Commercial unit alongside proposed nursing home

Council planners have green-lighted a new two-storey, split-level commercial unit on the outskirts of Cavan Town, in close proximity to where there are already plans to build a 96-bedroom, two-storey nursing home.

Cavan Town registered Westate Ltd last week secured planning permission for the commercial unit, incorporating both administration and staff facility areas at Oldtown, Cavan Town.

The plans also provide for single-storey manufacturing/assembly/ storage areas, along with access via a previously permitted connection to the main road, as well as parking, signage, landscaping, boundary treatments, bicycle shelter, connection to public sewer, watermain, utility services and all ancillary works.

The application was submitted to the council on behalf of Weststate Ltd, which has an address at Carrickane, by Butlersbridge-based Michael Fitzpatrick Architects.

Significant ‘Further Information’ was also submitted, as requested, as part of the planning process.

Two separate applications, seeking an extension of time in which to comply with the request for additional information, were granted.

The additional information included a Road Safety Audit, Traffic & Transport Assessment, an Irish Water Pre connection enquiry, attenuation tank details, foul and sewer layout/sections and watermain layout, as well as details in relation to the proposed masterplan, elevations and site sections.

In total, 20 conditions were eventually attached to the permission granted. These include that Weststate will pay the council €14,660 in development fees, and that prior to the commercial use of the development, all infrastructural works shall be completed to the satisfaction of the planning authority, at full cost to the developer.

Other conditions include the completion of a Road Safety Audit, and that archaeological pre-development testing be carried out.

Only last year Westate Ltd was granted an additional five years in which to build the proposed nursing home development at Cornagleragh or Oldtown which, when first announced, was expected to cost more than €10 million to deliver and create up to 50 construction jobs in the process.

Council planners granted the extension of time for the nursing home development with a condition the works be carried out and completed by the revised date of December 9, 2025.

Prior to commencement of works on the nursing home, Weststate Ltd are required to pay the local authority €113,954 in development fees.

In 2016, Weststate Ltd was granted planning to erect eight fully-serviced, semi-detached houses on existing foundations previously approved at the development known as ‘Oldtown Manor’.

The eight were among 48 to be built by Newry-based construction contractors Lavelle & Mcalinden.