2360948
& retention permission for development at C&F Tooling, Cashla, Athenry, County Galway. Retention planning permission for the following extensions to the existing C&F Tooling premises: • machine shop & canteen (gross floor area - 792m2) • switch room & compressor room (gross floor area - 96 m2) •maintenance garage & stores gross floor area - 673 m2) • monitoring office building (gross floor area - 444 m2) • steel cleaning shop (gross floor area - 62.3 m2) • store (gross floor area - 20.3 m2) • machine shop (gross floor area - 4,065 m2). In addition to the above, retention permission for the existing component storage area (external) (approx. 1.54 Ha in area). Planning permission for: • upgraded surface water drainage system & associated works, •relocation of existing traffic barrier at the existing vehicular entrance to the premises, • new vehicular staff entrance on the western boundary of the site, & • alterations to the existing staff car park to provide 357no. car parking spaces to include the provision of EV charging & accessible car parking bays, • provision of visitor car park to provide 31no. car parking spaces (including EV charging & accessible car parking bays). The proposed development includes for all associated site development works & landscaping
Core Planning Reasoning
The Inspector recommends granting permission because the development represents an appropriately scaled expansion of a long-established rural industrial facility and is compliant with the Galway County Development Plan 2022-2028 regarding road safety, drainage, and sustainable development.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed extensions are appropriately scaled for the site and align with policy objectives supporting the expansion of existing rural enterprises.
- Traffic and transport assessments demonstrate that both the proposed site entrance and the nearby public road junctions will operate well within capacity and meet safety standards.
- The proposed upgrades to the surface water drainage system and the application of SuDS measures adequately address flood risk and environmental protection requirements.