The proposed development of an €800 million Kildare Village- type retail outlet in Carrigtwohill appears to have hit another stumbling block
The Echo reports that the Minister for Local Government Darragh O'Brien is objecting to elements of the plant on foot of advice he has received from the Office of the Planning Regulator
Last November the County Council won a judicial review in the High Court overturning an order from the planning regulator not to proceed with it.
The County Council has received notice of a draft direction from the Minister for Housing, which orders the council to drop the outlet from its Development Plan for 2022-2028, and develop a joint retail plan with the City Council by next year.
The draft direction says the current plans for the centre "are not informed or underpinned by appropriate strategic assessment and analysis", and fail to follow guidelines regarding retail planning.
County Councillors have reacted angrily to the move as it could force the council to scrap its' plans for the outlet centre in East Cork.
A special Council meeting is to be called next week to discuss the issue, after which the council will write to the Minister for Housing to express its "displeasure"
There has been much discussion about the proposed retail outlet with concerns already raised about the impact the development will have on city centre trade and traffic congestion in East Cork while others are embracing the plans and see it as a boost for the economy and tourism.
