The Hill of Tara is among a number of sites which have been nominated for inclusion on the country's list of possible United Nation world heritage sites.
Campaigners against the route of the M3 motorway in Co Meath have joined with heritage groups in submitting proposals to an advisory group set up by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley, to review the list of Irish sites.
The existing tentative nomination list for world heritage sites dates back to 1992 and includes Killarney National Park, the Burren and Clonmacnoise.
Deadlines for submissions for inclusion on the revised list close today.
Vincent Salafia of TaraWatch said: "We have nominated Tara to be a World Heritage Site, but only on
condition that the M3 motorway is re-routed first."
"It would be a breach of the World Heritage Convention for Unesco to approve Tara, with the M3 going through the site," he said.
Tarawatch and the Campaign to Save Tara have said the Hill of Tara complex qualifies for World Heritage status as a natural and cultural landscape of outstanding universal value, due to its unique cultural significance, and the extent of the surviving remains.
Campaigners believe that if they can have the site designated as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) site, then changes would have to be made to the route of the controversial motorway, which runs close to the Hill.
“We’d love it if the whole area was chosen to be a world heritage site but because of the destruction that has been caused by the work on the M3, there is a worry that it might be refused," said Dr Muireann Ni Bhrolchain of the Campaign to Save Tara group.
Minister Gormley has previously said he supported the plan to have the Hill of Tara considered as a world heritage site as a means of preventing future development in the vicinity of the site.
There are currently three Unesco world heritage sites on the island of Ireland. These include The Giant’s Causeway in Co Antrim which was inscribed in 1986 and Brú na Bóinne in Co Meath which include the neolithic monuments of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth and which was granted recognition in 1993. Skellig Michael in CO Kerry was inscribed in 1996.
The World Heritage List currently has 878 properties: 679 of which are cultural, 174 natural and 25 mixed in 145 States Parties. Among the sites are the Alhambra in Spain, Timbuktu in Mali, the Red Square in Russia and the Taj Mahal in India and the Acropolis in Greece.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 30 January 2009
Dunne plans revised application for Ballsbridge high rise
Businessman Sean Dunne said this evening he would submit a revised application to develop the Ballsbridge site after his controversial €1.5 billion high rise development was rejected by the planning authorities.
In its ruling, announced earlier today, An Bord Pleanála said Mr Dunne's proposed scheme represented a "gross overdevelopment" in the area.
Mr Dunne paid €450 million for the Jurys and Berkeley Court hotels and an adjoining site in Ballsbridge in 2005.
Mr Dunne had sought permission for residential, retail and office development on the seven-acre site of the former Jurys and Berkeley Court hotels.
The city council earlier this year granted permission for the bulk of Mr Dunne's development last March but refused permission for the 28,000sq m of offices proposed and a 37-storey 136-metre tower. Mr Dunne appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Rejecting the appeal this morning, An Bord Pleanála said: "It is considered that the proposed development, by reason of its scale, massing and height (notwithstanding the high quality of the architectural treatment of the individual buildings), would constitute gross overdevelopment and over-intensification of use of the site, would be highly obtrusive, would seriously injure the visual amenity of the area and would constitute an inappropriate design response to the existing context of the site, making a radical change in the urban form of the area, at odds with the established character of Ballsbridge."
An Bord Pleanála said the plan would have a significant adverse impact on the streetscape and on the setting and amenity of existing buildings in the vicinity. It also said it was not satisfied that the development "would bring about a high quality environment for future occupants."
In a statement released this evening, Mr Dunne's property firm Mountbrook said it was "very disappointed" by the decision but it would consider An Bord Pleanála's ruling before submitting a revised application.
"The proposed development would have broken the mould for Ireland in terms of providing a high class mixed use development on this strategic site," it said.
"The significant economic benefits and job creation opportunities of the proposed development would have created a much needed boost to Ireland in these current harsh economic times.
The proposed development represents four years hard work, €15 million in professional fees including the commissioning of an international architectural competition resulting in a world class design by Henning Larsen Architects," it said.
The firm also said the company was "disappointed for the Ringsend and Irishtown residents as the proposed development provided for a new community centre in Ringsend including sports hall, 100 place creche, day care centre, youth club, including offices and health services."
Some 36 appeals against the development were made to the An Bord Pleanála board, including one from financier Dermot Desmond, while an unprecedented 90 appeals were made in support of Mr Dunne's scheme.
During the hearings on the proposals, Dunne's scheme was described as 'oppressive and monolithic' by barrister Colm MacEochaidh, who represents 21 appellants opposing the high-rise plan.An Bord Pleanála Also heard claims that Mr Dunne orchestrated a large-scale letter-writing campaign to persuade Dublin City Council to grant permission for his high-rise development.
Fine Gael described today's judgement as a victory for the local community.
"This development should never have been considered in the first place. It was the wrong development for the wrong place at the wrong time," said Lucinda Creighton, Fine Gael Dublin South East TD
“This proposal was totally out of character with the local area. Dublin City Council’s decision to give it partial permission highlights the lack of vision or a coherent plan for the future of Dublin City. It also shows that the City Council is prepared to grant planning permission for developments in flagrant contravention of the City Development Plan," she added.
The Green Party’s representative in the area, Dave Robbins also welcomed the decision to refuse the application.
"Hopefully, this decision will send out a signal that the era of developer-led development in our city is at an end. The time for proper, sustainable, transparent planning is now," said Mr Robbins.
Mr Dunne recently told the New York Times newspaper that he believes his ambitious plans for Ballsbridge can still succeed, despite the recession and property market crash.
As well as the Jurys/Berkeley Court site, Mr Dunne owns Hume House, also on Pembroke Road, which he bought for €130 million and where he hopes to build a 14-storey office block.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
In its ruling, announced earlier today, An Bord Pleanála said Mr Dunne's proposed scheme represented a "gross overdevelopment" in the area.
Mr Dunne paid €450 million for the Jurys and Berkeley Court hotels and an adjoining site in Ballsbridge in 2005.
Mr Dunne had sought permission for residential, retail and office development on the seven-acre site of the former Jurys and Berkeley Court hotels.
The city council earlier this year granted permission for the bulk of Mr Dunne's development last March but refused permission for the 28,000sq m of offices proposed and a 37-storey 136-metre tower. Mr Dunne appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Rejecting the appeal this morning, An Bord Pleanála said: "It is considered that the proposed development, by reason of its scale, massing and height (notwithstanding the high quality of the architectural treatment of the individual buildings), would constitute gross overdevelopment and over-intensification of use of the site, would be highly obtrusive, would seriously injure the visual amenity of the area and would constitute an inappropriate design response to the existing context of the site, making a radical change in the urban form of the area, at odds with the established character of Ballsbridge."
An Bord Pleanála said the plan would have a significant adverse impact on the streetscape and on the setting and amenity of existing buildings in the vicinity. It also said it was not satisfied that the development "would bring about a high quality environment for future occupants."
In a statement released this evening, Mr Dunne's property firm Mountbrook said it was "very disappointed" by the decision but it would consider An Bord Pleanála's ruling before submitting a revised application.
"The proposed development would have broken the mould for Ireland in terms of providing a high class mixed use development on this strategic site," it said.
"The significant economic benefits and job creation opportunities of the proposed development would have created a much needed boost to Ireland in these current harsh economic times.
The proposed development represents four years hard work, €15 million in professional fees including the commissioning of an international architectural competition resulting in a world class design by Henning Larsen Architects," it said.
The firm also said the company was "disappointed for the Ringsend and Irishtown residents as the proposed development provided for a new community centre in Ringsend including sports hall, 100 place creche, day care centre, youth club, including offices and health services."
Some 36 appeals against the development were made to the An Bord Pleanála board, including one from financier Dermot Desmond, while an unprecedented 90 appeals were made in support of Mr Dunne's scheme.
During the hearings on the proposals, Dunne's scheme was described as 'oppressive and monolithic' by barrister Colm MacEochaidh, who represents 21 appellants opposing the high-rise plan.An Bord Pleanála Also heard claims that Mr Dunne orchestrated a large-scale letter-writing campaign to persuade Dublin City Council to grant permission for his high-rise development.
Fine Gael described today's judgement as a victory for the local community.
"This development should never have been considered in the first place. It was the wrong development for the wrong place at the wrong time," said Lucinda Creighton, Fine Gael Dublin South East TD
“This proposal was totally out of character with the local area. Dublin City Council’s decision to give it partial permission highlights the lack of vision or a coherent plan for the future of Dublin City. It also shows that the City Council is prepared to grant planning permission for developments in flagrant contravention of the City Development Plan," she added.
The Green Party’s representative in the area, Dave Robbins also welcomed the decision to refuse the application.
"Hopefully, this decision will send out a signal that the era of developer-led development in our city is at an end. The time for proper, sustainable, transparent planning is now," said Mr Robbins.
Mr Dunne recently told the New York Times newspaper that he believes his ambitious plans for Ballsbridge can still succeed, despite the recession and property market crash.
As well as the Jurys/Berkeley Court site, Mr Dunne owns Hume House, also on Pembroke Road, which he bought for €130 million and where he hopes to build a 14-storey office block.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sean Dunne loses the Battle for Ballsbridge
Reasons for refusal:
DECISION:
REFUSE permission for the above proposed development based on the reasons
and considerations set out below.
MATTERS CONSIDERED:
In making its decision, the Board had regard to those matters to which, by virtue of
the Planning and Development Acts and Regulations made thereunder, it was required
to have regard. Such matters included any submissions and observations received by it
in accordance with statutory provisions.
REASONS AND CONSIDERATIONS:
1. Having regard to the provisions of the Dublin City Development Plan, 2005-2011 and to the existing pattern of development in the area, it is considered that the proposed development, by reason of its scale, massing and height (notwithstanding the high quality of the architectural treatment of the individual buildings), would constitute gross overdevelopment and over-intensification of use of the site, would be highly obtrusive, would seriously injure the visual amenity of the area and would constitute an inappropriate design response to the existing context of the site, making a radical change in the urban form of the area, at odds with the established character of Ballsbridge. Such change is not supported by any local or strategic objective in the development plan. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
2. Having regard to the established scale and pattern of development in the environs
of the site, it is considered that the proposed buildings, by reason of scale, massing, height, proximity to the site boundaries and loss of mature vegetation,
would have a significant adverse impact on the streetscape and on the setting and amenity of existing buildings in the vicinity, which include many protected structures. The proposed development would, therefore, seriously injure the amenities of the area and of property in the vicinity and be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
3. The site of the proposed development is designated with the land use zoning
objective ‘Z1’ – to protect, provide and improve residential amenities – in the
Dublin City Development Plan, 2005-2011. It is considered that the quantum of
retail development contained in the proposed development is excessive and would
thereby militate against achievement of the residential land use zoning objective
and would divert retail investment and activity away from areas designated for
such use (including the city centre). The proposed development would, therefore,
materially contravene the land use zoning objective of the development plan and
be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
4. The site of the proposed development is located in the Ballsbridge area of
Dublin on land designated with the zoning objective ‘Z1’ – to protect, provide
and improve residential amenities – in the Dublin City Development Plan,
2005-2011. Under the provisions of the development plan, large scale office
use is neither permitted nor open for consideration on such lands and it is the
policy of the planning authority to facilitate such development in other areas,
with appropriate land use zoning designation. It is considered that the
proposed large scale office development, including the building described as
“embassy”, would militate against this policy, would materially contravene the
land use zoning objective of the development plan and be contrary to the
proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
5. Having regard to the scale, massing and layout of the proposed buildings, to the prevailing climate and latitude of the Dublin area and to the submissions
made in connection with the planning application and the appeal, including the
environmental impact statement and associated documentation, the Board is
not satisfied that the proposed development would bring about a high quality
environment for future occupants, having regard to considerations of microclimate,
including wind turbulence, availability of daylight and penetration of
sunlight. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the
proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
www.buckplanning.ie
DECISION:
REFUSE permission for the above proposed development based on the reasons
and considerations set out below.
MATTERS CONSIDERED:
In making its decision, the Board had regard to those matters to which, by virtue of
the Planning and Development Acts and Regulations made thereunder, it was required
to have regard. Such matters included any submissions and observations received by it
in accordance with statutory provisions.
REASONS AND CONSIDERATIONS:
1. Having regard to the provisions of the Dublin City Development Plan, 2005-2011 and to the existing pattern of development in the area, it is considered that the proposed development, by reason of its scale, massing and height (notwithstanding the high quality of the architectural treatment of the individual buildings), would constitute gross overdevelopment and over-intensification of use of the site, would be highly obtrusive, would seriously injure the visual amenity of the area and would constitute an inappropriate design response to the existing context of the site, making a radical change in the urban form of the area, at odds with the established character of Ballsbridge. Such change is not supported by any local or strategic objective in the development plan. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
2. Having regard to the established scale and pattern of development in the environs
of the site, it is considered that the proposed buildings, by reason of scale, massing, height, proximity to the site boundaries and loss of mature vegetation,
would have a significant adverse impact on the streetscape and on the setting and amenity of existing buildings in the vicinity, which include many protected structures. The proposed development would, therefore, seriously injure the amenities of the area and of property in the vicinity and be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
3. The site of the proposed development is designated with the land use zoning
objective ‘Z1’ – to protect, provide and improve residential amenities – in the
Dublin City Development Plan, 2005-2011. It is considered that the quantum of
retail development contained in the proposed development is excessive and would
thereby militate against achievement of the residential land use zoning objective
and would divert retail investment and activity away from areas designated for
such use (including the city centre). The proposed development would, therefore,
materially contravene the land use zoning objective of the development plan and
be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
4. The site of the proposed development is located in the Ballsbridge area of
Dublin on land designated with the zoning objective ‘Z1’ – to protect, provide
and improve residential amenities – in the Dublin City Development Plan,
2005-2011. Under the provisions of the development plan, large scale office
use is neither permitted nor open for consideration on such lands and it is the
policy of the planning authority to facilitate such development in other areas,
with appropriate land use zoning designation. It is considered that the
proposed large scale office development, including the building described as
“embassy”, would militate against this policy, would materially contravene the
land use zoning objective of the development plan and be contrary to the
proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
5. Having regard to the scale, massing and layout of the proposed buildings, to the prevailing climate and latitude of the Dublin area and to the submissions
made in connection with the planning application and the appeal, including the
environmental impact statement and associated documentation, the Board is
not satisfied that the proposed development would bring about a high quality
environment for future occupants, having regard to considerations of microclimate,
including wind turbulence, availability of daylight and penetration of
sunlight. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the
proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 29 January 2009
Urgent action needed as our waste now at unsustainable levels
IF every citizen on the planet produced as much waste as the Irish, mankind would need three planet Earths to survive, the Environmental Protection Agency warned yesterday.
And urgent action is needed if Ireland is to meet an EU target for diverting household waste from landfill and avoid paying millions of euro in fines.
The EPA's National Waste Report 2007 published yesterday said that diverting food waste from landfill must be the main priority for 2009, noting that household waste generated has not risen "appreciably", with recycling rates remaining "steady".
However, it warned that levels of consumption must be addressed.
"It is worth noting that the collection of increasing quantities of waste for disposal or recycling reflects a level of production and consumption that is unsustainable," the report said.
"Recent ecological footprint analysis for Ireland established that if everyone on the planet consumed as much as an Irish resident, then we would need three Earths to support current global resource consumption," it added.
"While it is apparent that consumers need to keep consuming to maintain prosperity, the business model must change to provide goods and services using less resources."
The report also found:
* The quantity of municipal (non-commercial) waste recycled increased by 3.6pc. Household rates were up 8pc, and packaging waste increased by 14pc.
* 36pc of municipal waste was recycled, exceeding the 2013 recycling target of 35pc.
* More than a quarter of household waste was recycled. While satisfactory, there remains considerable distance to reduce the landfilling of household waste to 50pc by 2013.
* 64pc of packaging waste was recycled, above EU targets.
* The average person recycled 8.7kg of electrical and electronic equipment, more than double the EU target of 4kg per head.
* Recycling of biodegradable municipal waste, such as food waste and garden clippings, fell by 2.7pc, with the amount sent to landfill increasing.
Landfill
"Although significant progress has been made in managing waste in Ireland, the report clearly shows that Ireland is in danger of missing a key EU target for diverting biodegradable municipal waste from landfill," EPA director Laura Burke said.
"Urgent and short-term actions are required in 2009 to tackle the generation and recycling of food waste from households and businesses if we are to meet the 2010 target for diverting an additional half a million tonnes of this waste from landfill."
Labour's Environment spokeswoman Joanna Tuffy said that under a Green minister, Ireland was moving away from EU targets on reducing waste being sent to landfill.
"The report shows that we are sending more food and garden waste to landfill, not less, and that only eight out of 34 local authorities provide a service collecting organic waste from households," she said.
"I welcome the fact that the minister has targeted this area for improvement in 2009, because there is no doubt that improvement is badly needed," she added.
Environment Minister John Gormley said the focus needed to move towards waste prevention, and that new regulations would require commercial premises to recycle food waste.
Levies would be increased for sending waste to landfill, and composting would become "more economically attractive".
He added that agreement would be reached with producers to reduce the amount of packaging used in food.
The EPA says that services must be put in place to separate organic waste, such as food, from other waste streams.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
And urgent action is needed if Ireland is to meet an EU target for diverting household waste from landfill and avoid paying millions of euro in fines.
The EPA's National Waste Report 2007 published yesterday said that diverting food waste from landfill must be the main priority for 2009, noting that household waste generated has not risen "appreciably", with recycling rates remaining "steady".
However, it warned that levels of consumption must be addressed.
"It is worth noting that the collection of increasing quantities of waste for disposal or recycling reflects a level of production and consumption that is unsustainable," the report said.
"Recent ecological footprint analysis for Ireland established that if everyone on the planet consumed as much as an Irish resident, then we would need three Earths to support current global resource consumption," it added.
"While it is apparent that consumers need to keep consuming to maintain prosperity, the business model must change to provide goods and services using less resources."
The report also found:
* The quantity of municipal (non-commercial) waste recycled increased by 3.6pc. Household rates were up 8pc, and packaging waste increased by 14pc.
* 36pc of municipal waste was recycled, exceeding the 2013 recycling target of 35pc.
* More than a quarter of household waste was recycled. While satisfactory, there remains considerable distance to reduce the landfilling of household waste to 50pc by 2013.
* 64pc of packaging waste was recycled, above EU targets.
* The average person recycled 8.7kg of electrical and electronic equipment, more than double the EU target of 4kg per head.
* Recycling of biodegradable municipal waste, such as food waste and garden clippings, fell by 2.7pc, with the amount sent to landfill increasing.
Landfill
"Although significant progress has been made in managing waste in Ireland, the report clearly shows that Ireland is in danger of missing a key EU target for diverting biodegradable municipal waste from landfill," EPA director Laura Burke said.
"Urgent and short-term actions are required in 2009 to tackle the generation and recycling of food waste from households and businesses if we are to meet the 2010 target for diverting an additional half a million tonnes of this waste from landfill."
Labour's Environment spokeswoman Joanna Tuffy said that under a Green minister, Ireland was moving away from EU targets on reducing waste being sent to landfill.
"The report shows that we are sending more food and garden waste to landfill, not less, and that only eight out of 34 local authorities provide a service collecting organic waste from households," she said.
"I welcome the fact that the minister has targeted this area for improvement in 2009, because there is no doubt that improvement is badly needed," she added.
Environment Minister John Gormley said the focus needed to move towards waste prevention, and that new regulations would require commercial premises to recycle food waste.
Levies would be increased for sending waste to landfill, and composting would become "more economically attractive".
He added that agreement would be reached with producers to reduce the amount of packaging used in food.
The EPA says that services must be put in place to separate organic waste, such as food, from other waste streams.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Urgent action needed as our waste now at unsustainable levels
IF every citizen on the planet produced as much waste as the Irish, mankind would need three planet Earths to survive, the Environmental Protection Agency warned yesterday.
And urgent action is needed if Ireland is to meet an EU target for diverting household waste from landfill and avoid paying millions of euro in fines.
The EPA's National Waste Report 2007 published yesterday said that diverting food waste from landfill must be the main priority for 2009, noting that household waste generated has not risen "appreciably", with recycling rates remaining "steady".
However, it warned that levels of consumption must be addressed.
"It is worth noting that the collection of increasing quantities of waste for disposal or recycling reflects a level of production and consumption that is unsustainable," the report said.
"Recent ecological footprint analysis for Ireland established that if everyone on the planet consumed as much as an Irish resident, then we would need three Earths to support current global resource consumption," it added.
"While it is apparent that consumers need to keep consuming to maintain prosperity, the business model must change to provide goods and services using less resources."
The report also found:
* The quantity of municipal (non-commercial) waste recycled increased by 3.6pc. Household rates were up 8pc, and packaging waste increased by 14pc.
* 36pc of municipal waste was recycled, exceeding the 2013 recycling target of 35pc.
* More than a quarter of household waste was recycled. While satisfactory, there remains considerable distance to reduce the landfilling of household waste to 50pc by 2013.
* 64pc of packaging waste was recycled, above EU targets.
* The average person recycled 8.7kg of electrical and electronic equipment, more than double the EU target of 4kg per head.
* Recycling of biodegradable municipal waste, such as food waste and garden clippings, fell by 2.7pc, with the amount sent to landfill increasing.
Landfill
"Although significant progress has been made in managing waste in Ireland, the report clearly shows that Ireland is in danger of missing a key EU target for diverting biodegradable municipal waste from landfill," EPA director Laura Burke said.
"Urgent and short-term actions are required in 2009 to tackle the generation and recycling of food waste from households and businesses if we are to meet the 2010 target for diverting an additional half a million tonnes of this waste from landfill."
Labour's Environment spokeswoman Joanna Tuffy said that under a Green minister, Ireland was moving away from EU targets on reducing waste being sent to landfill.
"The report shows that we are sending more food and garden waste to landfill, not less, and that only eight out of 34 local authorities provide a service collecting organic waste from households," she said.
"I welcome the fact that the minister has targeted this area for improvement in 2009, because there is no doubt that improvement is badly needed," she added.
Environment Minister John Gormley said the focus needed to move towards waste prevention, and that new regulations would require commercial premises to recycle food waste.
Levies would be increased for sending waste to landfill, and composting would become "more economically attractive".
He added that agreement would be reached with producers to reduce the amount of packaging used in food.
The EPA says that services must be put in place to separate organic waste, such as food, from other waste streams.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
And urgent action is needed if Ireland is to meet an EU target for diverting household waste from landfill and avoid paying millions of euro in fines.
The EPA's National Waste Report 2007 published yesterday said that diverting food waste from landfill must be the main priority for 2009, noting that household waste generated has not risen "appreciably", with recycling rates remaining "steady".
However, it warned that levels of consumption must be addressed.
"It is worth noting that the collection of increasing quantities of waste for disposal or recycling reflects a level of production and consumption that is unsustainable," the report said.
"Recent ecological footprint analysis for Ireland established that if everyone on the planet consumed as much as an Irish resident, then we would need three Earths to support current global resource consumption," it added.
"While it is apparent that consumers need to keep consuming to maintain prosperity, the business model must change to provide goods and services using less resources."
The report also found:
* The quantity of municipal (non-commercial) waste recycled increased by 3.6pc. Household rates were up 8pc, and packaging waste increased by 14pc.
* 36pc of municipal waste was recycled, exceeding the 2013 recycling target of 35pc.
* More than a quarter of household waste was recycled. While satisfactory, there remains considerable distance to reduce the landfilling of household waste to 50pc by 2013.
* 64pc of packaging waste was recycled, above EU targets.
* The average person recycled 8.7kg of electrical and electronic equipment, more than double the EU target of 4kg per head.
* Recycling of biodegradable municipal waste, such as food waste and garden clippings, fell by 2.7pc, with the amount sent to landfill increasing.
Landfill
"Although significant progress has been made in managing waste in Ireland, the report clearly shows that Ireland is in danger of missing a key EU target for diverting biodegradable municipal waste from landfill," EPA director Laura Burke said.
"Urgent and short-term actions are required in 2009 to tackle the generation and recycling of food waste from households and businesses if we are to meet the 2010 target for diverting an additional half a million tonnes of this waste from landfill."
Labour's Environment spokeswoman Joanna Tuffy said that under a Green minister, Ireland was moving away from EU targets on reducing waste being sent to landfill.
"The report shows that we are sending more food and garden waste to landfill, not less, and that only eight out of 34 local authorities provide a service collecting organic waste from households," she said.
"I welcome the fact that the minister has targeted this area for improvement in 2009, because there is no doubt that improvement is badly needed," she added.
Environment Minister John Gormley said the focus needed to move towards waste prevention, and that new regulations would require commercial premises to recycle food waste.
Levies would be increased for sending waste to landfill, and composting would become "more economically attractive".
He added that agreement would be reached with producers to reduce the amount of packaging used in food.
The EPA says that services must be put in place to separate organic waste, such as food, from other waste streams.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Agents fear litigation as energy rating assessors 'unleashed'
Energy ratings: Estate agents have been warned by the IAVI not to recommend energy ratings assessors as confusion over BER certs continues, writes Edel Morgan
ESTATE AGENTS could be left open to litigation because Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has “unleashed” untested BER assessors on the public, says the IAVI (Irish Auctioneers Valuers Institute). Second-hand homes cannot be legally sold or rented without Building Energy Rating (BER) certificates since January 1st of this year. (New homes have required BER certificates since 2007).
But although some 1,486 BER assessors have been registered by SEI – the body responsible for implementing the BER scheme along with two Government departments – a national test to establish the competence of assessors after they’ve completed and achieved a 70 per cent pass rate on their training course won’t be available until later this year.
IAVI chief executive Alan Cooke says SEI has allowed this happen because it wanted to “save face” and “because they don’t want to admit that there aren’t sufficient assessors examined to enable a smooth lead into the introduction of BER in Ireland. They are a year behind where they should be on it.”
Calling BER a “litigation minefield” Alan Cooke says the IAVI has advised its members against recommending assessors in the absence of a national test and instead refer clients to a list of assessors approved by SEI. He says already one of its members has been threatened with a lawsuit because it recommended an assessor that carried out an assessment on a listed building which did not require a BER certificate.
SEI, however, refutes there is a problem, saying BER assessors “meet the qualification requirements”, which includes achieving at least 70 per cent in the BER exam held by training providers. “As part of SEI’s commitment to continued professional development of assessors, a national test, which registered assessors have committed to passing before the end of 2009, will be introduced later in the year. This will have no impact on BER ratings that have been issued,” it says.
There seems to be a lack of knowledge about BER among the general public. When estate agent Christopher Bradley of Sherry FitzGerald recently handed out energy rating certificates at a viewing of a 100-year-old house on Avoca Avenue in Blackrock, Co Dublin, the bewildered response was “what’s that?” His experience is echoed by other estate agents around the country who say awareness of BER is minimal among the general public.
Ger Tierney, an agent with Chesser auctioneers in Limerick, says his firm was selling a new homes development in Castletroy before Christmas, where 70 houses sold and only “three or four people asked for the energy rating. People are not giving it a lot of thought.” There is also a lack of awareness of the legislation among vendors of second-hand homes. “We often have to break it to them that they need to have the property rated,” says Tierney.
When asked if it has done enough to promote awareness, SEI said it has run numerous awareness campaigns in the run up to the full implementation and says it has “a comprehensive and popular website and telephone advice service available for any particular queries”.
New-build homes being sold or let have required a BER certificate since 2007 while the requirement to have a certificate for second-hand homes only passed into law this January. The BER certificate is part of the Energy Performance of Buildings EU Directive which aims to reduce carbon emissions. It is also designed to give prospective tenants and purchasers an idea of a property’s energy performance and how much it costs to light and heat.
Michael Boyd of Boyd’s Real Estate Alliance in Kilkenny says while he is “all for energy efficiency” he says there is “no doubt BER has been poorly handled”. He believes SEI “didn’t get its act together quickly enough” and was too slow in issuing the appropriate software to allow newly qualified assessors issue rating certificates on second-hand homes.
He says some BER training courses are primarily interested in making money with little regard to the experience of the participants. “You get bored farmers and taxi drivers taking the course so it’s a race to the bottom in terms of standards. I don’t have confidence in the system that the SEI has set up to ensure impartiality and objectivity and to assess to uniform standards. On one assessment of a property you might have an assessor with a building background and next door a farmer who has pitched and bargained to do a job and may be under pressure to produce a satisfactory result.”
SEI insists the quality of BER certificates is controlled by “periodic checks on the work of the BER assessors”. It says assessments and assessors will be selected for audit on a random basis. “Evidence of unsatisfactory technical quality or breach of the code of practice is liable to lead to disciplinary action up to and including termination of registration.”
Boyd says he has noticed “big resistance” among vendors when they’re told they have to provide an energy rating certificate for their property. “They may be selling because things are tight and might want to avoid paying that €300-€400 bill altogether. People don’t want to hear about extra expense and there have been inferences from some vendors that they will go to the estate agent who will pay to have the assessment done for them.”
Estate agents are allowed to become BER assessors but can’t rate properties on their own books and are prevented from selling or letting a property they assess for 10 years. Under the code of practice anyone that might have a vested interest in a property can’t perform an energy assessment on it. This is a bone of contention with the IAVI who say that their members in Northern Ireland are allowed assess properties for their own clients and it’s not deemed a conflict of interest.
“If the system is transparent and checkable there shouldn’t be a problem. Are they saying agents would issue false certificates and risk their income? Are we professionals or not?” says Alan Cooke.
Jeff Colley, editor of Construct Ireland, says the Government should insist that estate agents publish energy ratings on promotional material to prevent them “from brushing bad ratings under the carpet”.
At present there are 1,486 registered BER assessors, and over 1,000 of those are qualified to assess second-hand homes. Jeff Colley reckons SEI hasn’t been adequately resourced to manage the smooth introduction of BER, “to ensure the quality of assessors and avoid a divergence of quality in assessments”. And they need to tighten up on “who becomes a BER assessor and why. It’s quite a technical area.”
He says with new buildings it tends to be more straightforward, a desktop exercise based on calculations but there are more anomalies when it comes to older buildings “and more scope for error”.
All of the agents interviewed say they are inundated daily with calls and flyers from newly trained assessors looking for referrals. The competition has become stiff and this has led to price fluctuations. Initially, average prices of around €300 plus VAT for a three-bed semi were being quoted but these are likely to plummet as new assessors undercut each other to get work.
Several of the estate agents interviewed felt that, when BER awareness grows among buyers, a property’s energy rating will be used as a bargaining chip to negotiate more money off the asking price of a property.
In the rental market, a look at discussion boards – like askaboutmoney.com and thepropertypin.com – reveals that some landlords have no qualms about going for the cheapest assessment regardless of quality to fulfil their legal obligation.
Others are saying they will try to avoid having the assessment done for as long as possible.
The Law Society has told solicitors that failure to comply with the BER can incur a €5,000 fine. The feeling is that enforcement, which is the responsibility of the local authorities, is likely to be an issue, particularly in the rental sector.
“The local authorities are meant to be enforcing BER but the question is, has the Government given them additional resources?” says Alan Cooke.
When tenants start to get savvy about BER, however, a bad rating may have an impact on the rent achieved, particularly if there’s a newer property down the road with a better rating.
It being very much a tenants’ market, landlords won’t be able to pass the charge on to their tenants and, according to John Leahy, the owner of Irish landlord.com, some are complaining it is just another cost they have to contend with.
He says there’s still quite a lot of confusion surrounding BER, although he has noticed the level of interest in it has improved since January 1st.
“Like everything, people ignore it till it’s upon them. It’s been a very slow build and some property owners feel it’s just an additional cost in a tough economic environment. They are looking at what is beneficial in the short term.”
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
ESTATE AGENTS could be left open to litigation because Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has “unleashed” untested BER assessors on the public, says the IAVI (Irish Auctioneers Valuers Institute). Second-hand homes cannot be legally sold or rented without Building Energy Rating (BER) certificates since January 1st of this year. (New homes have required BER certificates since 2007).
But although some 1,486 BER assessors have been registered by SEI – the body responsible for implementing the BER scheme along with two Government departments – a national test to establish the competence of assessors after they’ve completed and achieved a 70 per cent pass rate on their training course won’t be available until later this year.
IAVI chief executive Alan Cooke says SEI has allowed this happen because it wanted to “save face” and “because they don’t want to admit that there aren’t sufficient assessors examined to enable a smooth lead into the introduction of BER in Ireland. They are a year behind where they should be on it.”
Calling BER a “litigation minefield” Alan Cooke says the IAVI has advised its members against recommending assessors in the absence of a national test and instead refer clients to a list of assessors approved by SEI. He says already one of its members has been threatened with a lawsuit because it recommended an assessor that carried out an assessment on a listed building which did not require a BER certificate.
SEI, however, refutes there is a problem, saying BER assessors “meet the qualification requirements”, which includes achieving at least 70 per cent in the BER exam held by training providers. “As part of SEI’s commitment to continued professional development of assessors, a national test, which registered assessors have committed to passing before the end of 2009, will be introduced later in the year. This will have no impact on BER ratings that have been issued,” it says.
There seems to be a lack of knowledge about BER among the general public. When estate agent Christopher Bradley of Sherry FitzGerald recently handed out energy rating certificates at a viewing of a 100-year-old house on Avoca Avenue in Blackrock, Co Dublin, the bewildered response was “what’s that?” His experience is echoed by other estate agents around the country who say awareness of BER is minimal among the general public.
Ger Tierney, an agent with Chesser auctioneers in Limerick, says his firm was selling a new homes development in Castletroy before Christmas, where 70 houses sold and only “three or four people asked for the energy rating. People are not giving it a lot of thought.” There is also a lack of awareness of the legislation among vendors of second-hand homes. “We often have to break it to them that they need to have the property rated,” says Tierney.
When asked if it has done enough to promote awareness, SEI said it has run numerous awareness campaigns in the run up to the full implementation and says it has “a comprehensive and popular website and telephone advice service available for any particular queries”.
New-build homes being sold or let have required a BER certificate since 2007 while the requirement to have a certificate for second-hand homes only passed into law this January. The BER certificate is part of the Energy Performance of Buildings EU Directive which aims to reduce carbon emissions. It is also designed to give prospective tenants and purchasers an idea of a property’s energy performance and how much it costs to light and heat.
Michael Boyd of Boyd’s Real Estate Alliance in Kilkenny says while he is “all for energy efficiency” he says there is “no doubt BER has been poorly handled”. He believes SEI “didn’t get its act together quickly enough” and was too slow in issuing the appropriate software to allow newly qualified assessors issue rating certificates on second-hand homes.
He says some BER training courses are primarily interested in making money with little regard to the experience of the participants. “You get bored farmers and taxi drivers taking the course so it’s a race to the bottom in terms of standards. I don’t have confidence in the system that the SEI has set up to ensure impartiality and objectivity and to assess to uniform standards. On one assessment of a property you might have an assessor with a building background and next door a farmer who has pitched and bargained to do a job and may be under pressure to produce a satisfactory result.”
SEI insists the quality of BER certificates is controlled by “periodic checks on the work of the BER assessors”. It says assessments and assessors will be selected for audit on a random basis. “Evidence of unsatisfactory technical quality or breach of the code of practice is liable to lead to disciplinary action up to and including termination of registration.”
Boyd says he has noticed “big resistance” among vendors when they’re told they have to provide an energy rating certificate for their property. “They may be selling because things are tight and might want to avoid paying that €300-€400 bill altogether. People don’t want to hear about extra expense and there have been inferences from some vendors that they will go to the estate agent who will pay to have the assessment done for them.”
Estate agents are allowed to become BER assessors but can’t rate properties on their own books and are prevented from selling or letting a property they assess for 10 years. Under the code of practice anyone that might have a vested interest in a property can’t perform an energy assessment on it. This is a bone of contention with the IAVI who say that their members in Northern Ireland are allowed assess properties for their own clients and it’s not deemed a conflict of interest.
“If the system is transparent and checkable there shouldn’t be a problem. Are they saying agents would issue false certificates and risk their income? Are we professionals or not?” says Alan Cooke.
Jeff Colley, editor of Construct Ireland, says the Government should insist that estate agents publish energy ratings on promotional material to prevent them “from brushing bad ratings under the carpet”.
At present there are 1,486 registered BER assessors, and over 1,000 of those are qualified to assess second-hand homes. Jeff Colley reckons SEI hasn’t been adequately resourced to manage the smooth introduction of BER, “to ensure the quality of assessors and avoid a divergence of quality in assessments”. And they need to tighten up on “who becomes a BER assessor and why. It’s quite a technical area.”
He says with new buildings it tends to be more straightforward, a desktop exercise based on calculations but there are more anomalies when it comes to older buildings “and more scope for error”.
All of the agents interviewed say they are inundated daily with calls and flyers from newly trained assessors looking for referrals. The competition has become stiff and this has led to price fluctuations. Initially, average prices of around €300 plus VAT for a three-bed semi were being quoted but these are likely to plummet as new assessors undercut each other to get work.
Several of the estate agents interviewed felt that, when BER awareness grows among buyers, a property’s energy rating will be used as a bargaining chip to negotiate more money off the asking price of a property.
In the rental market, a look at discussion boards – like askaboutmoney.com and thepropertypin.com – reveals that some landlords have no qualms about going for the cheapest assessment regardless of quality to fulfil their legal obligation.
Others are saying they will try to avoid having the assessment done for as long as possible.
The Law Society has told solicitors that failure to comply with the BER can incur a €5,000 fine. The feeling is that enforcement, which is the responsibility of the local authorities, is likely to be an issue, particularly in the rental sector.
“The local authorities are meant to be enforcing BER but the question is, has the Government given them additional resources?” says Alan Cooke.
When tenants start to get savvy about BER, however, a bad rating may have an impact on the rent achieved, particularly if there’s a newer property down the road with a better rating.
It being very much a tenants’ market, landlords won’t be able to pass the charge on to their tenants and, according to John Leahy, the owner of Irish landlord.com, some are complaining it is just another cost they have to contend with.
He says there’s still quite a lot of confusion surrounding BER, although he has noticed the level of interest in it has improved since January 1st.
“Like everything, people ignore it till it’s upon them. It’s been a very slow build and some property owners feel it’s just an additional cost in a tough economic environment. They are looking at what is beneficial in the short term.”
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
New Bord Gais centre should add spark to the M50
When Bord Gáis was planning a new distribution centre it ran an international design competition, which was won by Denis Byrne Architects, writes Frank McDonald, Environment Editor
ANYONE WHO uses Dublin’s M50 will know that it sorely needs more landmarks to overcome an overwhelming sense of disorientation, relieved only by gantry-mounted direction signs to steer motorists through an elongated maze of traffic and construction activity.
“The M50 is like a new city wall, with the city inside,” says architect Roisín Heneghan. “This is an edge condition from which many people see the city, yet the land adjacent to the road is generally disused for noise reasons and any development is nearly always sprawl.”
The first conscious effort to provide a new landmark on the M50 was Hunt McGarry’s telecom mast for Denis O’Brien’s one-time flagship, Esat Digifone, at the Tallaght interchange.
This elegant 30-metre high mast, shaped like an inverted cone, is brilliantly lit at night by double rings of green neon so nobody can miss it.
Denis Byrne Architects (DBA) obviously considered the landmark issue when they entered an international competition to design a new national distribution control centre for Bord Gáis Networks, on a rather unprepossessing site on St Margaret’s Road at Dubber Cross, just south of the M50 near Finglas.
This will become the nerve centre for Bord Gáis Networks, which is responsible for constructing and extending the gas network in Ireland. The services it provides include pipeline service laying and modification, safety and emergency response, and meter installations and alterations across the State.
Bord Gáis wanted a building that would reflect its declared commitment to environmental protection, energy conservation and sustainable development that would simultaneously “sit in harmony with its physical context” as well as being flexible in its internal planning to accommodate the main functions.
Inevitably, the competition produced a very wide range of proposals – from a multi-storey tower block to a single-storey complex covering the entire site. However, a number of competitors misinterpreted it as a corporate headquarters rather than an operational hub carrying out a variety of functions.
In all, 56 entries were received for the competition, which was organised by the RIAI (Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland). These were whittled down to a shortlist of eight, who were invited to make presentations, including Glasgow-based Nord Architecture and VMX Architects from the Netherlands, where Cork-born Don Murphy is a partner.
What DBA proposed was a compound in a reconditioned landscape, with a projecting tower inscribing Bord Gáis in large capital letters.
Arguably, this unique selling point persuaded the competition jury to award the €17.5 million project to DBA, ahead of such luminaries as Bucholz McEvoy and Heneghan Peng.
As the assessors noted, Bucholz McEvoy’s design “advanced considerably” between stages one and two and “fully took into account the comments raised by the jury” following stage one.
“The curved geometry of the building showed potential for the development of strong internal social and working spaces.”
Heneghan Peng, who have won numerous competitions, had “a very clear design concept which met aspects of the brief well. It projected a simple yet compelling linear form well integrated with the site, developing a good landscaped solution against the bank. Internal planning was fluid and flexible.”
DBA’s winning entry took its inspiration from industrial buildings rather than swish corporate office blocks, to provide a home base for a diverse range of activities both within the building and for mobile staff checking in and out. A layer of perforated metal wraps the building in a light and permeable yet robust protective skin.
“Organised over two levels with gardens and circulation woven to an informal fabric of flowing internal and external spaces with meeting and social areas interspersed, the building promotes an inter-departmental, multi-disciplinary approach to staff interaction and organisation.” And that’s as it should be.
According to DBA, “the integrated sustainable design approach combines microclimate, landscape, transport and a compact building volume with low-energy design to establish a service facility that humanises and civilises the environment of the corporate workplace [and] provides acoustic shelter from the nearby M50.
“In terms of energy use and environmental control, the building is equally responsive to its users’ needs, employing a system based on the principles of thermal mass, natural ventilation and water-borne radiant cooling and heating supplied by a combined gas-fired heat pump and chilling device.”
The assessors, who included award-winning architects Louise Cotter and Niall McCullough, said the winning scheme “offered an innovative and achievable work of modern architecture” and also scored very highly on sustainability. It also used the site well, locating the required car-parking behind the building.
“The amorphous external form with projecting tower (which would be visible across the M50) was innovative; the internal layout studded with natural ventilation courtyards was flexible and interesting, offering cross views to the landscape” while also providing “the sense of a common working environment”. John Barry, managing director of Bord Gáis Networks, said environmental protection and sustainable development were critical in choosing the winner.
“The standard of entries was exceptionally high, but we are looking forward to working with Denis Byrne Architects on this exciting and innovative project.”
DBA won an Architectural Association of Ireland award in 2004 for a wonderfully successful infill apartment building at the lower end of North Great George’s Street. Dubbed the Cigar Box, it was hailed by the AAI jury as an exemplary urban intervention in a very specific place with no resort to (gutless) pastiche.
The relatively small practice is based in a Georgian house on the opposite side of the street, which was splendidly refurbished and converted into offices and apartments in 2007 at a cost of €2.4 million. Denis Byrne himself lives doors away in another Georgian house which he restored as a large family home.
Recently completed projects include a double-height car showroom for KC Motors in Cornelscourt, while one of the most interesting projects in the pipeline is a housing scheme for Killenaule Co- operative in south Tipperary, which would provide 35 four-bedroom detached houses and 12 “zero energy” houses on a greenfield site.
Also in Killenaule, DBA’s Roland Bosbach headed a team that designed a 60-bed nursing home and 48 sheltered housing units – all timber-clad – for the co-op.
Bosbach was also involved in designing a new viewing gallery and changing rooms for Tolka Rovers in Dublin.
A flat-roofed house in a rural setting in Co Westmeath won an Opus award in 2005 because of how DBA had responded to the site contours with “an attention to detail and a craftsmanship rarely found in similar settings or building types”.
Indeed, it was rated as being “well above the bungalow blight of most single houses”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
ANYONE WHO uses Dublin’s M50 will know that it sorely needs more landmarks to overcome an overwhelming sense of disorientation, relieved only by gantry-mounted direction signs to steer motorists through an elongated maze of traffic and construction activity.
“The M50 is like a new city wall, with the city inside,” says architect Roisín Heneghan. “This is an edge condition from which many people see the city, yet the land adjacent to the road is generally disused for noise reasons and any development is nearly always sprawl.”
The first conscious effort to provide a new landmark on the M50 was Hunt McGarry’s telecom mast for Denis O’Brien’s one-time flagship, Esat Digifone, at the Tallaght interchange.
This elegant 30-metre high mast, shaped like an inverted cone, is brilliantly lit at night by double rings of green neon so nobody can miss it.
Denis Byrne Architects (DBA) obviously considered the landmark issue when they entered an international competition to design a new national distribution control centre for Bord Gáis Networks, on a rather unprepossessing site on St Margaret’s Road at Dubber Cross, just south of the M50 near Finglas.
This will become the nerve centre for Bord Gáis Networks, which is responsible for constructing and extending the gas network in Ireland. The services it provides include pipeline service laying and modification, safety and emergency response, and meter installations and alterations across the State.
Bord Gáis wanted a building that would reflect its declared commitment to environmental protection, energy conservation and sustainable development that would simultaneously “sit in harmony with its physical context” as well as being flexible in its internal planning to accommodate the main functions.
Inevitably, the competition produced a very wide range of proposals – from a multi-storey tower block to a single-storey complex covering the entire site. However, a number of competitors misinterpreted it as a corporate headquarters rather than an operational hub carrying out a variety of functions.
In all, 56 entries were received for the competition, which was organised by the RIAI (Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland). These were whittled down to a shortlist of eight, who were invited to make presentations, including Glasgow-based Nord Architecture and VMX Architects from the Netherlands, where Cork-born Don Murphy is a partner.
What DBA proposed was a compound in a reconditioned landscape, with a projecting tower inscribing Bord Gáis in large capital letters.
Arguably, this unique selling point persuaded the competition jury to award the €17.5 million project to DBA, ahead of such luminaries as Bucholz McEvoy and Heneghan Peng.
As the assessors noted, Bucholz McEvoy’s design “advanced considerably” between stages one and two and “fully took into account the comments raised by the jury” following stage one.
“The curved geometry of the building showed potential for the development of strong internal social and working spaces.”
Heneghan Peng, who have won numerous competitions, had “a very clear design concept which met aspects of the brief well. It projected a simple yet compelling linear form well integrated with the site, developing a good landscaped solution against the bank. Internal planning was fluid and flexible.”
DBA’s winning entry took its inspiration from industrial buildings rather than swish corporate office blocks, to provide a home base for a diverse range of activities both within the building and for mobile staff checking in and out. A layer of perforated metal wraps the building in a light and permeable yet robust protective skin.
“Organised over two levels with gardens and circulation woven to an informal fabric of flowing internal and external spaces with meeting and social areas interspersed, the building promotes an inter-departmental, multi-disciplinary approach to staff interaction and organisation.” And that’s as it should be.
According to DBA, “the integrated sustainable design approach combines microclimate, landscape, transport and a compact building volume with low-energy design to establish a service facility that humanises and civilises the environment of the corporate workplace [and] provides acoustic shelter from the nearby M50.
“In terms of energy use and environmental control, the building is equally responsive to its users’ needs, employing a system based on the principles of thermal mass, natural ventilation and water-borne radiant cooling and heating supplied by a combined gas-fired heat pump and chilling device.”
The assessors, who included award-winning architects Louise Cotter and Niall McCullough, said the winning scheme “offered an innovative and achievable work of modern architecture” and also scored very highly on sustainability. It also used the site well, locating the required car-parking behind the building.
“The amorphous external form with projecting tower (which would be visible across the M50) was innovative; the internal layout studded with natural ventilation courtyards was flexible and interesting, offering cross views to the landscape” while also providing “the sense of a common working environment”. John Barry, managing director of Bord Gáis Networks, said environmental protection and sustainable development were critical in choosing the winner.
“The standard of entries was exceptionally high, but we are looking forward to working with Denis Byrne Architects on this exciting and innovative project.”
DBA won an Architectural Association of Ireland award in 2004 for a wonderfully successful infill apartment building at the lower end of North Great George’s Street. Dubbed the Cigar Box, it was hailed by the AAI jury as an exemplary urban intervention in a very specific place with no resort to (gutless) pastiche.
The relatively small practice is based in a Georgian house on the opposite side of the street, which was splendidly refurbished and converted into offices and apartments in 2007 at a cost of €2.4 million. Denis Byrne himself lives doors away in another Georgian house which he restored as a large family home.
Recently completed projects include a double-height car showroom for KC Motors in Cornelscourt, while one of the most interesting projects in the pipeline is a housing scheme for Killenaule Co- operative in south Tipperary, which would provide 35 four-bedroom detached houses and 12 “zero energy” houses on a greenfield site.
Also in Killenaule, DBA’s Roland Bosbach headed a team that designed a 60-bed nursing home and 48 sheltered housing units – all timber-clad – for the co-op.
Bosbach was also involved in designing a new viewing gallery and changing rooms for Tolka Rovers in Dublin.
A flat-roofed house in a rural setting in Co Westmeath won an Opus award in 2005 because of how DBA had responded to the site contours with “an attention to detail and a craftsmanship rarely found in similar settings or building types”.
Indeed, it was rated as being “well above the bungalow blight of most single houses”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The truth will out about designing good urban spaces
WHEN IT COMES to outdoor spaces in the city, we often look in envy at our Continental and American cousins who sit and sip cappuccinos in urban squares and loll beside ponds and fountains. Okay, they do have the weather on their side but the Irish love to sit out too, and will don sunglasses at the slightest of solar rays, and yet we still have precious little space in which to do that.
The Dublin Docklands Development Authority has employed both US and Continental landscape designers to perhaps inject some of their magic into the docklands and three of them will be giving talks to enlighten us as to how they go about designing such spaces.
First up, on February 12th, is Martin Biewenga of Dutch company West 8 which has been landscaping across Europe, America, Russia and Canada, and has been working on ideas for the Liffey campshires.
Next is Martha Schwartz, the American landscape architect and artist who has given us the red poles at Grand Canal Dock (left). She will be discussing sustainability and design on March 5th. Finally, on March 26th, Olivier Philippe of Agence Ter, who is developing a linear park in the docklands, will discuss how he designs in layers. So, expect rich seams of information.
Lectures are free and start at 7pm in the CHQ building on Customs House Quay (tel: 01-635 1428 and aaiadmin@eircom.net).
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The Dublin Docklands Development Authority has employed both US and Continental landscape designers to perhaps inject some of their magic into the docklands and three of them will be giving talks to enlighten us as to how they go about designing such spaces.
First up, on February 12th, is Martin Biewenga of Dutch company West 8 which has been landscaping across Europe, America, Russia and Canada, and has been working on ideas for the Liffey campshires.
Next is Martha Schwartz, the American landscape architect and artist who has given us the red poles at Grand Canal Dock (left). She will be discussing sustainability and design on March 5th. Finally, on March 26th, Olivier Philippe of Agence Ter, who is developing a linear park in the docklands, will discuss how he designs in layers. So, expect rich seams of information.
Lectures are free and start at 7pm in the CHQ building on Customs House Quay (tel: 01-635 1428 and aaiadmin@eircom.net).
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Locals appeal demolition of Stella cinema
A PROPOSAL to demolish the 86-year-old Stella cinema on Lower Rathmines Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6 has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála by local residents who fear there is asbestos in its roof.
The residents are opposing a decision by Dublin City Council to grant planning permission to Highfield Estates Ltd to replace the cinema with a four-storey building incorporating a fitness centre on ground and first floor level, shops facing out onto Lower Rathmines Road and four apartments above.
In their appeal to An Bord Pleanála, the residents of Swanville Place ask how Dublin City Council could grant planning permission without a health and safety plan for the removal of what they believe is an asbestos roof on the old two-screen cinema.
Other concerns include the height of the proposed building which they say will “seriously erode light” to their homes and create “a boxed-in effect to the front of the houses at 5-7 Swanville Place” and overshadow the rear of 4 Swanville Place.
They say construction at Swanville has been ongoing for the last five years and neither fire or ambulance services can reach houses at the top of Swanville due to parking and construction traffic.
They are also concerned that developers will use the rear of 5-7 Swanville Terrace for the removal of waste or as a route for building equipment.
They say the foundations of houses at Swanville Place are 200-years-old and are at risk of structural damage.
The Stella cinema opened in 1923 and was bought by the Ward Anderson chain in 2003 from the O’Grady family and closed a year later.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The residents are opposing a decision by Dublin City Council to grant planning permission to Highfield Estates Ltd to replace the cinema with a four-storey building incorporating a fitness centre on ground and first floor level, shops facing out onto Lower Rathmines Road and four apartments above.
In their appeal to An Bord Pleanála, the residents of Swanville Place ask how Dublin City Council could grant planning permission without a health and safety plan for the removal of what they believe is an asbestos roof on the old two-screen cinema.
Other concerns include the height of the proposed building which they say will “seriously erode light” to their homes and create “a boxed-in effect to the front of the houses at 5-7 Swanville Place” and overshadow the rear of 4 Swanville Place.
They say construction at Swanville has been ongoing for the last five years and neither fire or ambulance services can reach houses at the top of Swanville due to parking and construction traffic.
They are also concerned that developers will use the rear of 5-7 Swanville Terrace for the removal of waste or as a route for building equipment.
They say the foundations of houses at Swanville Place are 200-years-old and are at risk of structural damage.
The Stella cinema opened in 1923 and was bought by the Ward Anderson chain in 2003 from the O’Grady family and closed a year later.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Councillors seek meeting over plan for sewage-treatment plant
CONNEMARA COUNCILLORS are seeking an urgent meeting with Minister for the Environment John Gormley over plans to build a sewage-treatment plant at one of the area’s most scenic parts of coastline.
Sruthán pier at Carraroe has been earmarked for the treatment plant by Galway County Council.
The local authority says the site would facilitate linkage to the existing sewerage network running through the village. Attempts to reach an agreement on an alternative location over the past year appear to have failed.
Raw sewage is currently discharged untreated into Casla Bay. However, the local community believes a plant overlooking the Atlantic and within 75m of housing would have a negative impact on the area.
A community group, Coiste Chéibh an tSrutháin, says its main areas of concern relate to “visual impact, odour pollution, noise pollution and discharges from the plant”.
“We believe that developing this sewage-treatment plant at this location will have an adverse effect on the wellbeing of the whole local community in many ways – environmental, physical, psychological and economic.”
The group says camouflaging the plant would be impossible. and it knows of “no other similar sewage-treatment plant in a similar location anywhere in the country or, indeed, anywhere abroad”.
Representatives of the community staged a protest at Galway County Council’s headquarters this week, which resulted in deferral of a draft proposal before the authority to begin building the plant.
Connemara councillors who are seeking to discuss the issue with Mr Gormley have been advised that the Galway county manager has the authority to pursue the project if a decision is not taken within six weeks.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sruthán pier at Carraroe has been earmarked for the treatment plant by Galway County Council.
The local authority says the site would facilitate linkage to the existing sewerage network running through the village. Attempts to reach an agreement on an alternative location over the past year appear to have failed.
Raw sewage is currently discharged untreated into Casla Bay. However, the local community believes a plant overlooking the Atlantic and within 75m of housing would have a negative impact on the area.
A community group, Coiste Chéibh an tSrutháin, says its main areas of concern relate to “visual impact, odour pollution, noise pollution and discharges from the plant”.
“We believe that developing this sewage-treatment plant at this location will have an adverse effect on the wellbeing of the whole local community in many ways – environmental, physical, psychological and economic.”
The group says camouflaging the plant would be impossible. and it knows of “no other similar sewage-treatment plant in a similar location anywhere in the country or, indeed, anywhere abroad”.
Representatives of the community staged a protest at Galway County Council’s headquarters this week, which resulted in deferral of a draft proposal before the authority to begin building the plant.
Connemara councillors who are seeking to discuss the issue with Mr Gormley have been advised that the Galway county manager has the authority to pursue the project if a decision is not taken within six weeks.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
EPA licences for animal feed plants recommended
THE ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Agency should take control of licensing plants that process waste human food for use as animal feed, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.
Representatives of the waste management industry were before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture. The committee is holding hearings into the recent food crisis in which pigfeed was contaminated by toxic substances known as dioxin-like PCBs, resulting in the withdrawal from sale of all Irish pork products.
Jackie Keaney, vice-president of the Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants (CEWEP) said the pork crisis was “not just a health, food and economic crisis – it was and is very much an environmental crisis”. This means we must ensure our “environmental practices, policies, regulations and infrastructure best serve our citizens, economy and international reputation,” he said.
Ms Keaney said BSE, foot-and-mouth, the Belgian food crisis and the Irish pork crisis were all caused by inappropriate treatment of waste.
Millstream Recycling in Co Carlow, the plant at the centre of the pigfeed crisis, is under investigation after it emerged that industrial oil had been used in the heating process used to convert waste human food into animal feed. A food-grade oil should be used for the process.
Millstream had a licence from Carlow County Council, but was not required to be licensed by the EPA. Ms Keaney said to avoid such a crisis happening again, a “good start” would be to ensure that any activity where contaminated, recycled waste could potentially enter the food chain was licensed by the EPA.
John Ahern, managing director of Indaver Ireland, which is building incinerators or waste-to-energy facilities in Meath and Cork, said lessons had not been learned and that Ireland was “sleepwalking” into another such food crisis.
Mr Ahern claimed Government policy was being advanced “that may result in further food crises”.
He referred to Minister for the Environment John Gormley’s stated policy of prioritising MBT – mechanical biological treatment – in his waste-management policy.
This system, which results in the output of fuel and a biologically treated “compost-like” product to be spread as fertiliser, could not kill PCBs as the temperatures used were not high enough, Mr Ahern said.
A number of members of the committee, including Kerry North TD Martin Ferris, said they had an “open mind” on incineration. Cork East TD Ned O’Keeffe, who is a farmer, said most problems were caused by “bad management” at farming level and that he also had an open mind on incineration.
Green Party Senator Dan Boyle, in whose constituency Indaver’s Cork incinerator will be based, defended Government policy on mechanical biological treatment and said it had been adopted as the fastest-growing method of waste treatment throughout Europe.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Representatives of the waste management industry were before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture. The committee is holding hearings into the recent food crisis in which pigfeed was contaminated by toxic substances known as dioxin-like PCBs, resulting in the withdrawal from sale of all Irish pork products.
Jackie Keaney, vice-president of the Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants (CEWEP) said the pork crisis was “not just a health, food and economic crisis – it was and is very much an environmental crisis”. This means we must ensure our “environmental practices, policies, regulations and infrastructure best serve our citizens, economy and international reputation,” he said.
Ms Keaney said BSE, foot-and-mouth, the Belgian food crisis and the Irish pork crisis were all caused by inappropriate treatment of waste.
Millstream Recycling in Co Carlow, the plant at the centre of the pigfeed crisis, is under investigation after it emerged that industrial oil had been used in the heating process used to convert waste human food into animal feed. A food-grade oil should be used for the process.
Millstream had a licence from Carlow County Council, but was not required to be licensed by the EPA. Ms Keaney said to avoid such a crisis happening again, a “good start” would be to ensure that any activity where contaminated, recycled waste could potentially enter the food chain was licensed by the EPA.
John Ahern, managing director of Indaver Ireland, which is building incinerators or waste-to-energy facilities in Meath and Cork, said lessons had not been learned and that Ireland was “sleepwalking” into another such food crisis.
Mr Ahern claimed Government policy was being advanced “that may result in further food crises”.
He referred to Minister for the Environment John Gormley’s stated policy of prioritising MBT – mechanical biological treatment – in his waste-management policy.
This system, which results in the output of fuel and a biologically treated “compost-like” product to be spread as fertiliser, could not kill PCBs as the temperatures used were not high enough, Mr Ahern said.
A number of members of the committee, including Kerry North TD Martin Ferris, said they had an “open mind” on incineration. Cork East TD Ned O’Keeffe, who is a farmer, said most problems were caused by “bad management” at farming level and that he also had an open mind on incineration.
Green Party Senator Dan Boyle, in whose constituency Indaver’s Cork incinerator will be based, defended Government policy on mechanical biological treatment and said it had been adopted as the fastest-growing method of waste treatment throughout Europe.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
275 homes planned for Redemptorists' D6 site
A PLANNING application is to be lodged today for a substantial residential development on part of the extensive grounds of the Redemptorist congregation at Orwell Road in Rathgar, Dublin 6. The 8.1 acres will accommodate 275 houses and apartments, a smaller monastery and a new public park.
Architect O’Mahony Pike has completed a master plan for the entire Marianella site where the congregation has been based since the 1930s. The new development will not exceed the height of the existing buildings.
Fifteen months ago, the Redemptorists received 11 proposals from developers interested in redeveloping the grounds on a joint venture basis. Bill Nowlan of WK Nowlan and Associates, who is advising the order, said that while they chose a preferred partner to carry out the development, “negotiations floundered as a result of the financial crises in the marketplace”. It was now planned to secure planning permission and then review the situation.
The planning application will provide for a smaller monastery and chapel, likely to cost around €10 million, to meet the community’s needs. It will be the first new monastery to be built in this country in the 21st century. A quarter of the entire site will be set aside for a public park and there will be about 43 residential units for social and affordable owners.
The Marianella grounds would have been valued at around €10 million an acre in the boom conditions of a few years ago but, with the collapse in the new homes market and the continuing credit squeeze, the likelihood is that land values are now below €5 million an acre.
The Redemptorists probably take the view that by securing planning permission and other necessary consents, they will be in a position to go to the market once the first signs emerge of a recovery. Orwell Road is a leafy, mature location of great appeal both to first-time buyers and families trading up from less popular areas.
A spokesperson for the Redemptorists said that, in common with other religious orders, they had suffered a decline in vocations which was impacting on the size of the accommodation they required for their current needs. He stressed that since the community was remaining at Marianella, alongside the residents of the new houses and apartments, they would be committed to ensuring both the quality and timely delivery of the overall project.
The spokesman said that the proceeds from the site will be committed to developing their pastoral work and resources in various centres through Ireland, increasing the number of qualified lay and salaried people who will work with them in their ministry, training future and present Redemptorist students, and providing care for the growing number of elderly and sick priests and brothers.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Architect O’Mahony Pike has completed a master plan for the entire Marianella site where the congregation has been based since the 1930s. The new development will not exceed the height of the existing buildings.
Fifteen months ago, the Redemptorists received 11 proposals from developers interested in redeveloping the grounds on a joint venture basis. Bill Nowlan of WK Nowlan and Associates, who is advising the order, said that while they chose a preferred partner to carry out the development, “negotiations floundered as a result of the financial crises in the marketplace”. It was now planned to secure planning permission and then review the situation.
The planning application will provide for a smaller monastery and chapel, likely to cost around €10 million, to meet the community’s needs. It will be the first new monastery to be built in this country in the 21st century. A quarter of the entire site will be set aside for a public park and there will be about 43 residential units for social and affordable owners.
The Marianella grounds would have been valued at around €10 million an acre in the boom conditions of a few years ago but, with the collapse in the new homes market and the continuing credit squeeze, the likelihood is that land values are now below €5 million an acre.
The Redemptorists probably take the view that by securing planning permission and other necessary consents, they will be in a position to go to the market once the first signs emerge of a recovery. Orwell Road is a leafy, mature location of great appeal both to first-time buyers and families trading up from less popular areas.
A spokesperson for the Redemptorists said that, in common with other religious orders, they had suffered a decline in vocations which was impacting on the size of the accommodation they required for their current needs. He stressed that since the community was remaining at Marianella, alongside the residents of the new houses and apartments, they would be committed to ensuring both the quality and timely delivery of the overall project.
The spokesman said that the proceeds from the site will be committed to developing their pastoral work and resources in various centres through Ireland, increasing the number of qualified lay and salaried people who will work with them in their ministry, training future and present Redemptorist students, and providing care for the growing number of elderly and sick priests and brothers.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Kerry councillors agree to rezone lands surrounding Paidi O'Se pub
THERE HAS been unanimous agreement among councillors in Kerry yesterday to rezone lands surrounding the pub of Páidí Ó Sé, the eight times All-Ireland Kerry senior football medal winner and former Kerry football manager.
The proposal to rezone “the Páidí Ó Sé licensed premises and land to the east at Ard a Bhothair”, a townland near Ventry, from “prime special amenity”, a designation attached to the most scenic and sensitive landscapes, had been opposed by council planners and management.
The redesignation will effectively give village status to the townland.
Fianna Fáil councillor Michael O’Shea proposed the rezoning and it was seconded by Cllr Michael Gleeson, South Kerry Independent Alliance.
The rezoning of the lands, which are at a crossroads less than a third of a mile from the sea on the way to Slea Head, would pave the way for “a sports interpretative centre” as well as commercial residential development, the meeting heard.
Mr Ó Sé, who is a director of Fáilte Ireland, was present in the public area of the council chambers in the afternoon for the vote on the proposal, which will form part of the new five-year Kerry county development plan to be adopted in the coming months.
According to architect Darryl Broe, who made a submission on behalf of Mr Ó Sé, the zoning will facilitate the development of a sports interpretative centre as part of a two-storey rebuild of the existing function room at Mr Ó Sé’s pub.
There will also be a complementary residential development to provide accommodation for family members, employees and patrons of conferences to be held in the interpretative centre.
It will be opposite the pub in Ard a Bhothair, a townland that consists mainly of Mr Ó Sé’s pub, his shop and a Catholic church.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The proposal to rezone “the Páidí Ó Sé licensed premises and land to the east at Ard a Bhothair”, a townland near Ventry, from “prime special amenity”, a designation attached to the most scenic and sensitive landscapes, had been opposed by council planners and management.
The redesignation will effectively give village status to the townland.
Fianna Fáil councillor Michael O’Shea proposed the rezoning and it was seconded by Cllr Michael Gleeson, South Kerry Independent Alliance.
The rezoning of the lands, which are at a crossroads less than a third of a mile from the sea on the way to Slea Head, would pave the way for “a sports interpretative centre” as well as commercial residential development, the meeting heard.
Mr Ó Sé, who is a director of Fáilte Ireland, was present in the public area of the council chambers in the afternoon for the vote on the proposal, which will form part of the new five-year Kerry county development plan to be adopted in the coming months.
According to architect Darryl Broe, who made a submission on behalf of Mr Ó Sé, the zoning will facilitate the development of a sports interpretative centre as part of a two-storey rebuild of the existing function room at Mr Ó Sé’s pub.
There will also be a complementary residential development to provide accommodation for family members, employees and patrons of conferences to be held in the interpretative centre.
It will be opposite the pub in Ard a Bhothair, a townland that consists mainly of Mr Ó Sé’s pub, his shop and a Catholic church.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Habitat store to be replanned as cafe
A PROPOSAL to locate a branch of German low-cost supermarket Lidl in the former Habitat furniture store on Dublin’s College Green has been scrapped in favour of redeveloping the building as a “Viennese-style” cafe.
Dublin City Council has granted permission to Pixtell Ltd to change the building from a retail premises to a licensed restaurant.
Pixtell is controlled by Tony Leonard, who, with Paddy McKillen, bought the former Bank of Ireland branch in 2002 for €22 million, before leasing it to Habitat. The furniture store closed last May following what it described as a severe deterioration in sales. Habitat had hoped to sell on its lease, and Lidl was among a small number of parties who expressed an interest in the site.
However, the supermarket chain was reportedly unwilling to pay the €2 million, reduced from an initial €3 million, asked by Habitat.
The lease has since been returned to Pixtell, who remain the owners of the premises, and the company has decided to convert the building into a cafe/restaurant instead of seeking another retail lease with Lidl or any other firm.
The planning permission sought, and granted, is unlikely to be appealed to An Bord Pleanála, as it involves a substantial restoration of the original fabric of the mid-19th century building.
The recently added mezzanine floor is to be removed, and the wall between the protected period property and the modern building that adjoins it on Suffolk Street, which was part of the Habitat store, is to be rebuilt.
The application was referred to An Taisce, which said it welcomed the proposal for a Viennese-style cafe as long as the architectural character of the building was maintained and enhanced.
It also said a condition should be imposed to ensure that any alcohol sales on the premises should be in the context of a restaurant only and not a pub or nightclub.
The city council attached a condition that the building not be used as a public house or nightclub.
The section of the Habitat store fronting on to Suffolk Street will remain separate from the cafe and is likely to be leased as a clothing store.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Dublin City Council has granted permission to Pixtell Ltd to change the building from a retail premises to a licensed restaurant.
Pixtell is controlled by Tony Leonard, who, with Paddy McKillen, bought the former Bank of Ireland branch in 2002 for €22 million, before leasing it to Habitat. The furniture store closed last May following what it described as a severe deterioration in sales. Habitat had hoped to sell on its lease, and Lidl was among a small number of parties who expressed an interest in the site.
However, the supermarket chain was reportedly unwilling to pay the €2 million, reduced from an initial €3 million, asked by Habitat.
The lease has since been returned to Pixtell, who remain the owners of the premises, and the company has decided to convert the building into a cafe/restaurant instead of seeking another retail lease with Lidl or any other firm.
The planning permission sought, and granted, is unlikely to be appealed to An Bord Pleanála, as it involves a substantial restoration of the original fabric of the mid-19th century building.
The recently added mezzanine floor is to be removed, and the wall between the protected period property and the modern building that adjoins it on Suffolk Street, which was part of the Habitat store, is to be rebuilt.
The application was referred to An Taisce, which said it welcomed the proposal for a Viennese-style cafe as long as the architectural character of the building was maintained and enhanced.
It also said a condition should be imposed to ensure that any alcohol sales on the premises should be in the context of a restaurant only and not a pub or nightclub.
The city council attached a condition that the building not be used as a public house or nightclub.
The section of the Habitat store fronting on to Suffolk Street will remain separate from the cafe and is likely to be leased as a clothing store.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Building houses on flood plains is destroying natural defences, says expert
THE practice of building houses and other concrete structures on flood plains is destroying Ireland’s natural flood defences, according to one of the country’s leading experts on coastal engineering.
“If you look at the rainfall patterns over the last 20 years, you will find that there has been a marked change. We are now getting severe bursts of rain rather than precipitation being spread out,” said Dr Jimmy Murphy, coastal engineering manager with the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre, University College Cork (UCC).
Dr Murphy attributed much of this change to global warming which has lead to great uncertainty in predicting climate change.
“We have better technology and that means we know more, but the problem is we don’t know what to do about it because we don’t know what the climate will be in the next decade. That is the problem facing us and it is a real challenge.”
“That poses a difficulty in designing coastal defences for an event that might only occur once in several decades. We design structures for extreme events that might happen once in every 50 years while in the Netherlands, they design structures for climatic events that might occur once in every 10,000 years.”
Dr Murphy, who hosts a seminar on flood defences at UCC on Friday, said that, despite the uncertainty in predicting weather patterns, he was not in favour of constructing massive flood defences.
“We do not want huge structures that cost a fortune. It is far better if we find solutions that provide effective early warning systems so we can be prepared for extreme events.”
“There are great challenges and great opportunities and lateral thinking is required when it comes to solving problems. Making our coastal defences climate proof, requires a different kind of thinking. It must be more an ongoing process, a system that needs revisiting from time to time and regular maintenance.
“Recent weather patterns are putting Ireland’s flood defence and coastal infrastructure under increasing pressure. Flooding of cities and towns is now a common occurrence and UCC studies have shown that rainfall patterns have changed considerably in recent years. In addition many of Ireland’s coastal defences may be found to be under designed given future storm and sea level predictions.
“The coastline is coming under increasing threat as is indicated by the recent breaching of the sand dunes on Rossbeigh Beach, Co Kerry. There is an urgent need for decision-makers to understand the challenges facing the country and how best to meet them.”
However, Dr Murphy said he was hopeful for the future. “The design and management methodologies for flood defence systems and coastal structures has developed considerably in recent years. Through monitoring, mapping and modelling there is now a greater understanding of basic system behaviour yet great uncertainty exists as to the nature and magnitudes of environmental loadings. The challenge now is to seek solutions that are both sustainable and cost-effective in the long-term whilst providing sufficient protection against extreme events, such as we have witnessed over the past week.” It is opportune that this seminar brings experts from Ireland, Britain and the Netherlands to discuss these latest developments and possible future trends, he said.
lThe seminar will run from 9.30am to 5pm in the Cavanagh Pharmacy Building, UCC on Friday. To register for this seminar or obtain more information please contact Cora Edwards, Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre, on (021) 4250021 or email hmrc@ucc.ie.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
“If you look at the rainfall patterns over the last 20 years, you will find that there has been a marked change. We are now getting severe bursts of rain rather than precipitation being spread out,” said Dr Jimmy Murphy, coastal engineering manager with the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre, University College Cork (UCC).
Dr Murphy attributed much of this change to global warming which has lead to great uncertainty in predicting climate change.
“We have better technology and that means we know more, but the problem is we don’t know what to do about it because we don’t know what the climate will be in the next decade. That is the problem facing us and it is a real challenge.”
“That poses a difficulty in designing coastal defences for an event that might only occur once in several decades. We design structures for extreme events that might happen once in every 50 years while in the Netherlands, they design structures for climatic events that might occur once in every 10,000 years.”
Dr Murphy, who hosts a seminar on flood defences at UCC on Friday, said that, despite the uncertainty in predicting weather patterns, he was not in favour of constructing massive flood defences.
“We do not want huge structures that cost a fortune. It is far better if we find solutions that provide effective early warning systems so we can be prepared for extreme events.”
“There are great challenges and great opportunities and lateral thinking is required when it comes to solving problems. Making our coastal defences climate proof, requires a different kind of thinking. It must be more an ongoing process, a system that needs revisiting from time to time and regular maintenance.
“Recent weather patterns are putting Ireland’s flood defence and coastal infrastructure under increasing pressure. Flooding of cities and towns is now a common occurrence and UCC studies have shown that rainfall patterns have changed considerably in recent years. In addition many of Ireland’s coastal defences may be found to be under designed given future storm and sea level predictions.
“The coastline is coming under increasing threat as is indicated by the recent breaching of the sand dunes on Rossbeigh Beach, Co Kerry. There is an urgent need for decision-makers to understand the challenges facing the country and how best to meet them.”
However, Dr Murphy said he was hopeful for the future. “The design and management methodologies for flood defence systems and coastal structures has developed considerably in recent years. Through monitoring, mapping and modelling there is now a greater understanding of basic system behaviour yet great uncertainty exists as to the nature and magnitudes of environmental loadings. The challenge now is to seek solutions that are both sustainable and cost-effective in the long-term whilst providing sufficient protection against extreme events, such as we have witnessed over the past week.” It is opportune that this seminar brings experts from Ireland, Britain and the Netherlands to discuss these latest developments and possible future trends, he said.
lThe seminar will run from 9.30am to 5pm in the Cavanagh Pharmacy Building, UCC on Friday. To register for this seminar or obtain more information please contact Cora Edwards, Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre, on (021) 4250021 or email hmrc@ucc.ie.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Developers defend Killarney tower
KILLARNEY’S answer to the spectacular viewing platform on the Grand Canyon, in the US, will not affect the livelihoods of traditional jarveys and boatmen, the developers insisted yesterday.
Killarney Town Council has given planning permission for a 270ft (82m) viewing tower, part of a major shopping/tourism development in the 14-acre Malton Hotel site for which planning was granted, last month.
But two Independent town councillors, Donal Grady and Michael Courtney, said they would be appealing the decision to An Bord Pleanála.
Mr Grady claimed: “Who would want to view Killarney from Aghadoe if they can get a quick trip up a tower? I believe tour operators and people giving boat trips on the lakes will be affected if the tower goes ahead.”
He also said a tower would not be in keeping with the physical environment of Killarney.
Killarney was a town of low structures and something almost 90m height would “desecrate” the town, he argued.
Mr Grady, whose family are in the jarvey business, said a tower would be totally out of place and a “disgrace on the skyline”.
But, Michael O’Shea, a director of Beara BL, the company behind the project, said it would enhance visitors’ experience of Killarney, just as a dramatic viewing area was doing on the Grand Canyon.
It would be a showpiece and a shop window for the area’s beauty spots, he maintained.
“I believe people who go up on the tower will be so ‘wowed’ that they will be encouraged to go out there and see the beauty spots,” said Mr O’Shea who also rejected claims it would intrude on the privacy of people’s homes.
“One of the main jarvey companies in Killarney have told us they are very much in favour of the tower.”
Mr O’Shea has stated his company’s ambitious €200 million shopping and tourism development is going ahead in Killarney.
Beara BL has planning permission for 18,000 square metres of retail space, a new hotel block, an underground car park with 1,200 spaces, a courthouse and an eight-screen cinema.
Some of the buildings will be up to five storeys with an entrance plaza onto East Avenue Road.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Killarney Town Council has given planning permission for a 270ft (82m) viewing tower, part of a major shopping/tourism development in the 14-acre Malton Hotel site for which planning was granted, last month.
But two Independent town councillors, Donal Grady and Michael Courtney, said they would be appealing the decision to An Bord Pleanála.
Mr Grady claimed: “Who would want to view Killarney from Aghadoe if they can get a quick trip up a tower? I believe tour operators and people giving boat trips on the lakes will be affected if the tower goes ahead.”
He also said a tower would not be in keeping with the physical environment of Killarney.
Killarney was a town of low structures and something almost 90m height would “desecrate” the town, he argued.
Mr Grady, whose family are in the jarvey business, said a tower would be totally out of place and a “disgrace on the skyline”.
But, Michael O’Shea, a director of Beara BL, the company behind the project, said it would enhance visitors’ experience of Killarney, just as a dramatic viewing area was doing on the Grand Canyon.
It would be a showpiece and a shop window for the area’s beauty spots, he maintained.
“I believe people who go up on the tower will be so ‘wowed’ that they will be encouraged to go out there and see the beauty spots,” said Mr O’Shea who also rejected claims it would intrude on the privacy of people’s homes.
“One of the main jarvey companies in Killarney have told us they are very much in favour of the tower.”
Mr O’Shea has stated his company’s ambitious €200 million shopping and tourism development is going ahead in Killarney.
Beara BL has planning permission for 18,000 square metres of retail space, a new hotel block, an underground car park with 1,200 spaces, a courthouse and an eight-screen cinema.
Some of the buildings will be up to five storeys with an entrance plaza onto East Avenue Road.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Rezoning for Ó Sé sports centre plan
THE way was cleared yesterday for a sports interpretive centre-cum-residential development by Kerry football legend Páidi Ó Sé on his property in Ard Bhothair, Ventry.
But, in deciding to give Mr Ó Sé the land rezonings he had sought, members of Kerry County Council refused to accept all the advice of their senior planners.
He requested that his pub and land, to the east of the business, be rezoned from prime special amenity to residential/opportunity and/ or rural/general.
Senior planning engineer Tom Sheehy said the rural/general rezoning would be acceptable, but the land could not be rezoned residential/opportunity.
“In the local area plan the council took a decision not to re-open residential zoning. Legally, we can’t do it and that’s the bottom line,” he said.
He also pointed out it was council policy not to allow holiday homes in rural areas.
But councillors unanimously rowed in behind Mr Ó Sé, who was in the public gallery, and voted for both zonings to be included in the county development plan 2009-2015.
The proposal was made by FF councillor Michael O’Shea, seconded by Independent councillor Michael Gleeson.
The zonings will facilitate the erection of a sports interpretive centre in the existing pub functions room area and a residential development to provide accommodation for family members, employees and people attending conferences in the interpretive centre.
FF councillor Paul O’Donoghue said Údarás na Gaeltactha was supporting Mr Ó Sé’s application which would help create jobs and attract visitors to the area.
“This is exactly what we should be doing — trying to help people create jobs,” Mr O’Donoghue went on.
“We can amend rules and procedures to provide jobs. This is a superb, innovative proposal which will help the community.”
Mr Gleeson said he had visited the site and could not see any substantial problem with what was being proposed.
“It’s a valid and fair request for rezoning,” he remarked.
While urging the council not to agree to a residential/opportunity rezoning, Mr Sheehy said a rural/general rezoning would not preclude a material contravention if future developments were planned.
“With a rural/general rezoning, we could then deal with a planning application on its merits,” he said.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
But, in deciding to give Mr Ó Sé the land rezonings he had sought, members of Kerry County Council refused to accept all the advice of their senior planners.
He requested that his pub and land, to the east of the business, be rezoned from prime special amenity to residential/opportunity and/ or rural/general.
Senior planning engineer Tom Sheehy said the rural/general rezoning would be acceptable, but the land could not be rezoned residential/opportunity.
“In the local area plan the council took a decision not to re-open residential zoning. Legally, we can’t do it and that’s the bottom line,” he said.
He also pointed out it was council policy not to allow holiday homes in rural areas.
But councillors unanimously rowed in behind Mr Ó Sé, who was in the public gallery, and voted for both zonings to be included in the county development plan 2009-2015.
The proposal was made by FF councillor Michael O’Shea, seconded by Independent councillor Michael Gleeson.
The zonings will facilitate the erection of a sports interpretive centre in the existing pub functions room area and a residential development to provide accommodation for family members, employees and people attending conferences in the interpretive centre.
FF councillor Paul O’Donoghue said Údarás na Gaeltactha was supporting Mr Ó Sé’s application which would help create jobs and attract visitors to the area.
“This is exactly what we should be doing — trying to help people create jobs,” Mr O’Donoghue went on.
“We can amend rules and procedures to provide jobs. This is a superb, innovative proposal which will help the community.”
Mr Gleeson said he had visited the site and could not see any substantial problem with what was being proposed.
“It’s a valid and fair request for rezoning,” he remarked.
While urging the council not to agree to a residential/opportunity rezoning, Mr Sheehy said a rural/general rezoning would not preclude a material contravention if future developments were planned.
“With a rural/general rezoning, we could then deal with a planning application on its merits,” he said.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Estate agent claims €1.5m in unpaid fees from developer
A FIRM of estate agents has brought a legal action against one of the country’s largest property developers claiming €1.5 million in unpaid fees.
The action taken by CB Richard Ellis against Sean Dunne was transferred to the Commercial Court yesterday by Mr Justice Peter Kelly who listed it for hearing on February 18.
The judge was told by Brian Murray SC, for Mr Dunne, the alleged liability was not of Mr Dunne, but of one of his companies, Mountbrook Homes Ltd.
CB Richard Ellis has claimed in an affidavit the agreement involved in the case was made with Mr Dunne personally and alleges the appearance entered by the defence was “solely for the purpose of delay”.
Asked by the judge what was the defence, Mr Murray said there was “a very significant dispute” about the amount of the claim and there was also an issue in relation to the level of services provided.
CB Richard Ellis, with registered offices at Connaught House, Burlington Road, Dublin, is claiming the fees in relation to a commercial property transaction involving the sale of premises known as Riverside IV at Sir John Rogerson’s Quay in Dublin and the part exchange of that with another property, Hume House, Pembroke Road.
In an affidavit, CB Richard Ellis director Willie Dowling said Mr Dunne had, under an oral agreement evidenced by a fax of September 15, 2004, engaged the services of CB Richard Ellis concerning the transaction. CB Richard Ellis had acted for Mr Dunne personally and also for his companies on many occasions. While the fax of September 15, 2004, was on the headed notepaper of Mountbrook, the agreement on the Riverside IV deal was with Mr Dunne in his personal capacity and Mountbrook had no involvement with the transaction “on any level”.
Mr Dowling said the aspect of his company’s fee which was in dispute related to an investment fee agreed at 0.75% of the sale price, which amounted to €1.44 million, plus VAT.
He had later negotiated a reduction of that fee on a goodwill basis to €1.25 million, plus VAT (some €1.52 million).
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The action taken by CB Richard Ellis against Sean Dunne was transferred to the Commercial Court yesterday by Mr Justice Peter Kelly who listed it for hearing on February 18.
The judge was told by Brian Murray SC, for Mr Dunne, the alleged liability was not of Mr Dunne, but of one of his companies, Mountbrook Homes Ltd.
CB Richard Ellis has claimed in an affidavit the agreement involved in the case was made with Mr Dunne personally and alleges the appearance entered by the defence was “solely for the purpose of delay”.
Asked by the judge what was the defence, Mr Murray said there was “a very significant dispute” about the amount of the claim and there was also an issue in relation to the level of services provided.
CB Richard Ellis, with registered offices at Connaught House, Burlington Road, Dublin, is claiming the fees in relation to a commercial property transaction involving the sale of premises known as Riverside IV at Sir John Rogerson’s Quay in Dublin and the part exchange of that with another property, Hume House, Pembroke Road.
In an affidavit, CB Richard Ellis director Willie Dowling said Mr Dunne had, under an oral agreement evidenced by a fax of September 15, 2004, engaged the services of CB Richard Ellis concerning the transaction. CB Richard Ellis had acted for Mr Dunne personally and also for his companies on many occasions. While the fax of September 15, 2004, was on the headed notepaper of Mountbrook, the agreement on the Riverside IV deal was with Mr Dunne in his personal capacity and Mountbrook had no involvement with the transaction “on any level”.
Mr Dowling said the aspect of his company’s fee which was in dispute related to an investment fee agreed at 0.75% of the sale price, which amounted to €1.44 million, plus VAT.
He had later negotiated a reduction of that fee on a goodwill basis to €1.25 million, plus VAT (some €1.52 million).
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Gormley says he wants Burren project to continue
A PLEDGE to take all possible steps to continue funding a conservation project in the Burren, Co Clare, has been made by the Minister for the Environment.
BurrenLIFE is described as the first major farming conservation project in Ireland. Its funding of €2.23 million, three-quarters of which came from the EU, is due to finish in September.
At the official launch yesterday of a DVD on the project which has been running for five years, John Gormley said that in the present economic climate, finding funding was difficult. “My department will be taking all steps to find a way forward and will talk to all the parties involved,” he said.
Twenty farms are involved in the project which includes active management of priority habitats, including orchid-rich grassland, limestone pavement and turloughs.
“The unique landscape of the Burren is not an entirely spontaneous, natural phenomenon, but is the result of farming practices over thousands of years.”
Mr Gormley said the project had been a highly successful partnership between the European Commission, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Teagasc, the Burren Irish Farmers’ Association and local farmers.
It had improved access for cattle, enhancing livestock-management facilities and had helped to repair dry stone walls and had developed a special feed formula for cattle. Project manager Dr Brendan Dunford said he wanted to see it continue and for the hundreds of other farmers who managed the Burren landscape to come into the system.
Ruairí Ó Conchúir, finance officer with the project, said the DVD was the first Irish-made farming for conservation DVD as a resource and training tool for farmers, planners and policy makers.
All the speakers at the launch said the project had been successful because of the co-operation of the farmers who worked as equals. The project had been developing a new model for sustainable agriculture in the Burren to conserve designated habitats.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
BurrenLIFE is described as the first major farming conservation project in Ireland. Its funding of €2.23 million, three-quarters of which came from the EU, is due to finish in September.
At the official launch yesterday of a DVD on the project which has been running for five years, John Gormley said that in the present economic climate, finding funding was difficult. “My department will be taking all steps to find a way forward and will talk to all the parties involved,” he said.
Twenty farms are involved in the project which includes active management of priority habitats, including orchid-rich grassland, limestone pavement and turloughs.
“The unique landscape of the Burren is not an entirely spontaneous, natural phenomenon, but is the result of farming practices over thousands of years.”
Mr Gormley said the project had been a highly successful partnership between the European Commission, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Teagasc, the Burren Irish Farmers’ Association and local farmers.
It had improved access for cattle, enhancing livestock-management facilities and had helped to repair dry stone walls and had developed a special feed formula for cattle. Project manager Dr Brendan Dunford said he wanted to see it continue and for the hundreds of other farmers who managed the Burren landscape to come into the system.
Ruairí Ó Conchúir, finance officer with the project, said the DVD was the first Irish-made farming for conservation DVD as a resource and training tool for farmers, planners and policy makers.
All the speakers at the launch said the project had been successful because of the co-operation of the farmers who worked as equals. The project had been developing a new model for sustainable agriculture in the Burren to conserve designated habitats.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 26 January 2009
Dublin City Development Plan
Dublin City Council has announced that intends to review the Dublin City Development Plan 2005-2011 and prepare a new City Development Plan for its functional area.
The Planning Authority will carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment [SEA] as part of the review process and, for this purpose, the Planning Authority will also prepare an environmental report on the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the new plan.
The Dublin City Development Plan is a scheme for creating a sustainable and vibrant city in the context of a strategy for a Greater Dublin. The plan focuses on developing the core area of the city and protecting the future of the city centre as the heart of the region.
To assist this process, an ‘Issues’ booklet, which identifies the kind of planning issues that the next City Development Plan could address, has been prepared.
For more information and/or to submit an observation contact bps on 0404-66060 or email admin@buckplanning.ie
www.buckplanning.ie
The Planning Authority will carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment [SEA] as part of the review process and, for this purpose, the Planning Authority will also prepare an environmental report on the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the new plan.
The Dublin City Development Plan is a scheme for creating a sustainable and vibrant city in the context of a strategy for a Greater Dublin. The plan focuses on developing the core area of the city and protecting the future of the city centre as the heart of the region.
To assist this process, an ‘Issues’ booklet, which identifies the kind of planning issues that the next City Development Plan could address, has been prepared.
For more information and/or to submit an observation contact bps on 0404-66060 or email admin@buckplanning.ie
www.buckplanning.ie
Dublin City Development Plan
Dublin City Council has announced that intends to review the Dublin City Development Plan 2005-2011 and prepare a new City Development Plan for its functional area.
The Planning Authority will carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment [SEA] as part of the review process and, for this purpose, the Planning Authority will also prepare an environmental report on the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the new plan.
The Dublin City Development Plan is a scheme for creating a sustainable and vibrant city in the context of a strategy for a Greater Dublin. The plan focuses on developing the core area of the city and protecting the future of the city centre as the heart of the region.
To assist this process, an ‘Issues’ booklet, which identifies the kind of planning issues that the next City Development Plan could address, has been prepared.
For more information and/or to submit an observation contact bps on 0404-66060 or email admin@buckplanning.ie
www.buckplanning.ie
The Planning Authority will carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment [SEA] as part of the review process and, for this purpose, the Planning Authority will also prepare an environmental report on the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the new plan.
The Dublin City Development Plan is a scheme for creating a sustainable and vibrant city in the context of a strategy for a Greater Dublin. The plan focuses on developing the core area of the city and protecting the future of the city centre as the heart of the region.
To assist this process, an ‘Issues’ booklet, which identifies the kind of planning issues that the next City Development Plan could address, has been prepared.
For more information and/or to submit an observation contact bps on 0404-66060 or email admin@buckplanning.ie
www.buckplanning.ie
New Master Plan adopted for Dublin Docklands
The Dublin Docklands Master Plan 2008 has been adopted following extensive public consultation and significant modifications to the initial draft plan.
After the publication of the draft Master Plan last June, 123 submissions were received and each was carefully considered and incorporated where appropriate. The amended draft Master Plan was then presented for adoption to the 26-member council of the Docklands Authority, which includes community representatives, local councillors and stakeholders.
The 2008 Master Plan lays the foundations for the next five to ten years of the Dublin Docklands project. Building on the success of both the 1997 and 2003 Master Plans, it will provide the reference point for the roll-out of projects, programmes and policies for the sustainable regeneration of the Docklands. It is a very comprehensive document covering social regeneration, economic development, land use, transportation, infrastructure, urban design, arts, culture, tourism and leisure.
Donal O'Connor Chairman, Dublin Docklands Development Authority said that the preparation of the Master Plan had involved extensive stakeholder consultation and wider public engagement and that the final document had been enriched as a result of the consultation process and submissions.
"When this Master Plan can be delivered, it will bring enormous benefits to all stakeholders - including the city of Dublin, the local community and the new community - and will play an important part in delivering jobs and economic prosperity for our city. The current unfavourable economic climate will pose many challenges for all of us as we pursue our ambitions on behalf of Docklands. However, I am confident, that Docklands will continue to be a vibrant and positive regeneration project for the city of Dublin" - he said.
www.buckplanning.ie
After the publication of the draft Master Plan last June, 123 submissions were received and each was carefully considered and incorporated where appropriate. The amended draft Master Plan was then presented for adoption to the 26-member council of the Docklands Authority, which includes community representatives, local councillors and stakeholders.
The 2008 Master Plan lays the foundations for the next five to ten years of the Dublin Docklands project. Building on the success of both the 1997 and 2003 Master Plans, it will provide the reference point for the roll-out of projects, programmes and policies for the sustainable regeneration of the Docklands. It is a very comprehensive document covering social regeneration, economic development, land use, transportation, infrastructure, urban design, arts, culture, tourism and leisure.
Donal O'Connor Chairman, Dublin Docklands Development Authority said that the preparation of the Master Plan had involved extensive stakeholder consultation and wider public engagement and that the final document had been enriched as a result of the consultation process and submissions.
"When this Master Plan can be delivered, it will bring enormous benefits to all stakeholders - including the city of Dublin, the local community and the new community - and will play an important part in delivering jobs and economic prosperity for our city. The current unfavourable economic climate will pose many challenges for all of us as we pursue our ambitions on behalf of Docklands. However, I am confident, that Docklands will continue to be a vibrant and positive regeneration project for the city of Dublin" - he said.
www.buckplanning.ie
Minister Kitt addresses major cross-border planning conference
Mr. Michael Kitt, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, addressed a major cross-border planning conference in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.
The conference was organised by the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD) and was also addressed by Mr. Conor Murphy, MP MLA, Minister for Regional Development in Northern Ireland.
The theme of the conference - which was attended by policy-makers, public bodies, academics and non-Government organisations from both sides of the border and from abroad - was - 'Achieving Balanced Regional Development - Dynamic Regions, Spatial Strategies and Collaboration'. The conference focused on the impact of spatial strategies and designated growth centres - such as gateways - on balanced regional and local development.
Over the two days of the conference, a broad range of international speakers shared their experiences and know-how on planning initiatives, including the regional impact of cross-border planning initiatives on both sides of the border. The conference and the Minister’s address was timely, given that the plenary session of the North South Ministerial Council - held on 23 January in Magee Campus, Derry - also focused on cross-border initiatives.
In his address, Minister Kitt emphasised the need for cross-border co-operation and collaboration to maximise opportunities on the island of Ireland to boost our economic performance and competitiveness.
“In global terms, we’re a small nation on a small island. In order to withstand and recover from economic shocks, we must maximise our strengths and ensure that we are well-positioned to grasp the opportunities that we have or that come our way" - the Minister said.
"As well as our shared cultural heritage, we also have strong - and, indeed, growing - economic links with Northern Ireland. The reality we must all face is that we are operating within an all-island economy and, so, we have to start thinking in those terms. We are stronger when we work together - we can achieve more through collaboration than competition."
The Minister voiced his strong support for the Framework for Collaboration on Spatial Strategies on the Island of Ireland, which has been drafted by officials and experts from both the Republic and Northern Ireland to highlight the synergies and shared opportunities presented by the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) and the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland in cross-border spatial development, in order to maximise the region’s development. It is expected that the Framework will shortly be considered and endorsed by both Governments.
Minister Power called on everyone to put a fair wind behind the Collaborative Spatial Framework - which will present challenges, but also significant potential benefits arising from greater collaboration. “We must see it as a starting point which will require commitment, energy, support and clear actions from all stakeholders - central and local Governments, Government and State Agencies, the private sector, academia and NGOs.”
The Minister went on to inform the conference that the NSS is to be refreshed and updated in the coming months by identifying the achievements to-date, highlighting best practice, the challenges for the future and the best spatial policy responses to those challenges.
The dovetailing of the NSS Refresh with an ongoing review of the Northern Ireland’s RDS and the adoption of the Collaborative Spatial Framework are essentially interlinked for the positive and future-looking and implementation of cross-border development.
Minister Power also highlighted the need for a focus on creating and nurturing competitive cities, which act as drivers of wider regional development - “Cities and larger urban areas, that are attractive, competitive, sustainable and dynamic, are one of the key drivers for regional development. International research clearly shows that successful countries and regions must have successful cities and urban areas at their core.
"As well as bringing economies of scale, good linkage between businesses and a concentrated skilled workforce, competitive cities contribute to the formation of competitive regions by acting economic engines that promote regional growth and employment."
Concluding, the Minister said - "The process of updating and refreshing the NSS will look at our network of cities, our gateways and hub towns and set out what needs to be done to assure and accelerate their development as drivers for their wider regions and more rural environs. Challenging questions will also need to be addressed within the NSS update and refresh process about the roles that rural areas must play in the wider context of regional development.”
www.buckplanning.ie
The conference was organised by the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD) and was also addressed by Mr. Conor Murphy, MP MLA, Minister for Regional Development in Northern Ireland.
The theme of the conference - which was attended by policy-makers, public bodies, academics and non-Government organisations from both sides of the border and from abroad - was - 'Achieving Balanced Regional Development - Dynamic Regions, Spatial Strategies and Collaboration'. The conference focused on the impact of spatial strategies and designated growth centres - such as gateways - on balanced regional and local development.
Over the two days of the conference, a broad range of international speakers shared their experiences and know-how on planning initiatives, including the regional impact of cross-border planning initiatives on both sides of the border. The conference and the Minister’s address was timely, given that the plenary session of the North South Ministerial Council - held on 23 January in Magee Campus, Derry - also focused on cross-border initiatives.
In his address, Minister Kitt emphasised the need for cross-border co-operation and collaboration to maximise opportunities on the island of Ireland to boost our economic performance and competitiveness.
“In global terms, we’re a small nation on a small island. In order to withstand and recover from economic shocks, we must maximise our strengths and ensure that we are well-positioned to grasp the opportunities that we have or that come our way" - the Minister said.
"As well as our shared cultural heritage, we also have strong - and, indeed, growing - economic links with Northern Ireland. The reality we must all face is that we are operating within an all-island economy and, so, we have to start thinking in those terms. We are stronger when we work together - we can achieve more through collaboration than competition."
The Minister voiced his strong support for the Framework for Collaboration on Spatial Strategies on the Island of Ireland, which has been drafted by officials and experts from both the Republic and Northern Ireland to highlight the synergies and shared opportunities presented by the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) and the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland in cross-border spatial development, in order to maximise the region’s development. It is expected that the Framework will shortly be considered and endorsed by both Governments.
Minister Power called on everyone to put a fair wind behind the Collaborative Spatial Framework - which will present challenges, but also significant potential benefits arising from greater collaboration. “We must see it as a starting point which will require commitment, energy, support and clear actions from all stakeholders - central and local Governments, Government and State Agencies, the private sector, academia and NGOs.”
The Minister went on to inform the conference that the NSS is to be refreshed and updated in the coming months by identifying the achievements to-date, highlighting best practice, the challenges for the future and the best spatial policy responses to those challenges.
The dovetailing of the NSS Refresh with an ongoing review of the Northern Ireland’s RDS and the adoption of the Collaborative Spatial Framework are essentially interlinked for the positive and future-looking and implementation of cross-border development.
Minister Power also highlighted the need for a focus on creating and nurturing competitive cities, which act as drivers of wider regional development - “Cities and larger urban areas, that are attractive, competitive, sustainable and dynamic, are one of the key drivers for regional development. International research clearly shows that successful countries and regions must have successful cities and urban areas at their core.
"As well as bringing economies of scale, good linkage between businesses and a concentrated skilled workforce, competitive cities contribute to the formation of competitive regions by acting economic engines that promote regional growth and employment."
Concluding, the Minister said - "The process of updating and refreshing the NSS will look at our network of cities, our gateways and hub towns and set out what needs to be done to assure and accelerate their development as drivers for their wider regions and more rural environs. Challenging questions will also need to be addressed within the NSS update and refresh process about the roles that rural areas must play in the wider context of regional development.”
www.buckplanning.ie
All transport agencies should be merged, says roads
The boards of the state's transport agencies should be abolished to make savings and replaced with a new national transport authority, the chairman of the National Roads Authority has urged.
He said a new agency with overall responsibility for roads, rail, bus, ports and airports should be established to streamline transport planning, and now was the "ideal time" to do it, given the pressure on the public finances.
NRA chief Peter Malone has also urged the Government to continue to invest in roads infrastructure to help Ireland regain competitiveness and attract inward investment.
Speaking to The Irish Independent, he said that continued investment would help secure jobs - adding that businesses would be reluctant to locate here if the roads system was not up to international standards.
While almost 2,000km of road had been upgraded in recent years, another 3,000km needed to be done.
"If I was in Government, I'd find money to finish the infrastructure. Now's the time - when things are difficult - to spend money on the infrastructure. We're going to come out of the recession and we need the roads. We need to think about next year and the year after."
In addition, he said that, while the various state agencies worked together to plan major transport projects, a 'one-stop shop' was needed. "The state of Massachusetts is roughly the same size as Ireland with twice the population, but with one transport authority, which includes the airports" - he said. "Do away with all the companies - all the boards are gone, so there's savings there.
"There would be managers for rail, bus, airports and so on. Now, when things are so bad, is an ideal time to do this."
Department of Transport sources said the Dublin Transportation Authority, when established later this year, could have a national focus. "Our main focus at the moment is getting the structures up and in place" - one source said. "The Minister is not adverse to it."
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
He said a new agency with overall responsibility for roads, rail, bus, ports and airports should be established to streamline transport planning, and now was the "ideal time" to do it, given the pressure on the public finances.
NRA chief Peter Malone has also urged the Government to continue to invest in roads infrastructure to help Ireland regain competitiveness and attract inward investment.
Speaking to The Irish Independent, he said that continued investment would help secure jobs - adding that businesses would be reluctant to locate here if the roads system was not up to international standards.
While almost 2,000km of road had been upgraded in recent years, another 3,000km needed to be done.
"If I was in Government, I'd find money to finish the infrastructure. Now's the time - when things are difficult - to spend money on the infrastructure. We're going to come out of the recession and we need the roads. We need to think about next year and the year after."
In addition, he said that, while the various state agencies worked together to plan major transport projects, a 'one-stop shop' was needed. "The state of Massachusetts is roughly the same size as Ireland with twice the population, but with one transport authority, which includes the airports" - he said. "Do away with all the companies - all the boards are gone, so there's savings there.
"There would be managers for rail, bus, airports and so on. Now, when things are so bad, is an ideal time to do this."
Department of Transport sources said the Dublin Transportation Authority, when established later this year, could have a national focus. "Our main focus at the moment is getting the structures up and in place" - one source said. "The Minister is not adverse to it."
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Dublin Transport Authority this year
The Dublin Transport Authority is likely to be fully established and functional by the middle of this year, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey TD said.
The Department has placed an advertisement in newspapers seeking a chief executive for the authority.
The setting up of the authority has been long-mooted, but the most significant move towards setting it up came when the Act establishing the transport authority was passed by the Oireachtas earlier this year.
Mr Dempsey told The Irish Times that the authority being set up would lead to the overdue reform of the 1932 Transport Act.
“I expect to have it up and operational by the middle of this year, once this chief executive is in place. It has the capacity and the potential to transform the provision of transport in the greater Dublin area.”
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The Department has placed an advertisement in newspapers seeking a chief executive for the authority.
The setting up of the authority has been long-mooted, but the most significant move towards setting it up came when the Act establishing the transport authority was passed by the Oireachtas earlier this year.
Mr Dempsey told The Irish Times that the authority being set up would lead to the overdue reform of the 1932 Transport Act.
“I expect to have it up and operational by the middle of this year, once this chief executive is in place. It has the capacity and the potential to transform the provision of transport in the greater Dublin area.”
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
No zoning change despite fears for retail in Killarney town centre
DESPITE concerns that the commercial lifeblood is being sucked out of the centre of Killarney, a developing shopping complex on the outskirts of the town is to hold onto its retail zoning.
Local council management had recommended that the Deerpark complex, which includes Tesco, Marks & Spencer (M&S) and other well-known names, switch its zoning to “bulky goods” sales — such as carpets, furniture and automotive products.
However, FF councillor Brian O’Leary said larger retail stores could be turned away from Killarney if they could not locate in Deerpark.
He said there was a lack of infrastructure in the town centre and difficulties with parking for eight months of the year during the tourist season.
“If M&S could not open in Deerpark they might not have come to Killarney and other stores could also be turned away if retailers are not allowed in there,” Mr O’Leary argued.
Independent councillor Michael Courtney said the centre of Killarney was being “slowly choked”, with several shops already closed.
South Kerry Independent Alliance councillor Michael Gleeson also said it was important to retain the vibrancy of the town centre.
The council, however, voted in favour of the Deerpark area retaining its current retail/town centre zoning status rather than limiting new developments there solely to sales of bulky goods.
The issue arose during a meeting on a new Killarney town development plan.
Meanwhile, in a bid to ease parking problems in Killarney, the council is currently in negotiations with the owners of the former Torc Great Southern Hotel site.
The aim is to use the site to provide more parking spaces for cars and buses, close to the town centre.
FG councillor Sheila Casey said on-street parking of buses had a significant impact in the town, causing log jams and taking up spaces that could be used by other people.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Local council management had recommended that the Deerpark complex, which includes Tesco, Marks & Spencer (M&S) and other well-known names, switch its zoning to “bulky goods” sales — such as carpets, furniture and automotive products.
However, FF councillor Brian O’Leary said larger retail stores could be turned away from Killarney if they could not locate in Deerpark.
He said there was a lack of infrastructure in the town centre and difficulties with parking for eight months of the year during the tourist season.
“If M&S could not open in Deerpark they might not have come to Killarney and other stores could also be turned away if retailers are not allowed in there,” Mr O’Leary argued.
Independent councillor Michael Courtney said the centre of Killarney was being “slowly choked”, with several shops already closed.
South Kerry Independent Alliance councillor Michael Gleeson also said it was important to retain the vibrancy of the town centre.
The council, however, voted in favour of the Deerpark area retaining its current retail/town centre zoning status rather than limiting new developments there solely to sales of bulky goods.
The issue arose during a meeting on a new Killarney town development plan.
Meanwhile, in a bid to ease parking problems in Killarney, the council is currently in negotiations with the owners of the former Torc Great Southern Hotel site.
The aim is to use the site to provide more parking spaces for cars and buses, close to the town centre.
FG councillor Sheila Casey said on-street parking of buses had a significant impact in the town, causing log jams and taking up spaces that could be used by other people.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Oireachtas car park must go, says OPW
PLANS TO build an underground car park under Leinster House must be indefinitely deferred and the temporary car park on Leinster Lawn removed, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has said.
Leinster Lawn, which faces Merrion Square in front of the Houses of the Oireachtas, was replaced by a car park in July 1998 as a temporary measure during the construction of new facilities for Leinster House.
The planning permission for the work at the time required the lawn be reinstated after the works on Leinster House were completed in 2000. However, this was never done. The OPW deferred the restoration of the lawn on the grounds that an underground car park was planned for the politicians and staff of the Houses.
Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW Martin Mansergh told the last meeting of the Oireachtas Commission, a 10-member group of TDs and Senators which is responsible for the facilities at Leinster House, that there was no money for the car park and it could not proceed in the medium term. However, the OPW was committed to honouring the planning requirement to restore the lawn.
Minutes of the meeting show the commission was asked to either request that the OPW restore the lawn or seek an extension of planning permission for the temporary car park. The commission, chaired by Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue, questioned the value for money of restoring the lawn and incurring the additional expense of leasing necessary car parking spaces for Oireachtas members.
Instead of making a decision the commission has asked the OPW to report back on a number of issues. The commission is seeking an assurance that if the lawn is restored members will still have parking on Leinster House grounds; that staff who would lose their parking spaces as a result would have “alternative parking solutions”; and that the OPW conduct an analysis of current usage of the Leinster Lawn parking.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Leinster Lawn, which faces Merrion Square in front of the Houses of the Oireachtas, was replaced by a car park in July 1998 as a temporary measure during the construction of new facilities for Leinster House.
The planning permission for the work at the time required the lawn be reinstated after the works on Leinster House were completed in 2000. However, this was never done. The OPW deferred the restoration of the lawn on the grounds that an underground car park was planned for the politicians and staff of the Houses.
Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW Martin Mansergh told the last meeting of the Oireachtas Commission, a 10-member group of TDs and Senators which is responsible for the facilities at Leinster House, that there was no money for the car park and it could not proceed in the medium term. However, the OPW was committed to honouring the planning requirement to restore the lawn.
Minutes of the meeting show the commission was asked to either request that the OPW restore the lawn or seek an extension of planning permission for the temporary car park. The commission, chaired by Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue, questioned the value for money of restoring the lawn and incurring the additional expense of leasing necessary car parking spaces for Oireachtas members.
Instead of making a decision the commission has asked the OPW to report back on a number of issues. The commission is seeking an assurance that if the lawn is restored members will still have parking on Leinster House grounds; that staff who would lose their parking spaces as a result would have “alternative parking solutions”; and that the OPW conduct an analysis of current usage of the Leinster Lawn parking.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Lissadell row robs public of chance to see rare Yeats note
A rare letter which may have been the last written by poet WB Yeats before his death 70 years ago will go into storage this week because of a continuing row over Lissadell House in Sligo.
The exhibition of material, meticulously collected by Lissadell owners, Edward Walsh and Constance Cassidy, was due to go on display on Wednesday to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the death of the poet, forever synonymous with the north Sligo stately home.
But a row, which erupted weeks ago when Sligo County Council moved to preserve alleged rights of way through the 400-acre estate which are contested by its new lawyer owners, has led to the closure of the house to the public.
The launch of the exhibition was to have been one of a number of events to mark the special anniversary but barrister Edward Walsh confirmed yesterday that it had been agreed with Failte Ireland that it would be "pointless" launching the Yeats exhibition when it would then be closed to the public.
He has spent the past two years sourcing original Yeats material which would have been going on public show for the first time.
Among the material he has gathered are letters, including one which he believed could have been the last one ever written by the poet It was sent from Roquebrun in France, where Yeats lived out his final days, to a playwright called Mar Duncan who had sought the poet's approval of a play he had written for the Abbey Theatre.
"Yeats was quite scathing about the suitability of the particular play for the Abbey.
"I believe it could have been the last letter he ever wrote. If it wasn't the last, it certainly was written during his last week alive," said Mr Walsh.
The collection was to go on display in a special gallery in the magnificently refurbished coach house and, according to Mr Walsh, would have matched the Yeats collection in the National Gallery.
Frustrated
He admitted he felt frustrated that he had to abandon the project.
"The disillusionment intensifies to an amazing degree," he said.
On Wednesday, the death of the Nobel Laureate will be marked with a short memorial service in St John's Cathedral in Sligo.
This will be followed by the launch of the Yeats Trail when another Nobel Laureate, Seamus Heaney will introduce the newly updated leaflet covering locations in Sligo and Galway most associated by Yeats.
Meanwhile, Mr Walsh, whose family has initiated legal proceedings against Sligo County Council, revealed that an exploratory meeting between him and Sligo County Manager, Hubert Kearns will take place in Dublin tonight in a bid to break the impasse.
This is the first face-to-face meeting between both sides since the row erupted.
The Walsh-Cassidys insist that they were assured by the previous owner and the local authority that there were no public rights of way through the estate when they bought it in 2003.
Anita Guidera
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The exhibition of material, meticulously collected by Lissadell owners, Edward Walsh and Constance Cassidy, was due to go on display on Wednesday to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the death of the poet, forever synonymous with the north Sligo stately home.
But a row, which erupted weeks ago when Sligo County Council moved to preserve alleged rights of way through the 400-acre estate which are contested by its new lawyer owners, has led to the closure of the house to the public.
The launch of the exhibition was to have been one of a number of events to mark the special anniversary but barrister Edward Walsh confirmed yesterday that it had been agreed with Failte Ireland that it would be "pointless" launching the Yeats exhibition when it would then be closed to the public.
He has spent the past two years sourcing original Yeats material which would have been going on public show for the first time.
Among the material he has gathered are letters, including one which he believed could have been the last one ever written by the poet It was sent from Roquebrun in France, where Yeats lived out his final days, to a playwright called Mar Duncan who had sought the poet's approval of a play he had written for the Abbey Theatre.
"Yeats was quite scathing about the suitability of the particular play for the Abbey.
"I believe it could have been the last letter he ever wrote. If it wasn't the last, it certainly was written during his last week alive," said Mr Walsh.
The collection was to go on display in a special gallery in the magnificently refurbished coach house and, according to Mr Walsh, would have matched the Yeats collection in the National Gallery.
Frustrated
He admitted he felt frustrated that he had to abandon the project.
"The disillusionment intensifies to an amazing degree," he said.
On Wednesday, the death of the Nobel Laureate will be marked with a short memorial service in St John's Cathedral in Sligo.
This will be followed by the launch of the Yeats Trail when another Nobel Laureate, Seamus Heaney will introduce the newly updated leaflet covering locations in Sligo and Galway most associated by Yeats.
Meanwhile, Mr Walsh, whose family has initiated legal proceedings against Sligo County Council, revealed that an exploratory meeting between him and Sligo County Manager, Hubert Kearns will take place in Dublin tonight in a bid to break the impasse.
This is the first face-to-face meeting between both sides since the row erupted.
The Walsh-Cassidys insist that they were assured by the previous owner and the local authority that there were no public rights of way through the estate when they bought it in 2003.
Anita Guidera
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Two-thirds of councillors 'too busy' to attend their meetings
Just a third of the country's elected county and city councillors, who earn an average of €33,000 in wages, allowances and expenses each year, attended all of their council meetings last year.
Despite the fact that the average council only sat 18 times in 2008 some councillors missed as many as 14 full council meetings in 2008.
Ahead of the local elections this summer, figures compiled and obtained by the Irish Independent reveal that councillors take their roles with varying degrees of seriousness.
Although many councillors were present at the vast majority of their meetings, others cited personal issues, business interests and work as a reason for missing full council meetings -- a key part of a local representative's duties.
Dublin City Council's John Kenny -- who was drafted in as a Progressive Democrat replacement for Wendy Hederman in 2007 -- only turned up to six of the council's 16 meetings.
Mr Kenny said he just came to the realisation that "politics wasn't for me".
"I'm going to be retiring from politics, I've been very busy work-wise," he said. He said he did not think he should have continued attending meetings in order to serve his constituents and claimed he "tried his best".
In Kildare, Cllr Geraldine Conway missed five out of 14 full council meetings up to the end of October. She said she was "exceptionally busy" and accepted that there were some meetings she "just couldn't get to".
Cllr Veronica Neville missed 13 of Cork County Council's 25 meetings, although she gave birth to a child in February. Also on Cork County Council, Patrick Buckley missed 11 meetings, while former independent councillor Christopher O'Sullivan missed 14 meetings.
The 25-year-old, now a Fianna Fail representative -- who is running again this year -- said that his constituents didn't have a problem with the fact that he went travelling for six months and missed 56pc of last year's meetings.
And, according to minutes on the Donegal County Council website, of six councillors in the Donegal town electoral area, two councillors missed eight out of 18 full and adjourned council meetings, one missed five, and another missed four.
Fine Gael's Barry O'Neill -- who is recorded as missing eight -- said that there was often no need for him to attend adjourned meetings because his issues had already been dealt with. Cllr O'Neill pointed out that he was not a full-time councillor and also had to work as an RTE journalist.
Donegal hotelier Sean McEniff, who missed five from 18, said his business sometimes interfered with council duties. "If I miss meetings, I miss meetings because of circumstances beyond my control," he said.
Duties
The lowest attended meeting was also in Donegal, where only 13 councillors out of 29 showed up at a special meeting in Lifford on February 8.
Several councillors contacted by the Irish Independent stressed that they had many more duties than just attending full council meetings. They said they had to attend to their constituents' needs and also had to attend other meetings.
However, some councils around the country recorded extremely high attendance rates, such as Cavan, where the most meetings missed by a single representative was three.
Dun-Laoghaire-Rathdown also had high attendance records, with the 'worst' attendees only missing two meetings. In Leitrim, seven councillors each missed just one meeting.
In Roscommon, 17 out of 25 councillors managed to attend all full council meetings. Nobody in Roscommon missed more than three meetings.
The figures also reveal a wide variation in the number of times councils meet.
Clare County Council racked up 38 meetings in 2008 while Galway County Council sat just 12 times, according to minutes supplied to this newspaper.
Fiach Kelly
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Despite the fact that the average council only sat 18 times in 2008 some councillors missed as many as 14 full council meetings in 2008.
Ahead of the local elections this summer, figures compiled and obtained by the Irish Independent reveal that councillors take their roles with varying degrees of seriousness.
Although many councillors were present at the vast majority of their meetings, others cited personal issues, business interests and work as a reason for missing full council meetings -- a key part of a local representative's duties.
Dublin City Council's John Kenny -- who was drafted in as a Progressive Democrat replacement for Wendy Hederman in 2007 -- only turned up to six of the council's 16 meetings.
Mr Kenny said he just came to the realisation that "politics wasn't for me".
"I'm going to be retiring from politics, I've been very busy work-wise," he said. He said he did not think he should have continued attending meetings in order to serve his constituents and claimed he "tried his best".
In Kildare, Cllr Geraldine Conway missed five out of 14 full council meetings up to the end of October. She said she was "exceptionally busy" and accepted that there were some meetings she "just couldn't get to".
Cllr Veronica Neville missed 13 of Cork County Council's 25 meetings, although she gave birth to a child in February. Also on Cork County Council, Patrick Buckley missed 11 meetings, while former independent councillor Christopher O'Sullivan missed 14 meetings.
The 25-year-old, now a Fianna Fail representative -- who is running again this year -- said that his constituents didn't have a problem with the fact that he went travelling for six months and missed 56pc of last year's meetings.
And, according to minutes on the Donegal County Council website, of six councillors in the Donegal town electoral area, two councillors missed eight out of 18 full and adjourned council meetings, one missed five, and another missed four.
Fine Gael's Barry O'Neill -- who is recorded as missing eight -- said that there was often no need for him to attend adjourned meetings because his issues had already been dealt with. Cllr O'Neill pointed out that he was not a full-time councillor and also had to work as an RTE journalist.
Donegal hotelier Sean McEniff, who missed five from 18, said his business sometimes interfered with council duties. "If I miss meetings, I miss meetings because of circumstances beyond my control," he said.
Duties
The lowest attended meeting was also in Donegal, where only 13 councillors out of 29 showed up at a special meeting in Lifford on February 8.
Several councillors contacted by the Irish Independent stressed that they had many more duties than just attending full council meetings. They said they had to attend to their constituents' needs and also had to attend other meetings.
However, some councils around the country recorded extremely high attendance rates, such as Cavan, where the most meetings missed by a single representative was three.
Dun-Laoghaire-Rathdown also had high attendance records, with the 'worst' attendees only missing two meetings. In Leitrim, seven councillors each missed just one meeting.
In Roscommon, 17 out of 25 councillors managed to attend all full council meetings. Nobody in Roscommon missed more than three meetings.
The figures also reveal a wide variation in the number of times councils meet.
Clare County Council racked up 38 meetings in 2008 while Galway County Council sat just 12 times, according to minutes supplied to this newspaper.
Fiach Kelly
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Developers still push for land rezonings despite downturn
Land rezonings may no longer be licences to print money, but submissions in Wicklow show all is not lost for major developers.
In Kilcoole, Larry Keegan's Kimpton Vale – which hit the headlines in 2006 when it illegally demolished a 19th-century convent in Terenure. Dublin – sought to have nearly 38 acres of land rezoned for residential development in the new development plan for the area. The Wicklow county manager found that the lands were not required for residential rezoning and recommended no change to their agricultural zoning. The lands will instead "be considered in the next development plan if necessary during the period 2014-2020".
Kimpton Vale made a loss of just under €200,000 for the year ended 30 June 2007, down from a profit of nearly €620,000 the previous year. It had stocks, which are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value, of more than €10.7m at that date, down from more than €17.2m the previous year, and shareholders' funds showed a deficit of more than €2.7m. Company directors Larry and Mairéad Keegan were paid over €2.1m during the year, including pension entitlements, down from more than €6.5m the previous year.
Auditors Dermot Brennan & Associates placed an "emphasis of matter" in Kimpton Vale's accounts, pointing out it was reliant on the continued support of the directors. The auditors did not qualify their opinion.
Keegan was a shareholder in a company called Torose Construction, which has since gone into liquidation, which made a settlement of just under €7m in 2002 with the Revenue for underpayment of VAT and corporation tax.
Meanwhile, the owners of Druids Glen golf club asked for 20 acres between Woodstock business park and Kilcoole industrial estate to be zoned for residential development and a "community hospice care" facility. The manager said this "would lead to an excessive spread of the settlement on its southern radial route".
In Newtownmountkennedy, where developers purchased sizable tracts of land from 2004 to 2006, a new local area plan (LAP) has also been adopted. During submissions, the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government maintained that too much land was to be zoned for employment and that those lands should be located away from the interchange and in locations closer to the town.
"Zoning at such a scale and at an interchange location would primarily serve a wider metropolitan market whereas employment zoning should be orientated towards providing for local needs," it said.
The manager said the zoning of the land was "to ensure sufficient land is released to provide for high levels of employment in the town".
The National Roads Authority said it was "disturbed" that the town's growth proposals were dependent on private cars and the national road network. It said the draft LAP did not fulfil regional planning guidelines. The manager did not agree with the NRA and recommended no change.
Norpark, owned by William Burke, developer Hugh McGill, Lydia Lynch and Tim Rowe, requested that a site of 0.6 hectares be rezoned for a healthcare campus including a nursing home. However, the manager said the land was zoned for a tourism and leisure complex for which permission had already been granted.
The local GAA club wants its 5.7-acre site rezoned for employment and retail purposes. The manager replied that the proposed rezoning was not recommended.
David Agar's Profile Properties sought an increase in the 50 acres of land designated for employment purposes. Agar, who is developing a business park near Grange Castle in Dublin that he says could be worth up to €1bn, claimed the "subject lands are insufficient to allow for the development of a commercially viable business park". He added that the provision of 'active open space' given its distance to the town centre and residential areas was unsuitable. The manager did not accept Agar's argument.
Town Park Estates sought to have nearly 3.5 acres of land zoned for a retail centre. The company had nearly €11m in its profit and loss account at the end of 2007 and is ultimately owned by the Wood family of developers. The manager replied that the zoning was only for a small neighbourhood centre.
A company called Kinaeda, which does not appear to be registered in the island of Ireland or in Britain, asking for residential rezoning on one site it owns and increased density on another. "No further residential zoning is required... and the excessive zoning of land may lead to population targets being exceeded, to the overall detriment of the settlement," the manager replied.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
In Kilcoole, Larry Keegan's Kimpton Vale – which hit the headlines in 2006 when it illegally demolished a 19th-century convent in Terenure. Dublin – sought to have nearly 38 acres of land rezoned for residential development in the new development plan for the area. The Wicklow county manager found that the lands were not required for residential rezoning and recommended no change to their agricultural zoning. The lands will instead "be considered in the next development plan if necessary during the period 2014-2020".
Kimpton Vale made a loss of just under €200,000 for the year ended 30 June 2007, down from a profit of nearly €620,000 the previous year. It had stocks, which are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value, of more than €10.7m at that date, down from more than €17.2m the previous year, and shareholders' funds showed a deficit of more than €2.7m. Company directors Larry and Mairéad Keegan were paid over €2.1m during the year, including pension entitlements, down from more than €6.5m the previous year.
Auditors Dermot Brennan & Associates placed an "emphasis of matter" in Kimpton Vale's accounts, pointing out it was reliant on the continued support of the directors. The auditors did not qualify their opinion.
Keegan was a shareholder in a company called Torose Construction, which has since gone into liquidation, which made a settlement of just under €7m in 2002 with the Revenue for underpayment of VAT and corporation tax.
Meanwhile, the owners of Druids Glen golf club asked for 20 acres between Woodstock business park and Kilcoole industrial estate to be zoned for residential development and a "community hospice care" facility. The manager said this "would lead to an excessive spread of the settlement on its southern radial route".
In Newtownmountkennedy, where developers purchased sizable tracts of land from 2004 to 2006, a new local area plan (LAP) has also been adopted. During submissions, the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government maintained that too much land was to be zoned for employment and that those lands should be located away from the interchange and in locations closer to the town.
"Zoning at such a scale and at an interchange location would primarily serve a wider metropolitan market whereas employment zoning should be orientated towards providing for local needs," it said.
The manager said the zoning of the land was "to ensure sufficient land is released to provide for high levels of employment in the town".
The National Roads Authority said it was "disturbed" that the town's growth proposals were dependent on private cars and the national road network. It said the draft LAP did not fulfil regional planning guidelines. The manager did not agree with the NRA and recommended no change.
Norpark, owned by William Burke, developer Hugh McGill, Lydia Lynch and Tim Rowe, requested that a site of 0.6 hectares be rezoned for a healthcare campus including a nursing home. However, the manager said the land was zoned for a tourism and leisure complex for which permission had already been granted.
The local GAA club wants its 5.7-acre site rezoned for employment and retail purposes. The manager replied that the proposed rezoning was not recommended.
David Agar's Profile Properties sought an increase in the 50 acres of land designated for employment purposes. Agar, who is developing a business park near Grange Castle in Dublin that he says could be worth up to €1bn, claimed the "subject lands are insufficient to allow for the development of a commercially viable business park". He added that the provision of 'active open space' given its distance to the town centre and residential areas was unsuitable. The manager did not accept Agar's argument.
Town Park Estates sought to have nearly 3.5 acres of land zoned for a retail centre. The company had nearly €11m in its profit and loss account at the end of 2007 and is ultimately owned by the Wood family of developers. The manager replied that the zoning was only for a small neighbourhood centre.
A company called Kinaeda, which does not appear to be registered in the island of Ireland or in Britain, asking for residential rezoning on one site it owns and increased density on another. "No further residential zoning is required... and the excessive zoning of land may lead to population targets being exceeded, to the overall detriment of the settlement," the manager replied.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
O'Callaghan appeals against planning permission for his own Cork project
Developer Owen O'Callaghan has had plans for a 21-storey tower, near his Mahon Point shopping centre in Cork, appealed to An Bord Pleanála by a neighbouring developer and by local residents. He has also appealed the planning permission himself.
O'Callaghan and his business partner John Deane have plans to build 325
apartments, a 184-bedroom hotel and some medical and retail related-units on the site, part of which was originally earmarked for a conference centre.
Cork city council gave permission for the plan to go ahead subject to 19 conditions, but McCarthy Developments (Cork), local residents and O'Callaghan have all appealed the decision.
The council had ruled that O'Callaghan's company, Riga, would have to pay almost €8.5m towards public infrastructure and facilities as part of the planning permission. Riga is owned by Elendale Investments, whose properties rose in value from around €44m to €204m following a revaluation in 2004. Elendale has since become an unlimited company, meaning it does not have to file publicly available accounts.
Meanwhile, new research has confirmed the speed at which development land prices in Ireland have dropped since their peak in 2006. Property market data company The Property Week last week released research showing that land prices had fallen by more than 75% in some cases. Its data was based on advertised prices, rather than selling prices, but still found that "the average price per hectare for mixed-use sites fell by around two-thirds, while sites with industrial buildings fell by around 40%" in value.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
O'Callaghan and his business partner John Deane have plans to build 325
apartments, a 184-bedroom hotel and some medical and retail related-units on the site, part of which was originally earmarked for a conference centre.
Cork city council gave permission for the plan to go ahead subject to 19 conditions, but McCarthy Developments (Cork), local residents and O'Callaghan have all appealed the decision.
The council had ruled that O'Callaghan's company, Riga, would have to pay almost €8.5m towards public infrastructure and facilities as part of the planning permission. Riga is owned by Elendale Investments, whose properties rose in value from around €44m to €204m following a revaluation in 2004. Elendale has since become an unlimited company, meaning it does not have to file publicly available accounts.
Meanwhile, new research has confirmed the speed at which development land prices in Ireland have dropped since their peak in 2006. Property market data company The Property Week last week released research showing that land prices had fallen by more than 75% in some cases. Its data was based on advertised prices, rather than selling prices, but still found that "the average price per hectare for mixed-use sites fell by around two-thirds, while sites with industrial buildings fell by around 40%" in value.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Metro North disruption costs may run to €250m
The extra cost of minimising "severe" delays and disruption forecast for Dublin city centre during construction work for the proposed Metro North line could be over €250m, according to confidential estimates provided to Dublin City Council.
In a summary of estimates provided to a sub-group of the council's Transport 21 committee, agencies such as Iarnród Éireann, Dublin Bus, the RPA, An Garda Síochána and the council suggest a range of measures which, if implemented in full, would cost a total of at least €69m.
More than three-quarters of this amount – some €52m – relates to annual costs envisioned by the agencies in question, with only a small proportion of funding already allowed for under existing Transport 21 allocations. Therefore, if the construction phase were to last five years, the cost of minimising disruption to the city could be €250m or more.
Among the largest estimates for annual costs was submitted by Dublin Bus, which earlier this month revealed plans to cut 290 jobs and reduce its fleet by 120 buses in a bid to reduce losses at the firm. It outlined a range of measures which, if implemented, would cost almost €22m a year.
According to the initial estimates, which were outlined in a draft report which has been circulated in recent weeks, the costs include €9m gross per year to increase daily passenger capacity on each of the two existing Luas lines.
They also include €5.3m net per year for Dublin Bus to introduce 42 additional buses which it claims is necessary to facilitate the introduction of a "bus gate" at College Green. This would restrict access for private cars to Westmoreland street, D'Olier Street and College Green.
Among the other anticipated costs are €11m a year for increased off-peak Dart services and €5.8m net per year for Bus Éireann to operate an all-day peak commuter service during construction.
Dublin City Council also estimates it would need €7.5m to provide major bus stops within the affected areas with real-time passenger information displays.
Separately, An Garda Síochána is also looking for €4m annually to allow 35 extra gardaí work 12-hour shifts daily.
Many of the figures are exclusive of VAT, while in other cases no estimates are provided for other initiatives to lessen disruption, meaning the final overall figure could be even higher, although it is also possible not all of the measures will be introduced.
Elsewhere, the report noted that the impact of the Metro North works to Dublin city centre is likely to be severe.
It warned that around 157,000 people working in Dublin city centre could be facing delays and disruption, with significant potential for delays to shoppers using the city centre, including drivers in particular. This will require significant mitigation measures, it notes.
The RPA has to date refused to say how much the overall cost of the Metro will be. Earlier this month, the Sunday Tribune revealed the agency has paid out €38m to consultants for advice on the Metro project since 2002.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
In a summary of estimates provided to a sub-group of the council's Transport 21 committee, agencies such as Iarnród Éireann, Dublin Bus, the RPA, An Garda Síochána and the council suggest a range of measures which, if implemented in full, would cost a total of at least €69m.
More than three-quarters of this amount – some €52m – relates to annual costs envisioned by the agencies in question, with only a small proportion of funding already allowed for under existing Transport 21 allocations. Therefore, if the construction phase were to last five years, the cost of minimising disruption to the city could be €250m or more.
Among the largest estimates for annual costs was submitted by Dublin Bus, which earlier this month revealed plans to cut 290 jobs and reduce its fleet by 120 buses in a bid to reduce losses at the firm. It outlined a range of measures which, if implemented, would cost almost €22m a year.
According to the initial estimates, which were outlined in a draft report which has been circulated in recent weeks, the costs include €9m gross per year to increase daily passenger capacity on each of the two existing Luas lines.
They also include €5.3m net per year for Dublin Bus to introduce 42 additional buses which it claims is necessary to facilitate the introduction of a "bus gate" at College Green. This would restrict access for private cars to Westmoreland street, D'Olier Street and College Green.
Among the other anticipated costs are €11m a year for increased off-peak Dart services and €5.8m net per year for Bus Éireann to operate an all-day peak commuter service during construction.
Dublin City Council also estimates it would need €7.5m to provide major bus stops within the affected areas with real-time passenger information displays.
Separately, An Garda Síochána is also looking for €4m annually to allow 35 extra gardaí work 12-hour shifts daily.
Many of the figures are exclusive of VAT, while in other cases no estimates are provided for other initiatives to lessen disruption, meaning the final overall figure could be even higher, although it is also possible not all of the measures will be introduced.
Elsewhere, the report noted that the impact of the Metro North works to Dublin city centre is likely to be severe.
It warned that around 157,000 people working in Dublin city centre could be facing delays and disruption, with significant potential for delays to shoppers using the city centre, including drivers in particular. This will require significant mitigation measures, it notes.
The RPA has to date refused to say how much the overall cost of the Metro will be. Earlier this month, the Sunday Tribune revealed the agency has paid out €38m to consultants for advice on the Metro project since 2002.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
ESB plans wind farm developments for Tipperary and Limerick
ESB plans to build three wind farms in north Tipperary and Limerick this year as part of a plan to contribute 600 megawatts (MW) of wind energy to the electricity grid by 2012.
The power firm has also acquired three wind projects totalling 50MW in Leitrim, Sligo and Tipperary from DP Energy Ireland, a Cork firm. John Campion, director of sustainable energy at ESB, said the move to renewables was ‘‘not an aspiration, but a necessity for all of us’’, both from a security of supply and carbon emissions point of view.
The state company already has six operational wind farms and is directing €11 billion towards renewables as part of an overall €22 billion investment plan.
However, Campion warned that the transmission lines required for groups of wind farms were being delayed because they were facing objections in the planning process.
Most wind farms are built by private operators, but the ESB is contracted to construct the transmission lines for the projects after they have been approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation and EirGrid, the grid operator. ‘‘The planning process has to be gone through and planning for overhead lines can be difficult,” said Campion.
‘‘We’re actively trying to find solutions to avoid building lines where possible, and we’re working with communities to get them in the most unobtrusive places.” Two 400-kilovolt transmission lines planned for Cavan and Meath have faced public protests, while An Bord Pleanála has rejected plans for a 110-kilovolt line in Connemara.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
The power firm has also acquired three wind projects totalling 50MW in Leitrim, Sligo and Tipperary from DP Energy Ireland, a Cork firm. John Campion, director of sustainable energy at ESB, said the move to renewables was ‘‘not an aspiration, but a necessity for all of us’’, both from a security of supply and carbon emissions point of view.
The state company already has six operational wind farms and is directing €11 billion towards renewables as part of an overall €22 billion investment plan.
However, Campion warned that the transmission lines required for groups of wind farms were being delayed because they were facing objections in the planning process.
Most wind farms are built by private operators, but the ESB is contracted to construct the transmission lines for the projects after they have been approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation and EirGrid, the grid operator. ‘‘The planning process has to be gone through and planning for overhead lines can be difficult,” said Campion.
‘‘We’re actively trying to find solutions to avoid building lines where possible, and we’re working with communities to get them in the most unobtrusive places.” Two 400-kilovolt transmission lines planned for Cavan and Meath have faced public protests, while An Bord Pleanála has rejected plans for a 110-kilovolt line in Connemara.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
Town plan for Carnew revealed
A NEW health centre, a new road and plenty more housing look set to arrive in Carnew after members of Wicklow County Council adopted the town plan on Monday.
The plan which was before the members was subject to five amendments, all put forward by Cllr. Pat Doran, will pave the way for a health centre opposite the community centre in the town.
Cllr. Doran said that six hectares of land on the Gorey Road should be appropriately zoned in the plan. He said there were plans afoot to build a health centre on these lands through public private partnership.
He pointed out the site, a green field site, was ideal for such a venture and noted it was across the road from the community centre.
Cllr. Doran also said that in time it was hoped to have an ambulance space sited there.
'As everyone in South Wicklow knows there is really no ambulance service at the moment. We have to get one from Arklow or Baltinglass which is a half hour drive away.'
Labour's Nicky Kelly seconded this amendment saying that it was a very practical change while Cllr. Vincent Blake said the provision of a health centre was very important for the area.
Director of Services Des O'Brien said the amendment would see a lot of extra houses being permitted in Carnew, an area where there was more than ample lands zoned for residential.
Cllr. Doran then proposed that a 2.2 hectare area of land be changed to 1.1 hectares for community and 1.6 areas for residential. This was seconded by Cllr. Vincent Blake.
His third amendment also garnered plenty of support as it would facilitate a new road at the rear of the primary school.
Mr. O'Brien said that if adopted that amendment would make way for a further 68 houses.
Cllr. Blake was once again fighting Cllr. Doran's corner saying a new road would be great for the community and if anyone saw the traffic chaos in Carnew in the morning between the primary and secondary school they would agree.
'There is a huge problem with parking and parents are very concerned. This is a win win situation for the community. There has to be a certain amount of gain for the landowner.'
The penultimate amendment proposed by Cllr. Doran will see a small area which is currently zoned as wetlands zoned industrial while the fifth and final amendment would see an area of around three quarters of a hectare rezoned.
Cllr. Doran said that he was proposing these changes because they would benefit the whole community and not 'because I have anyone breathing done my neck'.
Wicklow People
www.buckplanning.ie
The plan which was before the members was subject to five amendments, all put forward by Cllr. Pat Doran, will pave the way for a health centre opposite the community centre in the town.
Cllr. Doran said that six hectares of land on the Gorey Road should be appropriately zoned in the plan. He said there were plans afoot to build a health centre on these lands through public private partnership.
He pointed out the site, a green field site, was ideal for such a venture and noted it was across the road from the community centre.
Cllr. Doran also said that in time it was hoped to have an ambulance space sited there.
'As everyone in South Wicklow knows there is really no ambulance service at the moment. We have to get one from Arklow or Baltinglass which is a half hour drive away.'
Labour's Nicky Kelly seconded this amendment saying that it was a very practical change while Cllr. Vincent Blake said the provision of a health centre was very important for the area.
Director of Services Des O'Brien said the amendment would see a lot of extra houses being permitted in Carnew, an area where there was more than ample lands zoned for residential.
Cllr. Doran then proposed that a 2.2 hectare area of land be changed to 1.1 hectares for community and 1.6 areas for residential. This was seconded by Cllr. Vincent Blake.
His third amendment also garnered plenty of support as it would facilitate a new road at the rear of the primary school.
Mr. O'Brien said that if adopted that amendment would make way for a further 68 houses.
Cllr. Blake was once again fighting Cllr. Doran's corner saying a new road would be great for the community and if anyone saw the traffic chaos in Carnew in the morning between the primary and secondary school they would agree.
'There is a huge problem with parking and parents are very concerned. This is a win win situation for the community. There has to be a certain amount of gain for the landowner.'
The penultimate amendment proposed by Cllr. Doran will see a small area which is currently zoned as wetlands zoned industrial while the fifth and final amendment would see an area of around three quarters of a hectare rezoned.
Cllr. Doran said that he was proposing these changes because they would benefit the whole community and not 'because I have anyone breathing done my neck'.
Wicklow People
www.buckplanning.ie
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