Extension granted for former Village Court in Kilmacrennan

The green light has been given for an eight-bedroom extension to the former Village Court building in Kilmacrennan.

The former hotel has been used to house migrant refugees in the last couple of years.

Now, Donegal County Council has granted conditional permission for an extension.

Superior Quality Builders Limited sought planning permission for the works, which will include an extension to the rear of the premises, consisting of eight new bedrooms over two floors.

Four partly built dwelling houses on the site will be demolished and the application provides for other site development works.

The site was in the headlines in September 2022 over alleged planning breaches. However, a planning enforcement officer visited the premies and found that renovation works at the premises were in order.

Close to 50 Ukrainian refugees have been housed in the premises.

Donegal County Council has given planning permission for the extension works, provided the developer meets 12 conditions, relating to traffic safety, flood prevention and orderly development.

Among the conditions are that all vehicles arriving at the site shall not be allowed park on the adjoining local road.

The Planning Authority had concerns regarding the demolition of the unfinished terraced dwellings along the road as it is considered that the same contribute to the townscape of Kilmacrennan.

Revised plans were submitted, which detailed the retention of the dwellings.

Following discussion, it was agreed that the demolition of the unfinished terrace houses was acceptable to provide car parking, provided that a wall is constructed along the local road to retain a level of streetscape in the village.