80-acre Virginia site earmarked for development

Any proposed development of a near 80-acre site on the outskirts of Virginia must be able to “display” how it is of “Regional Strategic Importance” or risk being refused, according to a modification of an amendment made to the draft Cavan County Development Plan 2022-28.

The local authority has already committed to preparing a Masterplan for what is referred to as a “strategic employment site” at Burrencarragh, located south of the town just off the N3 and close to Glanbia and AW Ennis.

Recognised as being potentially suitable for an economic hub, following a recommendation from the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR), the council has now firmed up what it considers appropriate development for the lands. It is included in the CDP: “The intended use must be able to display how it is of a Regional Strategic Importance and as such, not all uses permitted in principle, in Section 14.15 of the Plan, may be deemed appropriate or acceptable to the Planning Authority. Therefore, in this regard, the intended use by their nature is most appropriately located outside urban areas and have specific characteristics that make it particularly suitable for the site.”

It is added: “Any development of the land shall be done in consultation with the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Transport Infrastructure Ireland.”

The development of the site, it is further noted, will avail of Active Travel measures for Virginia, while the Masterplan shall “take cognisance” of all recommendations arising from the future Virginia Local Transport Plan and shall be fully integrated as part of the development of the site.

Virginia bypass

The final element is a hat tip to the planned Virginia N3 bypass.

At an earlier stage councillors voted in favour of removing three sites located within the town’s environs from zoning maps as they conflicted with the preferred route chosen for the proposed Virginia N3 bypass.

A key commitment for the region under the Government’s Ireland 2040 plan, JB Barry Transportation Ltd is tasked with guiding the project through the initial phases.

The so-called ‘Emerging Preferred Option Corridor’ (EPOC) links Derver to Lisgrey, running north of Lough Ramor. It connects Burrencarragh and the R195 Oldcastle road, and could include as many as three roundabouts, located at either end, with another forming a junction at the R178 Bailieborough Road unless overpassed.

The OPR says of the “emerging preferred route” that the “zoning on the link road corridor has remained. This ensures that safety, capacity and the efficient operation of the national road will not be compromised.”

All 16 councillors backed the Chief Executive’s recommendation on the proposed modifications.

He also recommended ‘no change’ be made in respect of a separate submission from the OPR to omit land zoned residential within the preferred route corridor of the proposed Virginia Bypass. “The OPR considers it appropriate to review this having regard to the protection of alignments for future national roads projects.”

But Mr Ryan pointed out that he has spoke with the road design team who assured that the zoning would not interfere with the preferred route as outlined. “Any potential alignment within the 300m corridor will not encroach on the proposed residential zoning,” he stated, whilst adding that the lands also sit adjacent to lands containing a national monument.

Again, all 16 councillors voted in favour of the recommendation.