Department of Housing intervenes in planning issue on Tipperary farm purchased by Coolmore

The Department of Housing has now become involved in the controversial application by Coolmore to demolish the farm building complex at Parkville farm on the Fethard Road near Clonmel.

The Department’s Development Applications unit has written to Tipperary County Council requesting that further information is now required to determine the fate of the building 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”.

The strongly worded communication from the Department is believed to be a direct response to the 30 written submissions from the public to Tipperary County Council demanding that the buildings be saved along with other historic landscape features on the farm including the walled garden, a limekiln, a duckpond and ancient hedgerows bordering the fields. The letter also reminds Tipperary County Council that its own Development Plan specifically states that it will “seek the sympathetic restoration, appropriate re-use and maintenance of buildings/features which are considered to be of local vernacular architectural importance”.

A detailed assessment of the buildings will now have to be carried out by a suitably qualified professional before any decision can be taken.

This intervention by the Department is welcomed by the Save Parkville Farm group who along with the Hedgerows Ireland held a 70 strong demonstration on October 3 at the farm gate.