Plans for the redevelopment of Kilkenny mart at a new location on the outskirts of the city have become embroiled in further controversy over proposals to build a hotel on the new mart site.
Councillors on Kilkenny County Council are to hold a special meeting in two weeks over whether to rezone the new site to enable the development of a hotel there, after planning permission was refused on the basis that it had zoning for agribusiness developments.
The issue has divided councillors, with some members concerned about the level of lobbying by developers of the mart site on the Kilkenny road, and the fact that the original proposals had not included a hotel.
The ambitious plan outlined by the mart co-op for the €100 million retail and residential development on the existing mart site will finance the construction of a state-of-the art facility and agri-business compound on the new site.
The plans have already been the subject of considerable controversy however, after the city centre development was opposed by Kilkenny Borough Council on the basis that it did not have proper zoning. Its sister authority, Kilkenny County Council, is involved in a rival development along with a private developer in the city centre, close to the railway station.
Last week members of the borough council decided to overrule the advice of senior staff and voted to begin a process to rezone the city centre mart site.
However, this week controversy has erupted over the new mart site, after the developers had applied for and were refused permission for a hotel on the site.