“Serious concerns” on the visual impact of a major development planned for Ennis have been raised by Clare County Council.

Further information has been requested by the local authority on an application for 46 residential units, a digital hub and cafe in Drumbiggle in Ennis. The site fronts onto Drumbiggle Rd, Buttermarket St and Simm’s Lane in a historic part of the town.

Eko Integrated Services Ltd are behind the application, it is the same company that was paid €115.5m by the State to obtain personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic, the second highest amount received by a company in the country.

30 two-bedroom apartments and three one-bedroom apartments over semi-basement level with 20 car-parking spaces are included in the plans. A cafe and digital hub at ground level to Simm’s Lane plus a four storey apartment building, stepping down to three storeys on the Buttermarket Street Lane with seven two-bedroom apartments; six three-storey terraced town houses to Buttermarket Street, a new substation and five new set-down car parking spaces are also included. Four vacant cottages to the north of Buttermarket St are to be demolished as part of the plans.

Height, massing and scale of the plans were described as “not acceptable” by the County Council. The developers have been asked to submit a re-design for the entire development which has “regard to the existing built environment and building lines as well as the historic context of the site. An “over-dominance” of two bedroom units was labelled as unsatisfactory by the local authority.

Local residents had expressed their intention to fight the development “tooth and nail” while flagging that Áras Uí Cochlainn, a block of apartments in the area had been the scene of some anti-social behaviour before its demolition in the past two decades.

Submissions from the public warned of anti-social behaviour and “chaotic parking”. Some residents have expressed their view that a car park would be more suitable.

Stephen Loftus in a submission on behalf of local residents outlined, “There is a certain amount of anti-social behaviour and these residents do not need any more. Ennis West, from Drumbiggle Road to upper Cloughleigh have absorbed a lot of this behaviour and it’s time we got a break. Good, decent, honest people have suffered in silence for many years. What other side of town has been treated like us on the west side.”

Shortage of housing was referenced by Eko as part of their application. “The development has been designed to meet the demand for high quality, sustainable homes in Ennis and is designed to integrate with the existing context. At a time when there is unprecedented demand for housing, a mixture of apartments and town houses was considered appropriate for this site”.

Related News

ul aerial
Six years and tens of thousands of euros later UL withdraw bid for SDZ designation
11 Theresa O'Donoghue-2
Theresa among graduates of first third level course assessing climate's impact on women & communities
Bunratty_parade2
Bunratty to host Ireland's largest Christmas parade
8
Winter Fitness: 5 Essential Tips for Staying Safe and Active
Latest News
11 Theresa O'Donoghue-2
Theresa among graduates of first third level course assessing climate's impact on women & communities
Bunratty_parade2
Bunratty to host Ireland's largest Christmas parade
8
Winter Fitness: 5 Essential Tips for Staying Safe and Active
3
EMS Workouts Explained: Your Top Questions Answered
hotel woodstock family business awards 1-2
Hotel Woodstock named hospitality business of the year at Irish Family Awards
Premium
shannon homecoming 22-07-24 darragh lohan conor cleary 1
€430k raised for holiday of All-Ireland winning Clare hurlers
court seat
Limerick man made funeral pay 'threat' to Clare based ex-partner
le24 election count pat dowling 1
Dowling 'lit a very bright candle for Co Clare'
peter keane 2
Keane officially ratified as Clare manager & Co Board say 'no rancour' following Neylon's resignation
éire óg v adare 11-11-24 jarlath collins 1
'People have been talking about our squad all year, we're not afraid to use it' - new leaders emerge for Éire Óg

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Scroll to Top