Residents lodge ABP appeal against apartment development proposed for Clonmore

(Above) The site of the former Clonmore Shopping Centre

The Newbrook and Clonmore Road Residents Association has lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanala against Westmeath County Council's controversial decision to grant planning permission for a three storey residential development on the site of the former Clonmore Shopping Centre.

The council gave the project the green light last month after a further information request despite receiving over 20 objections from local residents. The application by Peadar Conlon includes details for the demolition of the former Clonmore Shopping Centre and the construction of a new three storey and two storey apartment building consisting of 17 two bed unit.

The submissions to the council from householders in Clonmore Heights and Newbrook cited a number of areas of concern, including the density of the proposed development and its height; the lack of sufficient parking in the plan and the lack of a play area for children. A number of objectors also expressed concerns that apartment balconies and the building's rooftop garden will, in the words of the Newbrook and Clonmore Road Residents Association, “have a hugely negative impact” on their privacy.

In its submission, the residents association said that while it was pleased that “there is finally a proposal for a development of the eyesore that is the site of the derelict former Clonmore Shopping Centre”, it has “strong objections to the current proposal”.

The association says that the plan for 17 apartments is “just too dense to be adequately accommodated with the very limited size of this site” and that the “proposed three-storey building is completely incompatible with the surrounding bungalows on either side and two-storey houses to the rear of the development”.

Cllr Ken Glynn, who lives in Clonmore, made a representation to the council on behalf of local residents. In his representation he said that the further information request did “not change the original view of residents nor does it address any of the major concerns addressed in their individual submissions”.

In its planners report the council said that concerns about the visual impact of the development were “satisfactorily addressed” by a revised design in response to the FI request.

On the issue of “neighbour impact”, the report stated that the privacy of neighbours from the roof terrace “may require the provision of higher barriers”. The council's Environment Section commented that the development's terrace is “not likely to give rise to any significant increase in the level of noise associated with normal residential activity at ground level”.

An Bord Pleanala is due to make a decision by January 4 next year.