Tipperary ghost estate built in 2003 finally approved for completion after almost two decades lying vacant
A ghost estate in Tipperary that has lain vacant since the 2008 financial crash could finally be completed after An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) granted planning permission for revised works.
This comes despite ACP’s inspector recommending that permission be refused because of unresolved drainage concerns.
Subgero Ltd appealed a Tipperary County Council decision to refuse them permission to retain works at the estate on Schoolhouse Row in Portroe.
The application sought permission to retain parts of the estate already built, including drainage infrastructure, footpaths and boundary walls, as well as approval for changes to roads, parking, lighting and other site works.
In their decision to refuse permission, the council said that they were missing complete information about the surface water infrastructure, and that proposals to widen footpaths and parking bays would endanger public safety.
The 22 houses in Schoolhouse Row were built in 2003, but were never fully finished, and sat vacant after the financial crash in 2008.
Now, more than 20 years later, Subgero has said they have taken over the project and want to complete work so the houses can be brought into use.
In their appeal, an agent acting on behalf of Subgero said that while the council refused permission for changes, the planning authorities must take account of the fact that the estate was built more than 20 years ago.
“These houses were constructed on foot of the permission granted in 2003 and the layout then permitted by both the planning authority and An Bord Pleanála (now An Coimisiún Pleanála).
“It is not now possible to meet all the current requirements of the planning authority in respect of parallel parking bay widths at all locations on the site,” the agent said.
The houses in the development are “virtually ready for sale” the agent said, as long as the planning issues as part of this planning application are dealt with.
The local residents group objected to the appeal, saying that the 22 homes should be considered uninhabitable and should be demolished.
Another objector from a neighbouring landowner stated that he has a right of way through the site, and has concerns about the standard of work on the properties.
“This development has failed the criteria of the original permission and now looks poorly considered and in need of something more than a watering down of the quality,” the objection stated.
Tipperary County Councillors Phyll Bugler, John Carroll, Pamela Quirke O’Meara and Fiona Bonfield also objected to the plans, with Cllr Carroll saying that he has a “very strong objection” to the plans.
“These structures were constructed as holiday-type homes and lay derelict for almost two decades,” he said.
The houses “do not accord to modern residential standards and would present great difficulty for any local authority to take ownership or give approval to this type of development within very close proximity to the local school at Portroe village,” he added.
Labour Party TD Alan Kelly said in an objection that the houses should be knocked down.
“It has been open to the climate for two decades, been vandalised and looted, has never had services provided to it, has been the subject of a derelict site notice and, given the length of time that has passed, it is difficult to see how the units in the development are even inhabitable in any safe way,” he said.
There were calls from local representativies for the house sat Schoolhouse Row to be demolished. © Tipperary County Counicl planning portal.
“I am all in favour of proper housing and want to see private development in Portroe for future generations, but I cannot see how this application will address the multiple and complex issues that this development has,” he added.
In their report, an inspector for ACP recommended that Tipperary County Council’s decision to refuse planning permission be upheld because Subgero has “not addressed the issue of the surface water disposal in any meaningful way on appeal.”
However, despite this, the board of ACP went against their own inspector, and granted permission for the retention of the development as built.
“It is considered, subject to compliance with the conditions set out, that the proposed development and the development proposed to be retained would make a positive contribution to the provision of housing in the area,” the board said.
The granting of permission would also “eliminate the unsightly nature of the unfinished estate” and “would not have an adverse impact on the amenities of adjoining properties or the surrounding area,” the board added.
They said that the lack of detail around the surface water infrastructure weren’t grounds for a refusal, and could be dealt with by a condition.
ACP stipulated in their conditions that all footpaths for the development be 1.8metres wide, that the vehicular access next to the school be closed up, and that the developer submit a detailed design of the storm water infrastructure to ensure it is working as it should.