Core Refusal Reason
The proposed development would result in the loss of an active retail frontage in a core town centre location and would provide a substandard level of residential amenity for future occupants.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The loss of a ground-floor retail unit would undermine the commercial vitality and character of the Ennis town centre retail core.
- The proposed apartment would fail to provide adequate residential amenity due to poor natural light and a lack of privacy resulting from its direct frontage onto a narrow pedestrian lane.
- The conversion would set an undesirable precedent for the erosion of active street frontages, contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
Cited Policies (CDP)
CDP 9.2Objective Ennis 1.1Section 15.3Appendix 1
Decision Document Summary
The application proposed the change of use of an existing ground-floor retail unit ('La Petite Galerie') at No. 8 Curtins Lane, Ennis, into a one-bedroom apartment. Located within a narrow, pedestrianised lane in the heart of the town centre, the proposal was refused by Clare County Council. The primary grounds for refusal were the negative impact on the town's retail vibrancy and the failure of the design to meet minimum residential standards for daylight and privacy, given the site's constrain...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
Note: If code appears below, the council site is blocking the preview. Please open the original file.