to build what it describes as ''a new urban neighbourhood'' on a 25-hectare site on the outskirts of Tullamore.
The application by Steinfort Investments Fund which was first made to An Bord Pleanala in 2020, is for 349 residential units including 196 houses, 153 apartments and a crèche at Clonminch and Gayfield, Tullamore.
Based on the decision by the High Courts, An Bord Pleanala said, ''all processing of the case has been frozen and cannot be progressed further until advised otherwise.''
The primary parties in the case are Consdorf Investments ICAV and Offaly County Council and it is in relation to the adoption of the Offaly Development Plan. An Bord Pleanala is a notice party only.
In 2020 An Board Pleanala refused to grant permission for the development describing it as ''substandard'' of ''poor quality'' and ''poor design'' It said it would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. In addition it stated that it was dominated by roads and surface car parking resulting in ''a poor design concept for the site.''
However, in somewhat of a U-turn the Board later decided it required further investigation. A second application was submitted by Steinfort Investments, this was declared invalid by the Board.
In 2021 a third application was submitted. This was to be decided on by February 2022. It has now been put on ice pending the High Court decision.
The application was made through the strategic housing development legislation, which allows for large scale developments to bypass local authorities. It attracted over 60 submissions from members of the public including residents of Clonminch Wood and Limefield Estate all voicing their objections.
Local councillors were not in favour of the scheme either, describing it as a ''town outside the town.''
The local representatives had issues with the planned location of the development which under the current county development plan is zoned strategic reserve.
The case is up for mention in the High Court on April 25.