Planning body to determine outcomes of well documented Longford developments

Serial planning objector Liam Madden has lodged challenges, the first on behalf of a client, to Longford County Council's decision to grant Omniplex chiefs approval to proceed with plans to create a six screen cinema at the newly rebranded Riverside Shopping Centre.

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The second relates to designs local engineer Mark Cunningham's Beacon Assets Ltd firm has concerning the proposed construction of 32 houses at Ballymahon's Dun Áras estate.

Both appeals look set to at best delay both developments from proceeding by a number of months.
In most circumstances, when an appeal is lodged the planning appeals body aims to make a decision within 18 weeks.

Upon learning of the objection after its details were broken on the Leader's website, longfordleader.ie on Monday, Omniplex Director Mark Anderson said he was not overly shocked to learn of the discovery.

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“It's something we (Omniplex) always thought was possible,” he said, adding it was not the first time the Cinema firm had found itself in such a scenario.

“Hopefully, in the fullness of time, An Bord Pleanala will decide in our favour,” he said.