Rezoning push could unlock hundreds of new homes in Tipperary
Hundreds of new homes could be built in Tipperary town under new rezoning proposals being considered by the county council.
Tipperary County Council is proposing to rezone more land across the county to residential in order to enable more homes to be delivered as the housing crisis drags on.
The council had been accepting submissions from landowners and the public on the proposals.
In Tipperary town one submission from Lumi Homes said that they would submit a planning application for 60 homes on a site on the Murgasty Road immediately if the land is zoned for residential use.
"There has been very limited new development in the town in recent years,” they said.
"We are a developer who would commence a planning application immediately should the site be rezoned to residential,” Lumi Homes added.
The site in question currently has planning permission for a nursing home, which, the developer says, shows that there is water and electrical services near the site, which would allow it to be used as land to build new homes.
A derelict house and outbuildings are currently on the site, which would likely be demolished to make space for 60 houses.
"We have agreed with the site owners to action a planning [application] immediately should the site be zoned residential,” they said.
Elsewhere in Tipperary town, Monaghan Mushrooms have said that their site in Knockanrawley is “underutilised” and should be rezoned so homes can be built there.
The site currently holds the Fairgreen Ingredients warehouse, which the company say is partly vacant.
"The subject site is currently underutilised in its current form. The existing buildings on the site are partially vacant, therefore not providing any significant employment benefits to Tipperary town,” an agent acting on behalf of Monaghan Mushrooms said.
"The location of the site, immediately adjacent to the town makes it a suitable site for residential development as it will be consumed by the extending urban area.
"It is imperative that further lands are appropriately zoned to future-proof the delivery of housing within this area,” they added.
Local businessman Gary Pierce has asked the local authority to rezone land that he owns on the Limerick Road in the town as residential. A submission on behalf of Mr Pierce said that he has been trying to sell the land, but potential buyers are only interested in the land if it has the capacity to build homes.
He “has carried out an extensive marketing campaign to try and sell the lands as industrial/manufacturing, and all of his enquiries are coming from people who are only interested in the lands if there was a possibility of residential development potential,” the submission says.
"[Mr Pierce’s agent] has advised his client to try and see if the lands can be rezoned due to the demand for residential development lands in the town as most of the lands that are zoned residential are currently frozen due to the planned bypass around the town,” Mr Pierce’s agent added.
Another submission from Patrick O’Dwyer says that he strongly supports the rezoning of his land at Carrownreddy for residential purposes.
"As a landowner with no intention of continuing agricultural use, I am very keen to see this land contribute positively to the future development of Tipperary town,” he said.
The land is currently zoned as agricultural, but it has previously been designated as residential land, which Mr O’Dwyer says shows that the site is suitable for new homes.
"In particular, my family has a strong interest in delivering high-quality, sustainable housing on the site.
"There is a genuine intention to pursue a residential development of energy-efficient, environmentally responsible homes should the land be rezoned,” he added.
Another local businessman, Maurice Casey submitted that land he co-owns on the Limerick Road should be rezoned too, and could provide up to 78 new houses and apartments if planning permission was granted.
"In May 2007 we [paid] engineers to work on the planning permission application for this site, however, permission was unsuccessful,” Mr Casey said.
"Now, 19 years later, I am still trying to develop this site whose boundaries are within Tipperary town,” his submission added.
Submissions closed earlier this month, and the council will now examine all the proposals, before making recommendations for which land should be rezoned for new housing development.
The plans will then be brought before the plenary meeting of Tipperary County Council where the 40 county councillors will be asked to vote on the proposals for towns and villages across the county.
If these submissions are approved, the rezonings could significantly increase housing supply in Tipperary town, where development has been limited in recent years.