Kildare Golf Club chalet completions fall foul of planning

A PLAN to build 20 holiday chalets adjacent to a Kildare golf course has been turned down by planners because the applicant has already extended his planning permission twice on the project.

Alan Duggan is the manager of his family-run Highfield Golf Club in Kilmore, Carbury, just three kilometres northeast of Edenderry.

The golf course has been on the go since 1989 when the Duggan family decided to convert the family farm, although this was no great leap of faith, as Alan trained in the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin as a greenkeeper, and worked for two years as course supervisor at the Nuremore Golf Club in Co Monaghan.

Then, in 2003 Duggan applied to build 30 semi-detached Canadian-style log chalets on the course in an effort to boost golf tourism.

A layout revised by planners was granted in May 2004, however this was given an extension in 2009.

In 2015, permission was granted to build a revise 20 chalets.

Then in 2021 he was given another extension on this permission for the 20 chalets and a wastewater treatment plant.

In order to be considered for this extension, under Section 42 of the Planning and Development Act, “the permitted development must be both commenced, and have considerable works carried out”.

After the planners carried out a site visit, they found that eight of the 20 chalets had been completed, foundations for another six were laid, as well as associated infrastructure works, and thus ruled “the works considered to be substantial”.

The 2021 extension was due to expire on 23 June this year, and planners at Kildare County Council accepted another plea for extension that arrived on 22 June.

However, under Section 42 of the same Act, “when a second decision to extend is made, the combined duration of the two extensions shall not exceed five years.

“The planning authority is therefore precluded from granting an extension of duration” in regard of this application.