Council approves new sports pavilion and pitch at popular Tipperary third-level institution
Major sports facilities upgrade approved for MIC Thurles.
Planning permission has been approved by Tipperary County Council for a significant new sports development at the Thurles campus of Mary Immaculate College.
Mary Immaculate College (MIC) sought approval to construct a new sports pavilion featuring a rooftop viewing terrace, along with a new all-weather playing pitch complete with fencing and floodlighting at its Cathedral Street campus.
The pavilion is to be situated beside the college’s existing GAA pitch and is intended to strengthen the range of sporting facilities available to students and campus users.
The proposed building will comprise three interconnected blocks. The central section will contain a gym, team room, kitchenette, office space and associated ancillary facilities.
Extending east and west from the main block, the second and third sections will each include two fully equipped changing rooms. A central corridor between the changing areas will provide direct and equal access to both the current GAA pitch and the planned all-weather pitch.
The two outer blocks will also accommodate referee rooms, first aid facilities and toilet amenities.
According to planning documentation, the addition of the all-weather pitch will support a broader range of sporting activities on campus, including soccer and rugby.
Council planners have now given the project the green light, subject to eight conditions.
One of the conditions requires that the floodlighting system be installed by a suitably qualified professional to ensure that light spill beyond the site boundaries is kept to a minimum.
The planning authority also stated that, should complaints regarding light pollution be received from neighbouring properties, a lighting survey may be requested.
In addition, the council has required that all construction activity be carried out in a manner that minimises noise and dust. Working hours will be restricted to between 8am and 6pm from Monday to Friday, and between 8am and 2pm on Saturdays.
The council further noted that care must be taken during foundation works to avoid disrupting any public or private underground services that may be present beneath the site.
Should any such services be discovered, all work must stop immediately and the relevant authority or service provider must be notified so that suitable arrangements can be made for their protection or relocation.
The project is expected to improve the sporting infrastructure available to students while increasing the variety of games and activities that can be accommodated at the Thurles campus.