Wexford County Council opts to approve new Courtown hotel despite breaches of local area plan
And at the July meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC), the decision to allow the development to go ahead, despite it being in breach of the Courtown and Riverchapel Local Area Plan (LAP), was approved by local councillors.
The proposed development, by Bayview Limited, is for the construction of a 136-bedroom, six-storey hotel, on lands currently used as car parking at the edge of Courtown village. The existing coast access road, pedestrian bridge, and the landscaping to the watercourse to the east of the site would remain unaffected by the development.
Outlining the reasons and considerations behind its decision to grant planning permission, WCC stated, 'The proposed development would provide much-needed accommodation in the area and bring longer stay visitors to the village that would benefit the local economy and bring new employment opportunities.'
A consultation period took place between June 4 and July 1 which allowed members of the public to have their say on the proposed development. A number of submissions were made regarding the construction of a hotel in Courtown, some of which expressed concerns about how it will affect the local community.
BPS Planning and Development Consultants, on behalf of the Harbour Court Residents Association, stated, "The argument that a development would have economic benefits is not one we consider normally to be used by planning authorities to overrule significant scale, massing, design, and zoning concerns. The LAP's open space and amenity (OSA) zoning cannot be viewed in isolation from the range of planning policies, aims, and objections set out in the LAP and the County Development Plan (CDP).'
"The focus has clearly been on the purported economic benefits of a hotel without adequate due consideration of the benefits to the community. The guidelines confirm that the 'material contravention procedure' is intended as a mechanism to deal with specific non-conforming planning applications. These are, by definition, proposed developments which the applicant knew at the time of making the planning application was not permitted in principle or open for consideration.
"It is meant to be an exceptional procedure for cases which, one would expect, are supported by the same public who voted for the elected members who adopted the LAP.'
Previously, a further 32 submissions were made by members of the public, concerned residents, and local organisations.
Recommending that councillors approve planning permission for the hotel, chief executive of WCC, Eddie Taaffe stated, 'No modifications of the proposed material contravention of the Courtown and Riverchapel LAP are recommended at this time on foot of the submissions received. In accordance with Section 34 (6) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, it is recommended that planning permission for the development of a 136-bedroom, six-storey hotel be considered by the members for approval as a material contravention of the LAP.
"I therefore recommend that the members agree to pass a resolution approving the proposal to grant permission subject to standard conditions.'
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
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