Decision on high-rise Tullamore development due in coming days
Offaly County Council is due to decide in the coming days on whether to approve a planning bid for a large Tullamore development which includes a 13-storey building and aims to revitalise a key site in the town centre.
The residential and commercial project known as 'The Distillery Yard' was devised by local businessman Seamus Kane, and Offaly County Council is scheduled to make its decision on the planning application by Tuesday next, April 2.
The proposed development would include 204 apartments and 20 commercial premises, including nine café or restaurant units, at the former Tesco site on Patrick Street.
In recent weeks the council has received submissions both supporting and opposing a grant of planning permission for the project.
Tullamore and District Chamber sent in a submission which described the project as a "major opportunity" for the town and one which should be given the green light.
"As you know, this town centre site has been derelict for a long number of years," wrote Chamber president Anthony Hanniffy.
"This proposal of mixed use development is a major opportunity which should entice footfall back into our town, which will benefit all retailers.
"We encourage Offaly County Council to grant permission for the development as we see it as a major building block in the future growth of our town," he added.
Anthony and Kara Kearns, of the Tullamore businesses Guy Clothing and Kode Clothing and Footwear, also lodged a submission backing the project.
"As two retail businesses located in the heart of Tullamore town, we welcome this proposed development as an exciting and adventurous opportunity for the town that will enhance the retail offering in the town centre and bring more footfall," they stated.
"We also welcome the mixed nature of the development with a large number of new town centre apartment dwellings, coupled with the food and beverage element of the development, to bring life and vibrancy to the town centre out of normal 9 to 5 hours."
A submission on behalf of the Irish Georgian Society in Dublin, however, objected to the development.
In a submission signed by its executive director Donough Cahill, the society said the construction of a 13-storey building would have "a significant adverse impact" on the "urban character and scale" of Tullamore.
Mr Cahill wrote that the Irish Georgian Society felt the high-rise nature of the development "would be entirely inconsistent with (Tullamore's) historic urban character, would comprise views from within the town, and would not comply with the heritage related policies and objectives of the Offaly County Development Plan, 2021-2027."
He concluded, "for these reasons, we urge that planning permission be refused".
The Heritage Council has also objected to the project, saying it was concerned about the impact it would have on the streetscape and visual character of the county town.