Planning refused for high-rise Tullamore project due to its "scale and height"

A proposal for a multi-million euro residential and commercial development in Tullamore, which would have risen to 13 stories and included more than 200 apartments, has been refused planning permission by Offaly County Council.

The project, known as 'The Distillery Yard', was earmarked for the former Tesco site on Patrick Street, and included plans for 20 commercial premises, including nine café or restaurant units.

However, in a planning decision which was signed off last week, the council said the "excessive scale, height and mass" of the project would have a negative visual impact on the town's skyline.

"As such the proposed development would seriously injure the historic character and visual amenities of Tullamore," the local authority said.

It also took issue with the "excessive" density of the 204 apartment units put forward for the site in the planning application, which was lodged on behalf of local businessman Seamus Kane.

Other reasons cited by the council for its planning refusal included that proposals for how fire services would access the multi-storey development had not been demonstrated in the application.

The local authority also felt the development would create a traffic hazard "because of the additional traffic it would generate onto Offaly Street, which has limited road space to facilitate increased two-way traffic and turning movements which would be generated" by it.

Local TD Barry Cowen, Tullamore Chamber, and local businesses Guy Clothing and Kode Clothing and Footwear had expressed their support for the development on the basis that it would help reinvigorate the town centre by generating more footfall.

However, objections to the planning application, which were largely based around the visual impact of the buildings' height, were lodged on behalf of The Heritage Council and the Irish Georgian Society.