Bekan Property, had proposed building a 2,783sq m DIY centre and an adjoining 960sq m garden centre adjacent to an existing Tesco supermarket and the Carrigeen Business Park. The development was also to include six warehouse units measuring 1,100sq m each, two units measuring 800sq m each and one unit of 1,045sq m. Plans for a car park with spaces for 381 vehicles were also included in the proposal.

The site of the proposed scheme is near The Chase housing complex and a recently constructed retail warehousing park is located a short distance away. In an environmental impact statement submitted to the board, the developers argued that the site in question is the only substantial commercial location available in Clonmel.

They also pointed out that one of the existing buildings on the site had until recently been used by Chadwick's for the sale of DIY and general hardware goods, creating a precedent for retail use at the location.

Arguments put forward against the proposal included the claim from Slatterys Vision Store that the development "would cause significant trade distortion in the retail sector of Clonmel and its surrounding catchment.

Smaller centres in Clonmel and in other smaller towns with already permitted developments would suffer from a diversion of trade." In its ruling, An Bord Pleanala stated that "the proposed development would contravene the provisions of the South Tipperary County Retail Strategy, 2003, as it would result in a cumulative total of comparison retail floorspace in excess of the entire maximum comparison floorspace provision for both Clonmel and for the county as a whole and would result in an overconcentration of comparison retail floorspace in Clonmel at the expense of other towns in the county."

It said the scheme "would contravene policies set out in the Integrated Urban Strategy for Clonmel, 2003, as it would result in a preponderance of a single type of comparison retail floorspace at an out of town centre location, at the expense of development in the town centre."

"While this development would certainly have been welcome, the fact is that one of the big problems we have here is the disappearance of retail outlets from the town centre, " says local Labour councillor, Cyril O'Flaherty.

"Tesco, for example, has moved out to beside the site in question. One of the problems we have in Clonmel is a lack of parking facilities.

"Proposals for a major car park at an old hotel site in the town are currently before the planning board and we're hoping for a favourable decision on that issue in the near future."