Both An Taisce and a Green Party MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna, are considering an appeal to An Bord Pleanβla after Leitrim County Council granted planning permission for a major development at Lough Rynn House near Mohill.
The listed building, which is the ancestral home of Lord Leitrim, is to be converted into a hotel. The development will also include a golf course, a conference centre and a leisure centre. A total of 119 houses and 24 apartments are to be built in the grounds. Another 14 apartments will be developed in existing buildings and 338 car parking spaces will be provided.
In granting planning permission, the council applied 40 conditions. However, these do not change significantly the scale or nature of the development.
One condition stipulates that no more than 35 per cent of the 157 houses and apartments should be owner-occupied units "unless otherwise agreed with the Planning Authority".
The developers, Capsivale Ltd, are also required to carry out restoration and renovation work at the same time as the construction of new housing units and the new units cannot be occupied until the restoration work is completed.
Another condition requires that free public access be provided "to those parts of the Demesne as may be agreed in writing with the Planning Authority, prior to the commencement of work on site, and as may be subsequently varied by agreement in writing from time to time".
In a statement, the County Manager, Mr John Tiernan, said he was "particularly mindful of the acceptability of the proposals to D·chas".
Mr Tiernan said Leitrim "needs such development to boost its tourism product but also to provide a location where people and local businesses, both indigenous and foreign owned, can entertain and show the best side of the county".
The provision of housing and work opportunities would assist in reversing the trend of population decline, he said.
Ms McKenna said the conditions imposed fell "far short of what we would have liked". She believed many of the conditions were "vague and leave a lot up to the discretion of the developer" and that the development was "completely unsuitable".
The decision is also being examined by An Taisce and a spokesman said an appeal to An Bord Fβilte would be considered.
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