Transport Infrastructure Ireland is raising concerns about plans for a new all-weather racecourse outside Tipp Town.
The submission from the authority outlines issues about how the development conforms to development policy and how it impacts the safe operation of the N24.
TII have requested that the developer submit a road safety audit – should the audit identify any alternations needed the developer may be required to meet the modification and cover the costs involved.
The other submission received to date is from the Irish Aviation Authority who had no observation to make on the application.
The files can be viewed on the Tipperary County Council website under reference number 22456.
Submissions can be made until August 8th and a full decision is expected by August 29th.
The application has been forwarded for comment to several sections of Tipperary County council and national bodies that must be notified of applications of this type.
These include Tipperary town District engineer, water and road sections of Tipperary council and the Mid West Regional Roads Design office currently working on an upgrade of the N24 Cahir to Oola road project.
External parties asked to comment on the application include the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, An Taisce, Irish Water, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Irish Aviation Authority.
Management at the Racecourse say the design team will respond to the request for a road safety audit in due course.
Tobin Consulting Engineers are leading the project design team.
The project is estimated to cost €18 million euros and to offer huge economic benefits to the Mid West region bringing an extra 20 meetings per year to the Tipperary Racecourse in addition to retaining the existing turf track races.
Tipperary Racecourse lodged a planning application earlier this month to develope an all-weather racetrack 2.2 km in length.
If given approval there will also be new underpass structures at the track, a new 82 unit stable block to replace the existing 60 unit block and a new parade ring.
Three new ponds would be developed as part of the infrastructure to maintain the track along with a new well and some hedgerow and tree removal.
On completion there will be 3 entrances from the N24 road instead of the present 4 entrances.
A new 10m steel tower for telecommunications and a circulation track for emergency and service vehicles are also proposed.
Traffic studies and a Natura Impact Statement have also been included in the planning application.
The existing turf course is to be retained and both flat and national hunt meetings would be scheduled for the venue.
The planning authority within Tipperary County Council expects to make a decision by August 29th.
The closing date for submissions on the application is August 8th.
Management at the race track had previously said that the work will hopefully be completed by late 2023.
Tipperary All Weather track would become the second course of it’s type in Ireland – Dundalk all weather opened in 2007.
The planning application files may be viewed on the Tipperary e-planning portal under reference number 22456.
The Authority has examined the above application and considers that it is at variance
with official policy in relation to control of development on/affecting national roads, as
outlined in the DoECLG Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines for Planning
Authorities (2012), as the proposed development by itself, or by the precedent which
a grant of permission for it would set, would adversely affect the operation and safety
of the national road network for the following reason(s):
The Authority is of the opinion that insufficient data has been submitted with the
planning application to demonstrate that the proposed development will not
have a detrimental impact on the capacity, safety or operational efficiency of
the national road network in the vicinity of the site.
The Authority considers that the proposed development would be at variance
with national policy in relation to control of frontage development on national
roads, as outlined in the DoECLG spatial Planning and National Roads
Guidelines for Planning Authorities (January, 20i2). lt is recommended that a
Road Safety Audit (RSA) should be carried out in accordance with Tll
Publications. The developer shall be responsible for the cost of the audit, which
shall be undertaken by an independent qualified engineer. Any
recommendations arising shall be incorporated in the proposed development
by amendment to the existing planning application or as conditions on the
permission, if granted. Any additional works required as a result of the RSA
should be funded by the developer. lt is noted that the Traffic and
