DEVELOPERS seeking to demolish Kill International Equestrian Centre have been granted permission. Following an appeals process and a submission of new plans in December 2018, which include retaining some of the equestrian facilities, An Bord Pleanála have given the green light for the development.

Newtownsland (Kill) Limited have been given permission to demolish the centre in accordance with the revised plans, which include keeping the existing outdoor arena, the car park, internal roads and two of the sheds (total area 667sqm) at the 34-acre property in Kill.

An Bord Pleanála are satisfied that the developers are complying with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, which states the lands are zoned for equine use as part of the Kildare County Development Plan 2017-2023. The initial planning application was refused on this grounds.

Kill EC was sold by American bank Goldman Sachs to property developer Ray Grehan in April 2017 for a reported €2 million. Grehan was believed to have been interested in redeveloping the site to build houses.

The centre was built in 1997 by the Flannelly family, who ran the business until May 2017. It hosted the 2003 Special Olympic Games but faced major flooding in 2011 and then a lengthy insurance battle. The only arena unaffected by the flood was the main Olympic Arena, which is set to be demolished.