IPAS proposal for Summerhill Road, Trim blocked

Plans for an accommodation centre for international protection applicants at Fairgreen, Summerhill Road Trim have been blocked by Meath County Council.

The local authority has ruled that the use of a unit on the Summerhill Road as an IPAS centre would not be exempted development and would therefore require planning permission.

A company called Secure Accommodation Management Ltd had made an application for a declaration of exempted development for a premises at Fairgreen, Summerhill Road, Trim, to house up to 180 international protection applicants. It is understood the premises is located to the rear of buildings fronting on to the Summerhill Road in the town.

Meath County Council has now ruled that it would not be an exempted development "and therefore is development requiring Planning Permission”.

This follows on from a similar decision made by the council last month on proposals by a company called Erin Park Limited for an IPAS Centre at an industrial unit in the Oaktree Business Park in Trim.

The council also ruled that the Oaktree proposal was not an exempted development and would require planning permission.

Both applications have prompted concern in the locality with questions raised about the unsuitability of industrial buildings as IPAS centres and also about the process by which applications can be made for these exemptions without any public consultation.

Deputy Aisling Dempsey welcomed both decisions and said of the Fairgreen proposal; "I never believed this premises was suitable for an IPAS Centre."

"If Erin Park Limited (Oaktree) and Secure Access Management Limited (Fairgreen) want to pursue this further they must now apply for full planning permission if they can secure the owner’s consent or purchase the properties and apply as the owners.

"I remain confident that should they progress to submitting planning applications, we as a community will have the opportunity to voice our observations and objections. I firmly believe that neither property is a suitable location for accommodation of any kind," she said.

Cllr Noel French said: "Hopefully this ends this horrible period of people's fears and anxiety. This means that the applicants have to apply for planning permission and open up a decision to people and councillors to have their say. In most cases applicants like this just walk away after upsetting whole communities.

"The planning system for IPAS centres is not fit for purpose," he said.

Cllr Ronan Moore said he never expected the exemption applications to succeed. "The buildings would have needed extensive internal and external works. It is unfortunate that the government is ceding the provision of accommodation for international protection applicants to commercial interests that are driven by profit, rather than trying to find suitable accommodation for those who need it, and consulting with the local community. "

A similar proposal for an IPAS centre in an industrial unit in Kells Business Park did not proceed after Meath County Council twice ruled that the proposed centre would not be classified as an exempted development under planning laws and would require planning permission.

Separately, a section five exemption was also submitted for the Oldcastle Hotel to be used to accommodate international protection applicants but in March, IPAS confirmed it was no longer under consideration as a centre to house asylum seekers.