A PROPOSAL by Dún Laoghaire VEC to redevelop the Blackrock Town Hall complex on Newtown Avenue has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála by An Taisce and former Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Progressive Democrat councillor Victor Boyhan, who are against plans to relocate an historic council chamber.
In July, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council provisionally approved a plan to sell a 250-year lease for €1 to the VEC for the civic buildings which are all protected structures and include the town hall, Carnegie library, the old fire station and Blackrock vocational school.
The timber-panelled former council chamber at the rear of the town hall has not been used for over 50 years.
The VEC intends to redevelop it as extended facilities for Senior College Dún Laoghaire to cater for up to 1,000 students.
It is looking to add two extensions to Blackrock Town Hall - a four-storey extension over part basement and three-storey over part lower ground floor extension. The works would also involve creating openings between the buildings. The complex would also house a new Blackrock public library.
However, An Taisce, one of three parties to submit appeals to An Bord Pleanála, believes the proposal represents overdevelopment of the site and says "it may be there is no satisfactory design solution with respect to an extension at this site".
The proposal involves the demolition of a rear portion of the building containing the council chamber and its relocation to a newbuild on the top floor.
"We consider that this council chamber is an integral part of the architectural heritage value of the building complex.
The council chamber reflects Blackrock's status as a township with elected council from 1865." An Taisce also criticises the amount of open space for staff and students which it says is "very restricted".
In his appeal, Progressive Democrat local area representative Victor Boyhan says as well as the council chamber remaining in situ, the, old fire station should be fully retained. He criticises the scale, massing, bulk and height of the proposal which he believes will have a negative impact on the protected structures.
"The proposed extensions to the civic buildings would seriously compromise the architectural significance of these protected structures," says his appeal.
A third appeal by Idrone Terrace Residents Association says their residential amenity would be seriously undermined as a result of overshadowing and overlooking.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
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