Latest news with #planningpermission
Irish Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Creeslough: Planning permission refused for petrol station site of explosion in which 10 people died
An Coimisiún Pleanála has overturned a grant of planning permission for a new filling station on the site of the explosion in Creeslough , Co Donegal, in which 10 people died. Donegal County Council granted permission in February to Vivo Shell Limited to redevelop a service station and shop at the site. The decision was appealed by a number of family members of those killed in the October 2022 blast. An Coimisiún Pleanála on Friday turned down the application. READ MORE The planning authority said the proposed plan was 'out of character' with its surroundings in the village. The body said 'Having regard to the existing character and the prevailing pattern of development in Creeslough, it is considered that the proposed development (as amended), by reason of its overall architectural treatment, scale and design, would be out of character with its surroundings, would seriously detract from the architectural character and setting of Creeslough and the streetscape and approach from Letterkenny generally.' The authority said the proposed development would be contrary to the County Development Plan. 'To permit the proposed scheme (as amended) at this prominent location could have such a negative effect on the visual amenity and local character of Creeslough as to negatively impact on the wider, long-term regeneration and renewal of the village. [ Creeslough: 'I can't get my head around how a site can be built on when there's a criminal investigation' Opens in new window ] 'The proposed development would, therefore, seriously injure the visual amenities of the area and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.' The proposed rebuild had allowed for the demolition of the existing building and the construction of a new structure that includes a shop, post office, deli, off-licence, and fuel forecourt. A memorial garden and light-based sculpture with 10 metal poles commemorating those who perished in the tragedy was also planned for the site. Many of the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy, however, said this was an insult to their memory considering they died in the metal and rubble of the blast. One bereaved family member said: 'This is terrific news. When we got the news yesterday that there would not be an oral hearing we were so disappointed and feared the worst. 'We simply do not want a new service station on the site in which our loved ones died.'
BreakingNews.ie
8 hours ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Planning permission refused for new petrol station on site of Creeslough tragedy
An Bord Pleanála has overturned planning permission for a new filling station on the site of the explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal, in which 10 people were killed. Donegal County Council granted permission to Vivo Shell Limited to redevelop a service station and shop at the site in February. Advertisement The decision was appealed by a number of family members of those killed in the October 2022 blast. On Friday An Bord Pleanála revealed it was turning down the application. The planning authority said the proposed plan was "out of character" with its surroundings in the village. The body said: "Having regard to the existing character and the prevailing pattern of development in Creeslough, it is considered that the proposed development (as amended), by reason of its overall architectural treatment, scale and design, would be out of character with its surroundings, would seriously detract from the architectural character and setting of Creeslough and the streetscape and approach from Letterkenny generally. Advertisement "It is considered therefore, that the proposed development would be contrary to Policy ED-P-9, of the County Development Plan, 2024 2023 being of inappropriate layout and building design in the context of the existing landscape. "To permit the proposed scheme (as amended) at this prominent location could have such a negative effect on the visual amenity and local character of Creeslough as to negatively impact on the wider, long-term regeneration and renewal of the village. "The proposed development would, therefore, seriously injure the visual amenities of the area and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area." The proposed rebuild had allowed for the demolition of the existing building and the construction of a new structure that includes a shop, post office, deli, off-licence and fuel forecourt. Advertisement A memorial garden and light-based sculpture with 10 metal poles commemorating those who perished in the tragedy was also planned for the site. However, many of the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy said this was an insult to their memory considering they died in the metal and rubble of the blast. The families are still digesting the news while was relayed to them by their legal team and was also delivered by Donegal County Council. One of the family members who lost a loved one in the tragedy said: "This is terrific news. When we got the news yesterday that there would not be an oral hearing we were so disappointed and feared the worst. Advertisement "This is tremendous news. We simply do not want a new service station on the site in which our loved ones died." A statement on behalf of the families welcomed the decision to quash the application for a new building on the site. Ireland Families of Creeslough tragedy victims outraged af... Read More "Proposing development on this site while a criminal investigation is still ongoing was deeply inappropriate," the statement said. "The families believe the ground should be treated with dignity and respect, given the scale of loss and trauma suffered. The initial decision to grant planning permission rubbed salt in the wounds of the families." Darragh Mackin, the families' legal representative, said: "Today's decision has restored faith in the rule of law, where victims are treated with dignity and respect. "We continue to call for a full public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The families remain committed to seeking truth, accountability and justice."
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Creeslough: Planning permission refused for explosion site
Planning permission has been refused to develop a new petrol station and shop on the site of an explosion in Creeslough, County people were killed in the blast on 7 October February, Donegal County Council granted planning permission to Vivo Shell Ltd to redevelop the existing building at the An Coimisiún Pleanála (Irish planning commission) has now refused permission. The planning application proposed demolishing the existing building and constructing a new building including a shop, a post office, a beauty salon, fuel pumps and memorial to follow.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Omaze winner denied keys to £6m house amid planning row
A former Miss Wales finalist who won a £6m house in a £10 Omaze draw is yet to get the keys as a result of a lengthy planning battle. Vicky Curtis-Cresswell, 38, won the Norfolk home at the end of March, but has been unable to move in after an anonymous member of the public claimed a tennis court and swimming pool on the property had been built without permission. The property, in Blakeney, has been under investigation by North Norfolk District Council since March. Planning documents also revealed that the house had been built to be larger than permitted, according to the BBC. If retrospective planning permission is refused by the local authority, officials technically have the power to tear down the 5,000 sq ft property entirely. An Omaze spokesman said the company had submitted a pre-application to the council, and was filing a retrospective planning application as well. Ms Curtis-Cresswell also won a £250,000 cash payment, which Omaze said was enough to run the property for 10 years if she chose not to sell. The property came with an estimated £165,000 of furnishings. When she won, Ms Curtis-Cresswell was living with her husband, Dale, 41, their young daughter and her in-laws while looking for a home to rent. She said at the time: 'When the Omaze film crew turned up outside our house, I started to think it might be the house, but it's just too big a thing to even imagine. 'My mother-in-law feels like she's won the jackpot as we can now move out.' She added: 'Like a lot of people, it's fair to say times can be tough, we both work so hard, but things can still feel stretched some months. Winning this house feels like an enormous weight has been lifted. 'It's just crazy, one week we're worrying about our old car breaking down, the next thing we've got a £6m house.' She said in March that the family planned to sell the house, in order to buy a new home in Wales. The prize draw for the Norfolk property raised £4.1m for Comic Relief, the company said. The announcement of Ms Curtis-Cresswell as the winner, which had been set to be on the BBC's Comic Relief programme, was delayed due to privacy concerns. Omaze told the BBC that the planning issues had not been flagged during the checks, and surveys performed on the house before it was purchased. An Omaze spokesman said: 'Omaze will transfer ownership of the property to the winner once all planning matters are resolved.' A North Norfolk District Council spokesman said: 'We are waiting for an application to be submitted by the owners to try and regularise the current breaches of planning control. 'We are expecting an application to be submitted by the end of this month.'
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Thousands of holiday lets will need planning permission due to Rent Pressure Zone changes
Thousands of short-term holiday lettings on the west coast and elsewhere will require planning permission as a result of emergency laws extending Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) nationwide by the end of this week. Under a 2019 law designed to get holiday lettings back into the private rental market, properties rented out for short periods in RPZs are required to have planning permission. Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae said it is a 'big concern' for him that Airbnb -style rentals all over Co Kerry would need planning permission because of one of the Government's big housing policies. The Coalition could face a backlash from more of its own senior ministers, some of whom had already raised concerns about the impact regulations on short-term lettings could have on rural tourism. READ MORE At the moment, tourism hotspots such as Listowel, Tralee, Dingle and Kenmare in Co Kerry, Belmullet and Ballina in Co Mayo, and Bantry and Skibbereen in Co Cork are not classed as RPZs. As a result of this, short-term holiday lettings do not require planning permission in these places. A spokeswoman for Minister for Housing James Browne said: 'Currently, any time we designate an area as a Rent Pressure Zone, the provisions related to short-term letting automatically apply to that Rent Pressure Zoned area. This will be the case when we apply Rent Pressure Zones nationally.' Mr Healy-Rae, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, said he was concerned about the impact the changes would have. 'It's a thing I'm acutely aware of and extremely concerned about,' he said, adding that he was 'hoping to work within Government to try and address' it. The consequence of the law means short-term lets in several ministers' constituencies are required to apply for planning permission. Among the ministers whose areas stand to be impacted are Mr Browne, Minister for Children Norma Foley, Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary, Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke and Minister of State Timmy Dooley. Earlier this year, Ms Foley raised concerns about a separate proposal to ban planning permission for short-term lets in towns with populations of more than 10,000 people. On Tuesday, a spokesman for Ms Foley declined to comment, as did a spokesman for Mayo-based Mr Calleary. Also on Tuesday, the Cabinet agreed to rush through the emergency legislation extending RPZs to the entire country, with Ministers planning to have the legislation passed through all stages in the Oireachtas and ready to be signed into law by Thursday. It is understood that some people who lease out short-term holiday lets have already been in touch with TDs to complain about the impact the legislation will have on their businesses and to ask for pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. Mr Brown confirmed there will be no special exemption for students under the new rental regime . He was due to meet Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless on Tuesday over his concerns about students and other people who move regularly facing higher rents. However, that meeting has been deferred until next week. Mr Browne told reporters that special protections for student tenants in the private market would be 'unworkable' and 'unenforceable'. Labour's housing spokesman Conor Sheehan claimed on Tuesday that he had seen 'anecdotal' evidence of landlords in areas not yet covered by RPZs trying to increase their rents before the law was passed.
