Planning upheld for Nenagh health centre
Concerns raised over impact on traffic and amenity in Nenagh
An Coimisiún Pleanála has upheld planning permission for a private health centre in Nenagh.
Tipperary Co Council granted conditional planning permission to Rebecca Spelman for retention of a change of use from general office to health centre at The Hatchery, Martyrs Road. The health centre was planned to provide talking therapy, mental health diagnostic assessments (including neurodiversity assessments), psychiatry consultations, and GP consultations for GPs with a special interest in mental health. Retention permission was also sought for signage.
The council received two objections to the development, from Martin Murphy of Kilkeary and Marek Dawid Walendziuk of North View Terrace, Nenagh, in which several concerns were raised about the development. These included impact on residential amenity, car parking, opening hours, traffic safety, impact on heritage and archaeology, accessibility issues, waste generation, and concerns over scope of services.
Mr Murphy appealed the council’s decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála, raising concerns over traffic safety and parking, and submitting that the permitted use represents a “significant intensification” over office use. He submitted that no traffic impact assessment or parking analysis was carried out, and that a multidisciplinary clinic indicates multiple concurrent consulting rooms and extended hours, resulting in continuous arrivals and departures adjacent to residential properties.
Mr Murphy furthermore stated that the retention permission was granted without a Conservation or Heritage Impact Statement. He requested that permission be refused or an alternative suggested, subject to full traffic and parking assessment, combined site assessment, strict limits on hours and consulting rooms, and conservation-led signage controls.
After visiting the site, the Coimisiún Pleanála inspector was satisfied that the development seeking retention permission did not require a traffic impact assessment.
The inspector said the new use would represent a “modest increase in intensity… but would be somewhat controlled with an appointment structure.
“I do not accept the appellant’s contention that the use would be a significant intensification, nor does the development include for physical expansion.”
Considering the operational details provided in terms of staff numbers, opening hours and appointment structure, the inspector considered that the development does not negatively impact on adjoining residential amenities and the surrounding road network in terms of traffic safety and convenience, nor does it impact upon the heritage or visual amenities of the Architectural Conservation Area.
The commission granted planning permission subject to a number conditions, one of which stipulated that the developer should within three months provide and maintain obscured glazing to two of the rooms. Operating hours of 9am to 10pm, Monday to Saturday only, were permitted.
No advertisement or advertisement structure can be displayed or erected on the building exterior or within the curtilage of the site without a prior grant of planning permission.