An Taisce has condemned a decision by An Bord Pleanala to approve the demolition of a historic fisheries cottage by the Corrib river in the heart of Galway. The decision upholds permission granted by Galway Corporation to a local developer to demolish the cottage to make way for eight apartments on three separate levels on the site.
The cottage is a previously listed building. Ironically, a Galway Arts Festival production satirising the property boom and the construction industry was put on by Padraic Breathnach's theatre company, Fir Clis, in the adjoining Fisheries Field by the Corrib.
Only two years ago, Galway Corporation refused permission to remove the building to make way for a similar apartment block. An appeal by the developer to An Bord Pleanala was also refused, on grounds of excessive height, lack of amenity space and traffic problems.
The amended application by the developer involves a reduction in the original number of apartments from 11 to eight, the provision of a larger "amenity area" by way of a roof garden, and a variation to the height of the proposed block as viewed from University Road.
An Taisce's Galway branch says it finds it "incredible" that such minor changes could be sufficient to reverse earlier decisions by Galway Corporation and An Bord Pleanala.
The chairman, Mr Derrick Hambleton, cites a report from the corporation's own roads engineer to the effect that the development would add to traffic congestion in the area.
"Of much greater importance in An Taisce's view is the demolition of a historical building and the intrusion of an apartment block in one of the most sensitive areas of the city," he said.
The Galway branch says the conflicting decisions raise questions regarding the accountability of both planning authorities. It called for measures to ensure transparency and respect for the historical, built and natural heritage in the forthcoming Planning Bill this autumn.
An Bord Pleanala's ruling says it considers the project to be "an acceptable type, design and scale of development and it would also be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience, and would be in accordance with the proper planning and development of the area".
