Specialist cancer unit hits planning snag

Planners have raised concerns over parking and access to a proposed state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre on the grounds of University Hospital Galway.

The €20 million project is planning as part of the roll-out of the National Plan for Radiation Oncology (NPRO), and will span almost 8,500 square metres over three storeys.

However, planners have pointed out that the patient carparking – with 38 spaces – appears to be barrier controlled, while they have also taken issue with the size of the parking spaces and aisles between rows of cars.

Concerns have also been expressed about vehicular access, and that a fire engine may have to mount a footpath, possibly endangering pedestrians.

Planners have asked for clarification on how the public will enter the carpark given the proposed barrier system.

They ordered revised carpark drawings, pointing out that the current City Development Plan states carparking spaces should be 2.5m x 5m, but a number of proposed spaces were below this standard.

“An aisle of six metres is recommended between car parking aisles to allow sufficient space for vehicles to manoeuvre into and out of spaces. Some of the aisle widths illustrated are below this standard. Submit a revised layout which will address this issue,” planners said.

They also requested further drawings in relation to visibility from the vehicular access and to examine the access junction overall in terms of safety.

The HSE now has up to six months to submit their revised proposals and clarifications.

The plans involve the demolition of the existing psychiatric unit and link corridor to the paediatric unit, and the construction of a three storey building and an enclosed pedestrian ground floor link connecting the existing ward block to the east and the paediatric unit to the new centre.

The centre is likely to be funded as a Public Private Partnership project and is aimed at enhancing the existing cancer treatment capacity.

“The proposed development is fundamental to the provision of quality healthcare oncology facilities in the region and is ideally located with the UHG campus, where it can benefit from and contribute to the existing healthcare facilities.

“The proposed development has been designed to ensure there are no adverse residential impacts on the nearby residential dwellings, in particular those on Costello Road,” the application reads.