By Gordon Deegan
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has intervened in the planning row concerning demolition plans for JP Magnier owned derelict farm buildings at Parkville near Clonmel in Co Tipperary.
JP Magnier is the son of well known stud owner John Magnier.
In March, the Magniers’ Coolmore is reported to have paid €2.425 million, or almost €38,000/ac for the 64ac farm at Parkville – the lands had a guide price of €1.28 million.
In September, the Coolmore-linked Melclon UC lodged the plans for the demolition of existing derelict buildings at Parkville together with all associated site development works.
Just under 30 objections have been lodged with Tipperary County Council against the demolition plan.
The objections follow a farm-gate demonstration against the proposal on October 3rd at the site.
Demolition plans
The Development Applications Unit at the department of housing has now written to the council to recommend that further information is requested by the local authority.
It also recommends that the applicants carry out a detailed assessment of the farm complex to establish its architectural interest and its contribution to the historic built environment and to assess its potential for reuse in whole or in part.
Referring to ‘recent correspondence received’ on the matter, the unit states that “the simplicity of the structures is an intrinsic part of their character, reflecting local and regional customs and patterns and contributing to the distinctiveness of the historic built environment”.
The unit points out that the Tipperary County Council 2022-2028 Development Plan has a specific policy which states it will “seek the sympathetic restoration, appropriate re-use and maintenance of buildings/features which are considered to be of local and vernacular architectural importance”.
It told the council that “the condition of the structures is noted, however, this is not unexpected in light of the prolonged period of disuse. The condition of the structures does not preclude their potential reuse”.
However, a notice placed on the gate at the site by the applicants states that the “these lands contain a derelict yard of rubble stone construction”.
“After decades of serious neglect, it is heavily overgrown and crumbling and is now a serious health and safety concern,” it states.
The notice points out that the roof of three structures has fallen-in; a large void dug under the floor of the derelict dwelling has undermined its floor, the walls have numerous and substantial cracks; the bulging of walls is deemed severe by engineers and recent trespass highlights tangible risk of injury to the public.
The notice states that “the owner has applied for demolition on health and safety grounds”.
Tipperary County Council is due to make a decision on the application later this month.