An Post get approval for new parking spaces in Tipperary despite residents’ objections
Planning permission has been granted for An Post to develop additional parking spaces at one of their outlets in Tipperary town, despite concerns raised by locals.
The company had applied to Tipperary County Council for planning permission to add extra parking spaces, as well as electric vehicle (EV) charging points next to the former post office on Grattan Street in Tipperary town.
The plans sought to create eight extra parking spaces for the facility, with three EV charging points.
The post office in the town relocated to an outlet in Bennett’s SuperValu in 2024, away from the Grattan Street site. However, An Post still uses the old post office building as a sorting office and parcel pick-up point.
An Post previously withdrew the planning application, but resubmitted it to the local authority shortly after.
In a submission to the council, residents on Grattan Street and Davis Street welcomed the plans, but urged the local authority to consider the impact of the busy parcel depot on the area.
“With the relocation of An Post’s main consumer functions from Grattan Street to SuperValu, the Davis Street post office has effectively changed its primary function to that of a busy parcel depot serving the wider Tipperary county region,” a representative of the residents said.
The residents’ group say that as the town centre has changed, the Grattan Street and Davis Street areas have become less retail-focused, and now house more homes than shops.
“The enduring value of these streets to the town is as high quality residential amenity.
“The current depot imposes a significant burden on the normal residential functioning of the area. From as early as 5am on weekdays, vans are being loaded on the Davis and Grattan Street corner from the old front door of the post office,” the residents said.
The loading and unloading of vans so early causes residents “distress, sleep disturbance, and ongoing frustration,” the letter added.
Despite these concerns, the locals say they are supportive of the application for extra parking, asking Tipperary County Council that if planning permission is granted, a condition be added to ensure that An Post use the new space for loading and unloading, rather than the current spaces at the front of the post office.
In granting planning permission, a planning inspector said that given the building has been used as a post office for a long number of years, a condition regarding loading or unloading would not be appropriate.
“Noting the town centre location/zoning of the site and the longstanding use of same I do not consider it appropriate to place such a restriction on the three spaces closest to the front door,” they said.
Tipperary County Council granted planning permission for the development, subject to seven conditions, including a requirement that An Post submit a plan for the EV chargers to the council for agreement before works get underway.
They also stipulated that they should engage a qualified archaeologist to oversee the groundworks associated with the development in case archaeological remains are found on the site.