Planners still mulling over controversial Tesco plan

A decision relating to a controversial €15 million Tesco development in Rahoon has yet to be made by An Bord Pleanála (ABP) – 10 months on from a full oral hearing.
The planning appeals board has taken more than twice as long as its normal target to decide on the case, 43 weeks after the oral hearing which lasted for three days.
A 9,369 square metre retail unit has been earmarked for the site of a disused timber yard on the Rahoon Road, which is owned by former Mayor of Galway Micheal Ó hUiginn.
Normally, ABP intend to deal with appeals within 18 weeks of a hearing, but the final deadline for the decision has been put back on a number of occasions.
A spokesperson for the appeals board said that a decision was due within the coming weeks. “That case is still on-going and a decision is due shortly,” said the ABP spokesperson. “No decision has been made on it yet.”
Mr O hUiginn sought permission to demolish the existing building and construct the retail development on a 2.54 hectare (6.1 acre) site between the Seamus Quirke Road and the Rahoon Road.
Galway City Council granted permission for the project in June of last year, with 30 conditions attached, but An Bord Pleanála opted to hold a full oral hearing last October after receiving ten separate submissions.
The plan was opposed by local residents, environmentalists, and city centre traders, with the full oral hearing taking place at the Westwood Hotel in Dangan over three days last October.
Mr O hUiginn also lodged an appeal with the board, as he objected to a Galway City Council condition that he would have to build a €3.5 million public road linking the site with the Seamus Quirke Road.
The An Bord Pleanála spokesperson said this week that deadlines for planning decisions could go beyond statutory dates in complex cases, such as those which go to oral hearings.
For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.