PLANNING permission has been granted for a new filling station close to the site of the Creeslough tragedy, where 10 people died in an explosion in October 2022.
Donegal County Council yesterday approved the plans, lodged by the owners of the original site.
The planning permission includes demolition of an existing dwelling and construction of a new development which includes a shop, post office, deli, off-licence and forecourt.
The planning granted to the Lafferty family to redevelop the site is subject to 17 conditions.
The conditions include wildlife protections for birds and bats, with all demolition and site clearance works to take place outside the bird breeding season from March to August.
There are also conditions that ensure traffic safety and conditions in the interest of surrounding residential dwellings.
This is the second planning application lodged to redevelop the site of the explosion.
An Coimisiún Pleanála overturned previous planning permission for a new filling station on the same site as the original explosion granted by Donegal County Council in February last year.
That controversial decision was appealed by a number of family members of those killed in the October 2022 blast.
On turning down the application for a new building, An Coimisiún Pleanála said the proposed plan was “out of character” with its surroundings in the village.
A memorial garden and light-based sculpture with ten metal poles commemorating those who perished in the tragedy was also planned for the site.
However, many of the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy said this was an insult to the memory of their relatives, considering they died in the metal and rubble of the blast.