Planning permission granted for new Carlow centre

Touchstone Healthcare’s plans for a five-storey primary care building in Carlow town still have a long way to go despite being granted planning permission.

The application was submitted to Carlow Town Council in August 2007 and was granted permission last month. However, with 37 conditions attached to the decision, it has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála.

Six of the conditions related to the need for the company to pay contributions worth almost €600,000 to the Council before work progresses. This was for a variety of local services that would facilitate the development, including roads, water upgrades and drainage scheme improvements.

However, a spokesperson for Touchstone has confirmed that the company has appealed to the Planning Appeals Board against the conditions relating to contributions payable to the Council.

The plans for the building contain an atrium with four retail units on the ground floor while floors one to four would host a dental surgery unit, GPs’ practices, a dental suite, diagnostics and laboratory facilities and radiology services.