Council rejects plans for major childcare expansion in Tipperary
Plans for a new childcare facility in a busy Tipperary village have been refused by the local authority.
Barbara Byrne applied to Tipperary County Council for planning permission to construct a new créche building on a site at Ivowen, Kilsheelan, outside Clonmel.
The proposed facility would cater for 101 children and employ 19 staff. It would expand Ms Byrne's existing crèche, which operates from a building across the road.
According to planning files, Ms Byrne says that her current facility is on the first floor of a mixed-use building, with no opportunities available to expand.
However, in a planning appraisal, one of the planners working with the council raised concerns about the suitability of the facility and the site it was proposed for.
“The site is located within the settlement of Kilsheelan on lands zoned for amenity,” they said.
“Community facilities are open for consideration under this land use zone. Childcare facilities are however not acceptable on lands zoned for amenity use,” the planner added.
The proposed site for the new créche is next to a community centre, with planners noting that a community-centred childcare facility could be considered, but not a for-profit one.
Ms Byrne was given the chance by the planners to submit further information on whether the facility would be commercial or community-run, as well as clarifying the number of parking spaces that would be provided, and modifying the design of the building, which council planners said had “utilitarian appearance”.
In a further information submission, an agent working on behalf of Ms Byrne said that there was a significant need for a larger childcare facility in the area.
“The site is conveniently located directly adjacent to a large scale residential development of 133 houses. This residential development was to have a crèche facility, and we note that said planning permission has now long expired and no crèche was developed,” the agent said.
“There is high demand for a crèche facility in this area. The applicant continually has to refuse places to the current crèche facility due to its limited size, restrictions within the current building and with no realistic opportunities of expansion within same,” they added.
The agent added that 27 parking spaces was sufficient to serve the development as many of the staff come from Kilsheelan and walk to work rather than driving, and added that the existing parking demand for the building is low during the times the creche would operate.
“The community building is laid out primarily for use as changing and shower rooms associated with the adjacent all weather pitch which is generally in use in the evenings / weekends,” the agent said.
However, despite this, Tipperary County Council decided to refuse planning permission for the development of the créche, saying that the site is not zoned for commercial activity.
“This facility is not a shared facility, it is an entirely commercial childcare operation. Its provision on lands zoned for open space and amenity use clearly conflicts with the zoning matrix as set out in the county development plan,” they said.
The plans would be “contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and would, if permitted set an undesirable precedent,” the council added.