Fire safety concerns prompt rethink for Tipperary town conversion project
A former shop in Tipperary town that previously secured planning permission for two apartments could instead be converted into a single house under new plans lodged with Tipperary County Council.
Tipperary County Council previously approved plans to convert the long-vacant former travel agency at 47 Main Street in Tipperary town into two studio apartments.
Past planning files note that the building in question is “a very challenging building, as the floor area and the existing stairs arrangement is tricky”.
However, now, English Tarmac Limited has applied for planning permission to develop just one house in the building, not two studio apartments.
An agent working on behalf of the developer said that they found it difficult to obtain a fire certificate for the proposed apartments due to the layout of the building.
“Unfortunately, when we filed for a fire safety certificate for the approved development, we encountered means of escape design issues relating to the positioning of the stairs, and we were unable to overcome the issues raised,” they said.
“As a result of the above, we now apply to simply convert the building into a two-bedroom single dwelling with a design layout that utilises the stairway locations as best as possible for the proposed dwelling layout,” the agent added.
Under the new plans, the developer proposes to remove the derelict shopfront, replacing it with a similar window, and moving the main entrance to the new house to the rear of the building.
Plans for accommodation on the lower ground floor have also been eliminated by the developer as it would be “substandard in height” and was only included as a result of altering the layout of the ground floor.
Planners are due to make a decision on the new plans by August 24.
Previously, Michael English also applied to the council for planning permission to change the use of a building to the rear of 48 Main Street, as well as changing the use of another building at the rear of the property, creating two additional apartments, and developing a courtyard with a gate controlled access from Main Street. This was refused by the local authority.
Permission for the additional apartments was turned down by the council because they deemed the plans as being “piecemeal” and “fragmented”.