The planning application in respect of the proposed all weather racetrack at Tipperary has been approved.
A number of statutory bodies including the Mid West Roads Design Office, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Irish Rail had made submissions on the proposal.
There was also one other submission from members of the public.
The approval will be finalised subject to no appeals being made to An Bord Pleanála.
The approval has 16 conditions which are not onerous on the developer – and include a provision that flood lighting at the facility will be confined to periods from 7am to 10pm.
Regulations in respect of proper disposal of demolition waste and the management of Japanese knotweed on the site are also to be complied with under the planning conditions.
Additional parking for bicycles is also a condition – existing car parking spaces numbering 324 with overflow capacity was considered sufficient by the planning authority.
Tipperary Racecourse will now become the second all weather racecourse in Ireland – a course in Dundalk has been in operation since 2007.
The existing turf track will continue to host national hunt meetings or racing involving jumps. The all weather track is expected to mean the venue will host over 30 meetings annually and is expected to be a major contributor to the improved employment opportunities at the venue and in the wider Tipperary town hinterland.
In addition to the all-weather race track which will have a length of 2.2km, the development includes extensive drainage infrastructure, an underpass to the race tracks, a new 82 unit stable block replacing the existing 60 unit stable which will be demolished and new signage on the course boundary which is adjacent to the N24 road.
