Planning permission for Tipperary health centre upheld on appeal
Planning permission for an existing health centre in north Tipperary has been upheld on appeal by An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Rebecca Spelman had previously been granted permission to retain the change of use from an office to a health centre at The Hatchery on Martyr’s Road in Nenagh, as well as retaining signage for the centre.
The health centre provides talking therapy, mental health diagnostic assessments (including neurodiversity assessments), psychiatry consultations, and GP consultations for GPs with a special interest in mental health, according to planning documents submitted with the application.
Local resident Martin Murphy appealed the council’s decision to grant planning permission, saying that the Martyr’s Road area is already congested and that the proposed retention would be an overuse of a small site.
"The permitted use represents a significant intensification over office use, involving frequent short-stay visits,” he said.
"The multi-disciplinary clinic includes psychiatry, ADHD/autism diagnostics, GP consultations and addiction treatment, indicating multiple concurrent consulting rooms and extended hours. This will result in continuous arrivals and departures adjacent to residential properties,” Mr Murphy added.
Despite these concerns, an inspector for An Coimisiún Pleanála recommended that retention planning permission be granted, saying that the change of use does not “negatively impact on adjoining residential amenities and the surrounding road network in terms of traffic safety and convenience.”
"The use is consistent with the established character of the surrounding area,” the inspector added.
Seven conditions were imposed along with the grant of planning permission, including that one of the rooms in the centre not be used as a consulting room, that the owner remove letter decals from the windows, and install opaque frosted glass on rooms three and four.
The inspector also stipulated that the centre can only operate between the hours of 9am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, and that the developer will pay Tipperary County Council €11,250 for the use of public infrastructure, including car parking, that the centre benefits from.