Appeals to Portwest HQ lodged with An Bord Pleanála

Anton McNulty

Over 20 people have put their name to appeals lodged with An Bord PleanΡla against the decision to grant planning permission for the Portwest development at The Quay in Westport.
Two separate appeals have been lodged with An Bord PleanΡla following the decision by Mayo County Council to grant permission for Portwest’s new €10 million global headquarters to be located on the site of the old Pollexfen Mills on Roman Island at The Quay, Westport.
In order for planning permission to be considered, the site had to be rezoned as it had previously been zoned for ‘Marine Related Tourism’.
Planning permission was granted subject to 37 conditions, despite serious reservations and objections raised by a senior planner in Mayo County Council and the Westport town architect.
One of the conditions included Portwest having to indemnify Mayo County Council against any liability in the event of the site and building being flooded by a flood event and any issues arising from such an event.
In one of the appeals signed by ten Westport residents, including former Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn, they outlined a number of reasons for their objections. The objections included the risk of flooding to the site as well as parking, the design and location of the building and the reasons given by the Chief Executive, Peter Hynes to recommend the granting of planning permission.
In relation to flooding concerns, the appellants questioned the inclusion of the indemnify condition in the event of flooding, if Mayo County Council feel flooding is not a risk in the future.
“We say that the inclusion of Condition 32 does not relate in any way to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and its inclusion is but a cynical attempt by the local authority to abdicate its responsibilities and to wash its hands of the very likely consequences of the granting of permission for a development of this nature in an area designated as ‘Flood Zone A’,” they wrote.
The appellants stated that had not created any negative campaigns towards the development or the applicants and they made the appeal jointly in order to reduce the financial cost of the appeal. They added they are connected on the matter by their desire to protect Roman Island and ‘to ensure sustainable development truly applies to Westport’.
“We genuinely would like to wish Portwest Ltd every success with their operation and their future expansion plans but we just want this to happen in the appropriate part of town. Most of us like the design of the building but would like to see it built to the east of the town alongside the other large employers in the area with ease of access to the soon to be built N5 and northern relief road,” they wrote.  
In another appeal jointly signed by 12 people, they cited a number of reasons for their objections including parking, flooding, traffic, the change of zoning of the site and the design of the building.
The proposed Portwest building intends to accommodate approximately 150 employees, will be a predominately four-storey development consisting of approximately 2,593 square metres of office space and includes a gym, shower and changing facility, a canteen, cafe and ICT room. A fifth storey stair and lift core will provide access to a screened plant area at roof level.