Landowners in the greater Ennis area in Co Clare are set to reap a windfall with large tracts of land being rezoned for housing.
This is planned to accommodate the anticipated rapid growth of the town over the next decade.
The rezonings are part of the Draft Development Plan for Ennis and its Environs and three accompanying residential plans, which will form the blueprint for the town's development over the next 10 years.
The vast majority of the land rezoning will take place in three areas on the outskirts of the town with infrastructure being provided through the Government-sponsored Serviced Land Initiative.
In all, Ennis Urban Council expects an aggregate population of 25,000 in the three areas of Claureen, Roslevan and Clarecastle - more than double the current population of Ennis.
The council anticipates that over 8,000 houses will be built in those areas to cater for the population increase.
New schools and commercial and community centres are also expected to be developed.
Extensive green-belt areas have been earmarked.
Running to over 150 pages, the draft development plan is the first such plan prepared for Ennis in almost 10 years - the current one has been in place since 1992.
In the new draft, apart from the large-scale rezoning, radical changes are proposed.
An innovative aspect is the eight strategic so-called "Proposal Sites" around Ennis, which the council believes "could most beneficially be developed or redeveloped during the plan period".
These include two large council-owned car-parks in the centre of the town adjacent to the River Fergus.
The council is proposing to remove the car-parks, Abbey and Woodquay, and replace them with civic and amenity space, using the potential of the Fergus.
Such proposals "would support the vitality and viability of neighbouring town centre shops, restaurants and commercial premises by enhancing the quality of the environment within the area", according to the plan.
The council proposes to zone a sizeable tract of land for industrial use near the proposed Ennis by-pass to the south-east of the town to cater for its future economic development.
Construction on the £100 million by-pass is expected to commence before the end of the year.
The documents are being studied by the nine-member council who can direct management to make changes to the working draft before a formal draft plan is published in November.
The public will be allowed to make submissions during the formal consultation period before the draft is adopted by the council early in the New Year.
