Housing Association Wins Bórd Pleanála Appeal

Housing Association Wins Bórd Pleanála Appeal
Redevelopment of Franciscan Friary for Housing for Elderly Persons can now be recommenced


Respond!, Ireland’s largest housing association, is delighted to announce that, in upholding Respond!’s appeal against Carrick-on-Suir Town Council, An Bord Pleanála granted full planning permission for the housing association’s proposed development at Friar Street Upper, Carrickbeg, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary. The process of planning has taken 18 months in all.

Respond!, after this unwarranted delay, can now recommence working on its plans to provide seventeen units of elderly accommodation, as well as other communal facilities for elderly residents on the site, and so comply with the original generous offer of the site by the Franciscans.

Liam Fewer, Production Manager of Respond! Housing Association said, “Following on from An Bord Pleanála’s decision, we are delighted that Respond!’s opinion for the site was deemed to be the correct one. We have been involved with this project since late 2005 and we are keen to further the development as soon as possible. The delay has allowed too much time for anti-social behaviour to grow around the vacant Friary residence.”

Respond! is also pleased to know that the Carrick-on-Suir Development Association is continuing its discussions with the Franciscan Province of Ireland in respect of securing the future well-being of the Friary Church and graveyard, by seeking to take possession in perpetuity of this portion of the property, for the purposes of providing a Culture and Arts Centre for the town.

“We are pleased that full planning permission has been granted after 18 months and that we can now progress this development forward to the next phase. We will begin preparing tender documentation immediately in order to advance the process as efficiently as possible.” Mr Fewer added.

Respond! currently provides more than 4,000 units of accomodation throughout Ireland, and a further 1,150 under construction. With more than 200 units of family and elderly accommodation in Co Tipperary, the housing association is anxious to meet the housing need of the population of Carrick-on-Suir and County Tipperary.

The organisation this year celebrates its 25th anniversary and events are taking place throughout the country to mark the occasion, culminating in an International Conference in Dublin in October. Confirmed speakers including Eddie Hobbs (Broadcaster and Financial Consultant), Professor P.J. Drudy (Trinity College Dublin) Dr Rory O'Donnell (NESC), Fr. Sean Healy (CORI), John Fitzgerald (Limerick Regeneration Agencies), Sean Dorgan (IDA Ireland), Mick Wallace (Wexford Developer) and many, many more. Further information on this event can be obtained by contacting Aoife Walsh on 0818 357901 or emailing conference@respond.ie

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