THE Limerick Regeneration Agency is to get government funding of €28 million this year, it has emerged.
Half of the funding will be spent on providing social housing in Limerick City along with counties Limerick and Clare for families being relocated from large urban areas such as Moyross, Southill, St Mary’s Park and Ballinacurra Weston.
Limerick City Council will get e7m, Limerick County Council e5m and Clare County Council e2m. However, it is envisaged the regeneration plan to demolish 4,800 houses in Limerick’s crime blackspots will need a total state investment of more than e1.6 billion over the next eight to 10 years along with private sector investment of e1.4bn.
Over 100 houses have already been demolished in some of the estates designated for regeneration.
Clare County Council, meanwhile, will now have to embark on a social housing programme for families who will be moved across the boundary of Limerick city.
However, public representatives in the county have voiced strong opposition to families being moved from trouble spots into Clare.
Meanwhile, the Regeneration Agency said it is confident the necessary funding will be forthcoming to enable the huge programme to be undertaken.
As there will be planning issues to be dealt with over the coming 12 months, the agency said it will not be requiring huge funding for the next year or so.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 27 February 2009
Plans for Cork science park to go on public display
OUTLINE plans for a Silicon Valley-style innovation and research campus on the outskirts of Cork city will go on display next week.
People have been invited to comment on and help shape the development of the country’s first science park which has the potential to create up to 6,000 jobs.
The Cork Science and Innovation Park, which analysts say will contribute about e450 million annually to the local economy, will be built on a 150-acre site at Curraheen.
County manager Martin Riordan has described it as a "defining project for Cork".
However, before work can start, there must be a variation to the Carrigaline electoral area plan, which governs the site, and a subsequent variation to the County Development Plan 2009 which was adopted recently.
The council must also assess the environmental impact of the proposed park.
The council will begin a four-week consultation process next week, with information available from council planning offices, libraries, and from the planning section of www.corkcoco.ie
An information session will also take place from 4pm to 8pm next Tuesday, March 3 in the foyer of County Hall where planning staff will be available to brief people.
The council will prepare a draft amendment to the local area plan and the county development plan.
Submissions can be made in writing to the planning policy unit in County Hall or by email to sciencepark@corkcoco.ie with the final date for submissions March 23.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
People have been invited to comment on and help shape the development of the country’s first science park which has the potential to create up to 6,000 jobs.
The Cork Science and Innovation Park, which analysts say will contribute about e450 million annually to the local economy, will be built on a 150-acre site at Curraheen.
County manager Martin Riordan has described it as a "defining project for Cork".
However, before work can start, there must be a variation to the Carrigaline electoral area plan, which governs the site, and a subsequent variation to the County Development Plan 2009 which was adopted recently.
The council must also assess the environmental impact of the proposed park.
The council will begin a four-week consultation process next week, with information available from council planning offices, libraries, and from the planning section of www.corkcoco.ie
An information session will also take place from 4pm to 8pm next Tuesday, March 3 in the foyer of County Hall where planning staff will be available to brief people.
The council will prepare a draft amendment to the local area plan and the county development plan.
Submissions can be made in writing to the planning policy unit in County Hall or by email to sciencepark@corkcoco.ie with the final date for submissions March 23.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Bord Pleanála rejects hillside development near Dingle
A SUBSTANTIAL residential and holiday-home development proposed for a scenic hillside a kilometre from Dingle town centre has been refused permission by An Bord Pleanála.
This was done mainly on the grounds that it would create sprawl and work against recent efforts to create a compact town in Dingle, Co Kerry.
The decision has been welcomed by local conservationists, who have objected to much of the recent development in the coastal town.
Seán Brosnan, a local conservationist, said: “Dingle is a sensitive place, it needs sensitive, well-planned development. Clearly sprawl is not well planned.”
Kerry County Council had already refused planning for the 94 houses, which included 27 holiday homes, and the renovation of an old farmhouse on 10 acres on the Conor Pass side of the town.
Part of the access would have been from the Dingle Way walking route.
Submissions to the council detailed how there were already lots of houses for sale in Dingle, that there were too many holiday homes and too many empty houses.
There was also criticism of much of the recent elevated development around the town which runs down to the sea.
The objectors also claimed the proposed site was “rural in character” and removed from the town centre.
Agents for the applicants, Dunboy Homes, appealed the council’s refusal.
They pointed out that the land had been zoned for residential use and “incorporated within the town boundary of An Daingean” in 2006.They said that development of the site could, therefore, be expected.
The appellants also submitted that adjacent developments were more visually intrusive upon views from the Conor Pass tourist route.
The planning board refused permission “having regard to provide for the development of a compact and accessible town”, the elevated and exposed scenic setting of the site and the possibility of disturbing subsurface archaeological remains.
Locals believe that about 400 houses are empty in Dingle.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
This was done mainly on the grounds that it would create sprawl and work against recent efforts to create a compact town in Dingle, Co Kerry.
The decision has been welcomed by local conservationists, who have objected to much of the recent development in the coastal town.
Seán Brosnan, a local conservationist, said: “Dingle is a sensitive place, it needs sensitive, well-planned development. Clearly sprawl is not well planned.”
Kerry County Council had already refused planning for the 94 houses, which included 27 holiday homes, and the renovation of an old farmhouse on 10 acres on the Conor Pass side of the town.
Part of the access would have been from the Dingle Way walking route.
Submissions to the council detailed how there were already lots of houses for sale in Dingle, that there were too many holiday homes and too many empty houses.
There was also criticism of much of the recent elevated development around the town which runs down to the sea.
The objectors also claimed the proposed site was “rural in character” and removed from the town centre.
Agents for the applicants, Dunboy Homes, appealed the council’s refusal.
They pointed out that the land had been zoned for residential use and “incorporated within the town boundary of An Daingean” in 2006.They said that development of the site could, therefore, be expected.
The appellants also submitted that adjacent developments were more visually intrusive upon views from the Conor Pass tourist route.
The planning board refused permission “having regard to provide for the development of a compact and accessible town”, the elevated and exposed scenic setting of the site and the possibility of disturbing subsurface archaeological remains.
Locals believe that about 400 houses are empty in Dingle.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Former county manager rejoins Dún Laoghaire council
A FORMER county manager, who left a local authority in 2005 before joining a company associated with a developer involved in a controversial planning proposal, has rejoined the council.
Former Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown county manager Derek Brady became a consultant with Alburn Limited, a firm associated with developer Noel Smyth, when Mr Brady left the council in 2005.
His move to Alburn came after Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council controversially signalled its intention in 2005 to approve a proposal to build one of Ireland’s tallest buildings – a 24-storey apartment tower at Sandyford, in south Co Dublin. The plan was eventually rejected by An Bord Pleanála last year. Mr Brady is now rejoining the council on a “short-term temporary contract” to advise it on its involvement in a joint venture to develop 64 acres in Cherrywood.
In a letter to councillors on Tuesday, county manager Owen Keegan said Mr Brady’s appointment “may generate some media interest”, but said Mr Brady was “not conflicted”.
The council has, since 1997, been involved as a minority partner in a joint venture (JV) with two firms in the Dunloe Ewart Group to develop the Cherrywood site. The agreement was due to expire at the end of 2008, but was extended until June 30th.
“The council needs to consider whether and on what basis it should seek to extend the JV agreement beyond June 30th, 2009,” Mr Keegan’s letter stated.
It said that given the deteriorating outlook for commercial development and the “growing financial constraints” on the council “very detailed consideration had to be given to a range of issues before any decision in relation to the JV could be made.
“As the council does not have the necessary expertise in-house, I have asked Mr Brady, former county manager, to assist the council in view of his knowledge of the JV and his unique background in both the local authority and property development sectors,” the letter added. “I propose to offer Mr Brady, who is not conflicted, a short-term temporary contract of employment.”
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor Ruairi Holohan of the Green Party said Mr Brady was a “bizarre person to recruit”.
“If you’re going to choose anyone why would you choose a controversial person? I’m sure he has intimate knowledge of the area, but really someone with such bad blood between himself and the councillors is a bizarre decision.
“There are so many people who could have been chosen who have the expertise and not this person. I can’t understand the motives of appointing someone like him.”
The council said yesterday Mr Keegan was unavailable for comment and it “would not be facilitating any contact with Mr Brady”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Former Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown county manager Derek Brady became a consultant with Alburn Limited, a firm associated with developer Noel Smyth, when Mr Brady left the council in 2005.
His move to Alburn came after Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council controversially signalled its intention in 2005 to approve a proposal to build one of Ireland’s tallest buildings – a 24-storey apartment tower at Sandyford, in south Co Dublin. The plan was eventually rejected by An Bord Pleanála last year. Mr Brady is now rejoining the council on a “short-term temporary contract” to advise it on its involvement in a joint venture to develop 64 acres in Cherrywood.
In a letter to councillors on Tuesday, county manager Owen Keegan said Mr Brady’s appointment “may generate some media interest”, but said Mr Brady was “not conflicted”.
The council has, since 1997, been involved as a minority partner in a joint venture (JV) with two firms in the Dunloe Ewart Group to develop the Cherrywood site. The agreement was due to expire at the end of 2008, but was extended until June 30th.
“The council needs to consider whether and on what basis it should seek to extend the JV agreement beyond June 30th, 2009,” Mr Keegan’s letter stated.
It said that given the deteriorating outlook for commercial development and the “growing financial constraints” on the council “very detailed consideration had to be given to a range of issues before any decision in relation to the JV could be made.
“As the council does not have the necessary expertise in-house, I have asked Mr Brady, former county manager, to assist the council in view of his knowledge of the JV and his unique background in both the local authority and property development sectors,” the letter added. “I propose to offer Mr Brady, who is not conflicted, a short-term temporary contract of employment.”
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor Ruairi Holohan of the Green Party said Mr Brady was a “bizarre person to recruit”.
“If you’re going to choose anyone why would you choose a controversial person? I’m sure he has intimate knowledge of the area, but really someone with such bad blood between himself and the councillors is a bizarre decision.
“There are so many people who could have been chosen who have the expertise and not this person. I can’t understand the motives of appointing someone like him.”
The council said yesterday Mr Keegan was unavailable for comment and it “would not be facilitating any contact with Mr Brady”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
People power: how to generate your own electricity
MICRO-GENERATION IS defined as the generation of low-emission power and heat by individuals, small businesses and communities to meet their own needs.
Eligible micro-generation installations under the new scheme announced yesterday include small-scale wind turbines, solar panels, hydro (water power) and combined heat and power (CHP), ie an electricity generator fuelled by biomass.
Home and land owners interested in the scheme are advised to:
* Select a micro-generator suitable to your location that uses an interface certified as meeting the required ESB Network settings.
* Notify ESB Networks that you intend to connect your micro- generation to its network using its standard application form.
* Purchase the micro-generator from a reputable supplier.
* Use a qualified installer and registered electrical contractor to install and connect the micro-generator to your home.
* A comprehensive guide is available from the Sustainable Energy Ireland website. www.sei.ie
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Eligible micro-generation installations under the new scheme announced yesterday include small-scale wind turbines, solar panels, hydro (water power) and combined heat and power (CHP), ie an electricity generator fuelled by biomass.
Home and land owners interested in the scheme are advised to:
* Select a micro-generator suitable to your location that uses an interface certified as meeting the required ESB Network settings.
* Notify ESB Networks that you intend to connect your micro- generation to its network using its standard application form.
* Purchase the micro-generator from a reputable supplier.
* Use a qualified installer and registered electrical contractor to install and connect the micro-generator to your home.
* A comprehensive guide is available from the Sustainable Energy Ireland website. www.sei.ie
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
New plan to promote turbines for houses
HOUSEHOLDS COULD soon be receiving a cheque rather than a bill from the ESB under a new electricity-generation scheme announced yesterday by Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan.
Home and landowners are being encouraged to set up their own small micro-generation units under the initiative, which will enable them to generate electricity to power their own homes and sell any excess energy back into the national grid.
Mr Ryan announced that the first 4,000 people to install small-scale wind turbines, solar panels or hydro-power generators would be offered 19 cent per kilowatt hour, up to 5c more than it costs to power homes, for any surplus energy they sell back into the grid over the next three years.
Ireland is considered to have some of the best energy-producing winds in Europe, and a high percentage of the population lives in one-off houses on sites suitable for wind-energy generation.
Mr Ryan said the initiative could change the nature of electricity generation in Ireland and help reduce the State’s €6 billion a year spend on fossil fuels.
“Before you received your power from a central source and paid for it,” he said. “Now you can generate electricity to power your own home, and when you generate extra power you can expect a cheque rather than a bill in the post from the ESB.”
Mr Ryan said with the right supports Ireland could use its abundant natural resources to bolster the economy, create green-collar jobs and help lift the State out of recession.
He said creating green jobs and wealth generation was the best and most sustainable way to reverse the nation’s economic fortunes.
“What we have to do is replace the lending that took place in the whole construction sector in recent years with lending in areas like this where there is a real measured return for supply.
“There are good, sustainable long-term jobs in green energy installation and maintenance businesses, and that is where my mind is focused in the present climate in terms of trying to get the country out of our economic crisis.”
Under the scheme, small, low-emission energy-generation units are to be exempt from planning permission, and the ESB is to introduce a connection policy to reduce the length and complexity of the process, according to Mr Ryan.
The Commission for Energy Regulation last week announced that micro-generated electricity would be purchased for 9c per kilowatt hour. ESB Networks will contribute an additional 10c per kilowatt for the first 4,000 users.
It is estimated that setting up a micro-generation unit costs between €17,000 and €30,000.
Quentin Gargan of Turbotricity, an Irish company developing household wind turbines, believes the move will provide an enormous boost to Ireland’s green-collar economy.
Mr Gargan said the tariff offered would make wind turbines viable in sites that have good wind conditions, but he warned those interested in the scheme to assess their site before deciding.
“A turbine needs to be wide open to wind from any direction between southwest and northwest. Turbulence from buildings or hedges upwind of it will decimate the productivity of any wind turbine.”
Irish Farmers Association vice-president Seán O’Leary described the announcement as an important first step, but said the tariff offered for micro-generation must be increased to match prices paid in Germany and France.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Home and landowners are being encouraged to set up their own small micro-generation units under the initiative, which will enable them to generate electricity to power their own homes and sell any excess energy back into the national grid.
Mr Ryan announced that the first 4,000 people to install small-scale wind turbines, solar panels or hydro-power generators would be offered 19 cent per kilowatt hour, up to 5c more than it costs to power homes, for any surplus energy they sell back into the grid over the next three years.
Ireland is considered to have some of the best energy-producing winds in Europe, and a high percentage of the population lives in one-off houses on sites suitable for wind-energy generation.
Mr Ryan said the initiative could change the nature of electricity generation in Ireland and help reduce the State’s €6 billion a year spend on fossil fuels.
“Before you received your power from a central source and paid for it,” he said. “Now you can generate electricity to power your own home, and when you generate extra power you can expect a cheque rather than a bill in the post from the ESB.”
Mr Ryan said with the right supports Ireland could use its abundant natural resources to bolster the economy, create green-collar jobs and help lift the State out of recession.
He said creating green jobs and wealth generation was the best and most sustainable way to reverse the nation’s economic fortunes.
“What we have to do is replace the lending that took place in the whole construction sector in recent years with lending in areas like this where there is a real measured return for supply.
“There are good, sustainable long-term jobs in green energy installation and maintenance businesses, and that is where my mind is focused in the present climate in terms of trying to get the country out of our economic crisis.”
Under the scheme, small, low-emission energy-generation units are to be exempt from planning permission, and the ESB is to introduce a connection policy to reduce the length and complexity of the process, according to Mr Ryan.
The Commission for Energy Regulation last week announced that micro-generated electricity would be purchased for 9c per kilowatt hour. ESB Networks will contribute an additional 10c per kilowatt for the first 4,000 users.
It is estimated that setting up a micro-generation unit costs between €17,000 and €30,000.
Quentin Gargan of Turbotricity, an Irish company developing household wind turbines, believes the move will provide an enormous boost to Ireland’s green-collar economy.
Mr Gargan said the tariff offered would make wind turbines viable in sites that have good wind conditions, but he warned those interested in the scheme to assess their site before deciding.
“A turbine needs to be wide open to wind from any direction between southwest and northwest. Turbulence from buildings or hedges upwind of it will decimate the productivity of any wind turbine.”
Irish Farmers Association vice-president Seán O’Leary described the announcement as an important first step, but said the tariff offered for micro-generation must be increased to match prices paid in Germany and France.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 26 February 2009
CRACKS in the walls and floors of up to 750 houses are "insignificant" and not caused by building material supplied by one of the country's largest
AN BORD PLEANÁLA was yesterday accused of being out of touch for continuing to put on hold a decision on the e350 million Opera retail centre in Limerick.
Mayor John Gilligan said he has lost faith in the planning appeals board after a ruling on the Opera centre was deferred for a further four months.
Last week, An Bord Pleanala set April 9 as the decision date on the biggest retail development ever planned in the mid-west.
But the ruling will now be delayed as An Bord Pleanála requested further revised drawings for historic buildings on the proposed site at Rutland Street, Michael Street, Ellen Street and Patrick Street.
Mr Gilligan said: "Limerick City Council has to make a decision on a development within eight weeks but An Bord Pleanála can sit on it for six, eight or 12 months.
"I think they are totally out of touch with reality and I’ve just lost faith in them."
If given the go-ahead, the proposed Opera Centre could create up to 300 construction jobs and over 800 retail jobs when completed.
It is hoped that a major retailer such as Marks & Spencer will be attracted to take up an anchor tenancy.
Limerick City Council claim the Opera Centre plan will help the city centre fight the drift to suburban shopping centres, which has hit city centre trading.
An Bord Pleanála has given approval for a major development at Limerick’s Milk Market which will see it covered and extended to include a 120-seat restaurant.
The market only opens on Saturday mornings but An Bord Pleanala’s decision will now see it open six days a week.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Mayor John Gilligan said he has lost faith in the planning appeals board after a ruling on the Opera centre was deferred for a further four months.
Last week, An Bord Pleanala set April 9 as the decision date on the biggest retail development ever planned in the mid-west.
But the ruling will now be delayed as An Bord Pleanála requested further revised drawings for historic buildings on the proposed site at Rutland Street, Michael Street, Ellen Street and Patrick Street.
Mr Gilligan said: "Limerick City Council has to make a decision on a development within eight weeks but An Bord Pleanála can sit on it for six, eight or 12 months.
"I think they are totally out of touch with reality and I’ve just lost faith in them."
If given the go-ahead, the proposed Opera Centre could create up to 300 construction jobs and over 800 retail jobs when completed.
It is hoped that a major retailer such as Marks & Spencer will be attracted to take up an anchor tenancy.
Limerick City Council claim the Opera Centre plan will help the city centre fight the drift to suburban shopping centres, which has hit city centre trading.
An Bord Pleanála has given approval for a major development at Limerick’s Milk Market which will see it covered and extended to include a 120-seat restaurant.
The market only opens on Saturday mornings but An Bord Pleanala’s decision will now see it open six days a week.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Quarry firm denies infill defects
CRACKS in the walls and floors of up to 750 houses are "insignificant" and not caused by building material supplied by one of the country's largest quarrying companies, a court heard yesterday.
Yesterday, the Lagan Group launched a robust defence to claims by Menolly Homes, owned by developer Seamus Ross, that infill it supplied to four building companies controlled by Mr Ross was defective.
The denial came as Menolly Homes said it may apply to have the €60m row over structural defects in hundreds of homes in three new housing estates in Dublin struck out of court after new evidence came to light.
Menolly Homes, which built the homes using infill supplied from a Lagan-owned quarry, signalled its intention to have the litigation struck out after receiving minutes of three Lagan management meetings.
The minutes were only handed over to Menolly's lawyers on Monday at 3pm, several hours after Menolly had opened its case at the Commercial Court, sitting in Clonskeagh.
The minutes revealed that Terry Lagan, the group's director, believed that lands at Bay Lane -- its quarry near Dublin Airport -- were unsuitable for quarrying, a revelation described as one of "the utmost seriousness" by Brian O'Moore, senior counsel for Menolly.
Yesterday Mr O'Moore said that the "entire shape of opening of the case" would have been entirely different had the minutes been furnished to him.
Mr Justice Paul Galligan, who is presiding over the case with two designated assessors, said it was up to Menolly whether to accept new, confirmatory statements from Mr Lagan or to seek to have the Lagan Group's defences struck out.
Opening its defence, the Lagan Group insisted that the vast majority of the cracks that appeared in the houses built by Menolly have no structural significance and are unrelated to the infill material gleaned from a quarry it owns at Bay Lane, near Dublin Airport.
Conclusions
It also accused Menolly, which is seeking legal protection against up to €60m in anticipated damages claims from homeowners, of "jumping to conclusions" about the cause of the problems.
Menolly has claimed that the cracking in the houses was caused by the presence of pyrite, a mineral also known as "fool's gold", in aggregate infill procured by Irish Asphalt Limited, Lagan Holdings Ltd and Lagan Construction Limited.
All companies are owned by the Lagan Group.
Senior counsel Hugh O'Neill, opening the case for Lagan, said that Menolly and its experts had convinced themselves that pyrite was the problem in an effort to pass responsibility to the Lagan-owned companies.
"We know about the situation in the country where practically every second house with cracks is having this [the cracks] attributed to pyrite," he said.
"A problem which for some reason we managed to live without for many years is now said to be the root cause of endless cracking."
Mr O'Neill also claimed that Menolly had "rushed" to get the houses built and sold when the property market was booming and alleged that there were defects in the design and workmanship of some of the units.
The case, which could last for several months, continues today.
Dearbhail McDonald Legal Editor
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Yesterday, the Lagan Group launched a robust defence to claims by Menolly Homes, owned by developer Seamus Ross, that infill it supplied to four building companies controlled by Mr Ross was defective.
The denial came as Menolly Homes said it may apply to have the €60m row over structural defects in hundreds of homes in three new housing estates in Dublin struck out of court after new evidence came to light.
Menolly Homes, which built the homes using infill supplied from a Lagan-owned quarry, signalled its intention to have the litigation struck out after receiving minutes of three Lagan management meetings.
The minutes were only handed over to Menolly's lawyers on Monday at 3pm, several hours after Menolly had opened its case at the Commercial Court, sitting in Clonskeagh.
The minutes revealed that Terry Lagan, the group's director, believed that lands at Bay Lane -- its quarry near Dublin Airport -- were unsuitable for quarrying, a revelation described as one of "the utmost seriousness" by Brian O'Moore, senior counsel for Menolly.
Yesterday Mr O'Moore said that the "entire shape of opening of the case" would have been entirely different had the minutes been furnished to him.
Mr Justice Paul Galligan, who is presiding over the case with two designated assessors, said it was up to Menolly whether to accept new, confirmatory statements from Mr Lagan or to seek to have the Lagan Group's defences struck out.
Opening its defence, the Lagan Group insisted that the vast majority of the cracks that appeared in the houses built by Menolly have no structural significance and are unrelated to the infill material gleaned from a quarry it owns at Bay Lane, near Dublin Airport.
Conclusions
It also accused Menolly, which is seeking legal protection against up to €60m in anticipated damages claims from homeowners, of "jumping to conclusions" about the cause of the problems.
Menolly has claimed that the cracking in the houses was caused by the presence of pyrite, a mineral also known as "fool's gold", in aggregate infill procured by Irish Asphalt Limited, Lagan Holdings Ltd and Lagan Construction Limited.
All companies are owned by the Lagan Group.
Senior counsel Hugh O'Neill, opening the case for Lagan, said that Menolly and its experts had convinced themselves that pyrite was the problem in an effort to pass responsibility to the Lagan-owned companies.
"We know about the situation in the country where practically every second house with cracks is having this [the cracks] attributed to pyrite," he said.
"A problem which for some reason we managed to live without for many years is now said to be the root cause of endless cracking."
Mr O'Neill also claimed that Menolly had "rushed" to get the houses built and sold when the property market was booming and alleged that there were defects in the design and workmanship of some of the units.
The case, which could last for several months, continues today.
Dearbhail McDonald Legal Editor
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Seven-storey scheme for Donnybrook garage site
DEVELOPERS BRYAN Cullen and John O’Sullivan have come back with another planning application for a Donnybrook site which is occupied by a Topaz filling station and Everready tyre centre.
The duo were given the thumbs down last May by Dublin City Council for an 11-storey office block and 22 apartments which was deemed “excessive”.
This time around they are looking for a scaled down version of the previous development proposal for the site at the junction of Donnybrook Road and Brookvale Road.
The developers have submitted a planning application for a mixed-use office, retail and residential development in two blocks which would involve demolishing the Topaz filling station and Everready centre.
The site is across the road from Leinster’s Donnybrook rugby grounds and overlooks Donnybrook Tennis Club.
One of the planned blocks would reach five storeys and incorporate some 3,361sq m (36,177sq ft) of office space, a restaurant, bakery foodhall, café at ground and first floor level, and a roof terrace for the restaurant.
Another block is to rise to seven storeys with 976sq m (10,505sq ft) of office space, a restaurant at ground and part-basement level, a shop and 10 two-bed apartments.
The site was assembled by John O’Sullivan, Bryan Cullen and Myles O’Malley of O’Malley Construction.
Cullen bought the filling station from Topaz for €15 million and various other parts of the site were assembled over the years, with most of O’Sullivan’s land owned since 1988, including the Everready centre.
Meanwhile An Taisce has appealed the proposed redevelopment of Harcourt Terrace Garda station to An Bord Pleanála.
A subsidiary of the Durkan Group is looking to demolish the 1950s Garda station, old film censor’s office and other buildings on site, and build a four-storey residential block facing onto Harcourt Terrace.
A seven-storey office block with setback levels fronting onto Charlemont Place is also included in the development.
The proposal is smaller in scale than one refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála early last year.
The developer is seeking permission to build 24 apartments in a four-storey block compared to a more ambitious 43 apartments in two blocks rising to nine storeys last time around.
The office element proposed is 10,413sq m (112,084sq ft) compared to 12,714sq m (136,854sq ft) last time.
However, An Taisce says the developer has not adequately addressed the previous refusal by An Bord Pleanála “in respect of the scale and design of the residential building proposed to replace the Garda station and the Film Censor’s office on Harcourt Terrace”.
It suggests that the planned building is modified by omitting projecting balconies onto Harcourt Terrace, the use of muted brick or sandstone cladding instead of Portland stone and the omission of one floor to make it a three-storey building.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The duo were given the thumbs down last May by Dublin City Council for an 11-storey office block and 22 apartments which was deemed “excessive”.
This time around they are looking for a scaled down version of the previous development proposal for the site at the junction of Donnybrook Road and Brookvale Road.
The developers have submitted a planning application for a mixed-use office, retail and residential development in two blocks which would involve demolishing the Topaz filling station and Everready centre.
The site is across the road from Leinster’s Donnybrook rugby grounds and overlooks Donnybrook Tennis Club.
One of the planned blocks would reach five storeys and incorporate some 3,361sq m (36,177sq ft) of office space, a restaurant, bakery foodhall, café at ground and first floor level, and a roof terrace for the restaurant.
Another block is to rise to seven storeys with 976sq m (10,505sq ft) of office space, a restaurant at ground and part-basement level, a shop and 10 two-bed apartments.
The site was assembled by John O’Sullivan, Bryan Cullen and Myles O’Malley of O’Malley Construction.
Cullen bought the filling station from Topaz for €15 million and various other parts of the site were assembled over the years, with most of O’Sullivan’s land owned since 1988, including the Everready centre.
Meanwhile An Taisce has appealed the proposed redevelopment of Harcourt Terrace Garda station to An Bord Pleanála.
A subsidiary of the Durkan Group is looking to demolish the 1950s Garda station, old film censor’s office and other buildings on site, and build a four-storey residential block facing onto Harcourt Terrace.
A seven-storey office block with setback levels fronting onto Charlemont Place is also included in the development.
The proposal is smaller in scale than one refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála early last year.
The developer is seeking permission to build 24 apartments in a four-storey block compared to a more ambitious 43 apartments in two blocks rising to nine storeys last time around.
The office element proposed is 10,413sq m (112,084sq ft) compared to 12,714sq m (136,854sq ft) last time.
However, An Taisce says the developer has not adequately addressed the previous refusal by An Bord Pleanála “in respect of the scale and design of the residential building proposed to replace the Garda station and the Film Censor’s office on Harcourt Terrace”.
It suggests that the planned building is modified by omitting projecting balconies onto Harcourt Terrace, the use of muted brick or sandstone cladding instead of Portland stone and the omission of one floor to make it a three-storey building.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sisters and brothers busy making rezoning submissions to council
DESPITE THE recession, there is no shortage of submissions to rezone lands under Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council’s draft development plan 2010-2016.
Religious orders figure quite prominently with the Daughters of Charity at Temple Hill, Blackrock looking to have 6.56 hectares of their lands rezoned for residential development. The sisters have even submitted a framework plan and suggest the “entire scheme might be linked by a new bus route to Blackrock from Newtownpark Avenue”. They estimate the lands will accommodate 867 to 1,094 dwellings and a local centre for residents.
While they will keep it low rise near residential areas, heights of up to seven storeys are muted for Temple Hill frontage, with higher landmark buildings suggested for land remote from housing and overlooking parkland.
Meanwhile the Christian Brothers are looking to have a further 10 acres of their land at Old Conna in Bray rezoned to A1, “to provide for new residential communities subject to a local area plan”.
Already 15 acres of their 25-acre holding is zoned A1 but the submission says the drafting of the local area plan has been hampered by a lack of services and transport.
They also propose that about five acres of the site could be rezoned to E, “to provide for economic development and employment” in light of the proposed routing of the Luas B2 line, and want the institutional zoning to be removed from the north-west corner of the site.
The Christian Brothers are also looking to have 5.6 hectares in Shankill changed from green belt “to protect and enhance the open nature of land between urban centres” to E.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Religious orders figure quite prominently with the Daughters of Charity at Temple Hill, Blackrock looking to have 6.56 hectares of their lands rezoned for residential development. The sisters have even submitted a framework plan and suggest the “entire scheme might be linked by a new bus route to Blackrock from Newtownpark Avenue”. They estimate the lands will accommodate 867 to 1,094 dwellings and a local centre for residents.
While they will keep it low rise near residential areas, heights of up to seven storeys are muted for Temple Hill frontage, with higher landmark buildings suggested for land remote from housing and overlooking parkland.
Meanwhile the Christian Brothers are looking to have a further 10 acres of their land at Old Conna in Bray rezoned to A1, “to provide for new residential communities subject to a local area plan”.
Already 15 acres of their 25-acre holding is zoned A1 but the submission says the drafting of the local area plan has been hampered by a lack of services and transport.
They also propose that about five acres of the site could be rezoned to E, “to provide for economic development and employment” in light of the proposed routing of the Luas B2 line, and want the institutional zoning to be removed from the north-west corner of the site.
The Christian Brothers are also looking to have 5.6 hectares in Shankill changed from green belt “to protect and enhance the open nature of land between urban centres” to E.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
€400m housing development in Cork gets the green light
THE DEVELOPER responsible for Ireland’s tallest building, the Elysian tower in Cork, has got permission for a €400 million development of 1,200 houses on the outskirts of Cork city. Planning was granted yesterday for the 235-acre site close to the Dunkettle roundabout and Glanmire village.
Developer Michael O’Flynn, managing director of O’Flynn Construction, plans to proceed with the project despite plummeting property prices.
O’Flynn completed the €150 million Elysian apartment complex and Japanese Gardens in Cork city last year, but most of the apartments in the 17-storey tower lie empty. His latest project will see two new neighbourhoods built at Dunkettle and Ballinglanna – 6km east of Cork city – to include local retail and community facilities.
The historic Dunkettle House, a protected structure which is located on the site, will be fully renovated and a management plan to ensure its long-term future is to be put in place. It is hoped Dunkettle House will become a visitor attraction and its extensive grounds will serve as parklands for the estimated 2,500 residents of the new housing development.
The 1,200 homes will be built on a phased basis over a 10-year period and will eventually be served by a new railway station at Dunkettle, part of the Cork to Midleton rail line.
The approved development is an amalgamation of two separate planning applications turned down by An Bord Pleanála in 2004. At the time, the planning board had recommended that a masterplan including both developments be drawn up for the greenfield site.
The decision to permit the O’Flynn Construction scheme provides for substantial new improvements to the Dunkettle Road and the Dunkettle interchange, two of the main eastern gateway points into Cork city, which will be carried out in conjunction with the proposed new neighbourhoods.
Facilities at the site will include a retail centre, two creches and a medical centre. A parcel of land is to be reserved for the provision of a 16-classroom primary school and a day-care centre for older people.
Recreational amenities will include a multipurpose community hall, play areas and “multiuse games areas”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Developer Michael O’Flynn, managing director of O’Flynn Construction, plans to proceed with the project despite plummeting property prices.
O’Flynn completed the €150 million Elysian apartment complex and Japanese Gardens in Cork city last year, but most of the apartments in the 17-storey tower lie empty. His latest project will see two new neighbourhoods built at Dunkettle and Ballinglanna – 6km east of Cork city – to include local retail and community facilities.
The historic Dunkettle House, a protected structure which is located on the site, will be fully renovated and a management plan to ensure its long-term future is to be put in place. It is hoped Dunkettle House will become a visitor attraction and its extensive grounds will serve as parklands for the estimated 2,500 residents of the new housing development.
The 1,200 homes will be built on a phased basis over a 10-year period and will eventually be served by a new railway station at Dunkettle, part of the Cork to Midleton rail line.
The approved development is an amalgamation of two separate planning applications turned down by An Bord Pleanála in 2004. At the time, the planning board had recommended that a masterplan including both developments be drawn up for the greenfield site.
The decision to permit the O’Flynn Construction scheme provides for substantial new improvements to the Dunkettle Road and the Dunkettle interchange, two of the main eastern gateway points into Cork city, which will be carried out in conjunction with the proposed new neighbourhoods.
Facilities at the site will include a retail centre, two creches and a medical centre. A parcel of land is to be reserved for the provision of a 16-classroom primary school and a day-care centre for older people.
Recreational amenities will include a multipurpose community hall, play areas and “multiuse games areas”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
€2m facelift for Limerick Milk Market
A MAJOR development for one of the country’s oldest market places is set to commence within weeks.
The transformation of Limerick Milk Market, which dates back to 1852, is an extensive project due to be completed by early next year.
This follows the decision by Limerick City Council, and An Bord Pleanála to grant permission for the project to the Limerick Market Trustees, a non-profit group responsible for running markets throughout the city and environs.
David O’Mahony, the chairman of Limerick Market Trustees, said the project will cost in excess of €2 million and would “move quickly to implementation, once the tendering process is complete”.
“Our plan is to build upon the phenomenal success of our open air Saturday Milk Market, transforming it into an even more vibrant, enlarged, week-long market venue, which will be weather-proofed and will attract more shoppers and visitors into the heart of Limerick city,” he said.
“In advancing our plans, we are conscious that we are the guardians of a unique and historic market which dates back to 1852. Our plan will fully protect the integrity of the market and will make it a landmark city attraction.”
The redeveloped market will provide opportunities for more small traders to showcase diverse and local produce, from fresh and fine foods through to horticultural produce, crafts and fashions, continued Mr O’Mahoney.
The transformation plan incorporates a structure covering the Milk Market courtyard, protecting visitors from the elements. A mezzanine floor, to extend from the existing Market House will accommodate a restaurant overlooking the market.
Beneath this will be a number of permanent trading outlets that will typically sell speciality foods and beverages, in keeping with the market’s ethos.
“The dynamic of a market, where the stallholders sell what they produce direct to shoppers, is very special. It creates a buzz, an energy and a business stimulant that is just brilliant, particularly within a city centre. Our plans are to facilitate this ‘buzz’ by providing a more perfect environment for both the stallholders and the shoppers. We will also be promoting the market as a venue for a range of special events, complementary to the market, to add to its overall appeal and to the contribution the market will make to the city,” said Mr O’Mahony.
In the coming weeks the market trustees will be detailing the opportunities the market presents for specialist retailers, producers and event organisers.
The development will form part of the Limerick Market Trustees overall strategy for increasing markets in the city. It is hoped it will complement the Riverside market, which runs on Sundays from April to October on Bedford Row in Limerick city centre.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The transformation of Limerick Milk Market, which dates back to 1852, is an extensive project due to be completed by early next year.
This follows the decision by Limerick City Council, and An Bord Pleanála to grant permission for the project to the Limerick Market Trustees, a non-profit group responsible for running markets throughout the city and environs.
David O’Mahony, the chairman of Limerick Market Trustees, said the project will cost in excess of €2 million and would “move quickly to implementation, once the tendering process is complete”.
“Our plan is to build upon the phenomenal success of our open air Saturday Milk Market, transforming it into an even more vibrant, enlarged, week-long market venue, which will be weather-proofed and will attract more shoppers and visitors into the heart of Limerick city,” he said.
“In advancing our plans, we are conscious that we are the guardians of a unique and historic market which dates back to 1852. Our plan will fully protect the integrity of the market and will make it a landmark city attraction.”
The redeveloped market will provide opportunities for more small traders to showcase diverse and local produce, from fresh and fine foods through to horticultural produce, crafts and fashions, continued Mr O’Mahoney.
The transformation plan incorporates a structure covering the Milk Market courtyard, protecting visitors from the elements. A mezzanine floor, to extend from the existing Market House will accommodate a restaurant overlooking the market.
Beneath this will be a number of permanent trading outlets that will typically sell speciality foods and beverages, in keeping with the market’s ethos.
“The dynamic of a market, where the stallholders sell what they produce direct to shoppers, is very special. It creates a buzz, an energy and a business stimulant that is just brilliant, particularly within a city centre. Our plans are to facilitate this ‘buzz’ by providing a more perfect environment for both the stallholders and the shoppers. We will also be promoting the market as a venue for a range of special events, complementary to the market, to add to its overall appeal and to the contribution the market will make to the city,” said Mr O’Mahony.
In the coming weeks the market trustees will be detailing the opportunities the market presents for specialist retailers, producers and event organisers.
The development will form part of the Limerick Market Trustees overall strategy for increasing markets in the city. It is hoped it will complement the Riverside market, which runs on Sundays from April to October on Bedford Row in Limerick city centre.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Plans to acquire Cork heritage estate abandoned
THE IRISH Heritage Trust has confirmed that it has had to abandon the negotiations which were close to completing its acquisition of the Anne’s Grove estate in north Cork because of current Government cutbacks.
Described by a spokesman as “a wonderful offer of an estate of international importance which we cannot now accept”, Anne’s Grove at Castletownroche is the home of the Grove Annesley family where a famous riverside garden is the centrepiece of a 500- acre estate comprising house, home farm, double stableyard, riverbank and woodlands.
It lies deep in the Blackwater valley close to Spenser’s home at Doneraile which was also the home of Canon Sheehan, close also to the Hennessys of Cognac fame at Kilavullen and to the birthplace of Edmund Burke, and long associated with Farahy, home of Elizabeth Bowen at nearby Bowens’ Court.
While a slight reduction in the core grant supporting the trust does not affect its ability to continue with the development of other projects, the endowment fund of €5 million and associated tax credits which had been allocated for Anne’s Grove were withdrawn two weeks ago. The spokesman indicated that “all bets are off now” with regard to the €35 million earmarked for the trust over the duration of the National Development Plan.
While the Grove Annesleys settled in Castletownroche in 1628 the present house was built in the early 18th century on a plateau immediately above the Awbeg river. Although much of the early plan of the gardens survives, its most significant development came with the dedication of Richard and Hilda Grove Annesley from 1907 to 1966. At present the estate is run by a family trust managed by Patrick Annesley and his wife Jane; it is understood that at one point the family offered to sell the farmland in order to provide a restoration fund for the Irish Heritage Trust, which has confirmed that it was offered the estate on very generous terms.
The dilemma for the Annesleys is that while the trust has not absolutely ruled out the possibility of re-opening negotiations, the value of the property itself has been reduced in the interval since the initial assessments. While the trust’s plan was to keep intact one of the country’s few examples of a complete country house estate, the family is considering other options in an effort to generate sufficient capital to ensure the continued preservation of the demesne.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Described by a spokesman as “a wonderful offer of an estate of international importance which we cannot now accept”, Anne’s Grove at Castletownroche is the home of the Grove Annesley family where a famous riverside garden is the centrepiece of a 500- acre estate comprising house, home farm, double stableyard, riverbank and woodlands.
It lies deep in the Blackwater valley close to Spenser’s home at Doneraile which was also the home of Canon Sheehan, close also to the Hennessys of Cognac fame at Kilavullen and to the birthplace of Edmund Burke, and long associated with Farahy, home of Elizabeth Bowen at nearby Bowens’ Court.
While a slight reduction in the core grant supporting the trust does not affect its ability to continue with the development of other projects, the endowment fund of €5 million and associated tax credits which had been allocated for Anne’s Grove were withdrawn two weeks ago. The spokesman indicated that “all bets are off now” with regard to the €35 million earmarked for the trust over the duration of the National Development Plan.
While the Grove Annesleys settled in Castletownroche in 1628 the present house was built in the early 18th century on a plateau immediately above the Awbeg river. Although much of the early plan of the gardens survives, its most significant development came with the dedication of Richard and Hilda Grove Annesley from 1907 to 1966. At present the estate is run by a family trust managed by Patrick Annesley and his wife Jane; it is understood that at one point the family offered to sell the farmland in order to provide a restoration fund for the Irish Heritage Trust, which has confirmed that it was offered the estate on very generous terms.
The dilemma for the Annesleys is that while the trust has not absolutely ruled out the possibility of re-opening negotiations, the value of the property itself has been reduced in the interval since the initial assessments. While the trust’s plan was to keep intact one of the country’s few examples of a complete country house estate, the family is considering other options in an effort to generate sufficient capital to ensure the continued preservation of the demesne.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Wind turbine plan for homeowners
MEASURES TO encourage members of the public to generate their own electricity are to be announced today by Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan.
Under the scheme, householders and landowners who own or install wind turbines are to be offered incentives to generate power for their own homes and the option to sell excess energy to the national grid. The Commission for Energy Regulation last week announced that the ESB is to buy electricity from microgenerators, ie householders with their own wind generators or other renewable electricity systems, at a tariff of nine cent per kilowatt.
Mr Ryan is to announce the incentives at the Renewable Energy Systems open day in Straffan, Co Kildare. He will also reveal details of a grant-assisted pilot study covering part of the cost of setting up a microgenerator.
A guide outlining how people can get their turbines connected to the national grid will also be released.
Ireland is considered to have some of the best energy-producing winds in Europe and a high percentage of the population live in one-off houses on sites suitable for wind-energy generation.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Under the scheme, householders and landowners who own or install wind turbines are to be offered incentives to generate power for their own homes and the option to sell excess energy to the national grid. The Commission for Energy Regulation last week announced that the ESB is to buy electricity from microgenerators, ie householders with their own wind generators or other renewable electricity systems, at a tariff of nine cent per kilowatt.
Mr Ryan is to announce the incentives at the Renewable Energy Systems open day in Straffan, Co Kildare. He will also reveal details of a grant-assisted pilot study covering part of the cost of setting up a microgenerator.
A guide outlining how people can get their turbines connected to the national grid will also be released.
Ireland is considered to have some of the best energy-producing winds in Europe and a high percentage of the population live in one-off houses on sites suitable for wind-energy generation.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Quarry firm denies infill defects
CRACKS in the walls and floors of up to 750 houses are "insignificant" and not caused by building material supplied by one of the country's largest quarrying companies, a court heard yesterday.
Yesterday, the Lagan Group launched a robust defence to claims by Menolly Homes, owned by developer Seamus Ross, that infill it supplied to four building companies controlled by Mr Ross was defective.
The denial came as Menolly Homes said it may apply to have the €60m row over structural defects in hundreds of homes in three new housing estates in Dublin struck out of court after new evidence came to light.
Menolly Homes, which built the homes using infill supplied from a Lagan-owned quarry, signalled its intention to have the litigation struck out after receiving minutes of three Lagan management meetings.
The minutes were only handed over to Menolly's lawyers on Monday at 3pm, several hours after Menolly had opened its case at the Commercial Court, sitting in Clonskeagh.
The minutes revealed that Terry Lagan, the group's director, believed that lands at Bay Lane -- its quarry near Dublin Airport -- were unsuitable for quarrying, a revelation described as one of "the utmost seriousness" by Brian O'Moore, senior counsel for Menolly.
Yesterday Mr O'Moore said that the "entire shape of opening of the case" would have been entirely different had the minutes been furnished to him.
Mr Justice Paul Galligan, who is presiding over the case with two designated assessors, said it was up to Menolly whether to accept new, confirmatory statements from Mr Lagan or to seek to have the Lagan Group's defences struck out.
Opening its defence, the Lagan Group insisted that the vast majority of the cracks that appeared in the houses built by Menolly have no structural significance and are unrelated to the infill material gleaned from a quarry it owns at Bay Lane, near Dublin Airport.
Conclusions
It also accused Menolly, which is seeking legal protection against up to €60m in anticipated damages claims from homeowners, of "jumping to conclusions" about the cause of the problems.
Menolly has claimed that the cracking in the houses was caused by the presence of pyrite, a mineral also known as "fool's gold", in aggregate infill procured by Irish Asphalt Limited, Lagan Holdings Ltd and Lagan Construction Limited.
All companies are owned by the Lagan Group.
Senior counsel Hugh O'Neill, opening the case for Lagan, said that Menolly and its experts had convinced themselves that pyrite was the problem in an effort to pass responsibility to the Lagan-owned companies.
"We know about the situation in the country where practically every second house with cracks is having this [the cracks] attributed to pyrite," he said.
"A problem which for some reason we managed to live without for many years is now said to be the root cause of endless cracking."
Mr O'Neill also claimed that Menolly had "rushed" to get the houses built and sold when the property market was booming and alleged that there were defects in the design and workmanship of some of the units.
The case, which could last for several months, continues today.
Dearbhail McDonald Legal Editor
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Yesterday, the Lagan Group launched a robust defence to claims by Menolly Homes, owned by developer Seamus Ross, that infill it supplied to four building companies controlled by Mr Ross was defective.
The denial came as Menolly Homes said it may apply to have the €60m row over structural defects in hundreds of homes in three new housing estates in Dublin struck out of court after new evidence came to light.
Menolly Homes, which built the homes using infill supplied from a Lagan-owned quarry, signalled its intention to have the litigation struck out after receiving minutes of three Lagan management meetings.
The minutes were only handed over to Menolly's lawyers on Monday at 3pm, several hours after Menolly had opened its case at the Commercial Court, sitting in Clonskeagh.
The minutes revealed that Terry Lagan, the group's director, believed that lands at Bay Lane -- its quarry near Dublin Airport -- were unsuitable for quarrying, a revelation described as one of "the utmost seriousness" by Brian O'Moore, senior counsel for Menolly.
Yesterday Mr O'Moore said that the "entire shape of opening of the case" would have been entirely different had the minutes been furnished to him.
Mr Justice Paul Galligan, who is presiding over the case with two designated assessors, said it was up to Menolly whether to accept new, confirmatory statements from Mr Lagan or to seek to have the Lagan Group's defences struck out.
Opening its defence, the Lagan Group insisted that the vast majority of the cracks that appeared in the houses built by Menolly have no structural significance and are unrelated to the infill material gleaned from a quarry it owns at Bay Lane, near Dublin Airport.
Conclusions
It also accused Menolly, which is seeking legal protection against up to €60m in anticipated damages claims from homeowners, of "jumping to conclusions" about the cause of the problems.
Menolly has claimed that the cracking in the houses was caused by the presence of pyrite, a mineral also known as "fool's gold", in aggregate infill procured by Irish Asphalt Limited, Lagan Holdings Ltd and Lagan Construction Limited.
All companies are owned by the Lagan Group.
Senior counsel Hugh O'Neill, opening the case for Lagan, said that Menolly and its experts had convinced themselves that pyrite was the problem in an effort to pass responsibility to the Lagan-owned companies.
"We know about the situation in the country where practically every second house with cracks is having this [the cracks] attributed to pyrite," he said.
"A problem which for some reason we managed to live without for many years is now said to be the root cause of endless cracking."
Mr O'Neill also claimed that Menolly had "rushed" to get the houses built and sold when the property market was booming and alleged that there were defects in the design and workmanship of some of the units.
The case, which could last for several months, continues today.
Dearbhail McDonald Legal Editor
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Department warns An Bord Pleanála of risks from harbour incinerators
THE Department of the Environment has lodged a submission to An Bord Pleanála outlining potential risks to human, plant and animal life from the proposed development of two e150 million incinerators at Cork Harbour.
The document which is one of approximately 284 submissions, warns of potential problems that need to be addressed if permission is granted to the 280,000 tonne hazardous and household waste incinerators.
It points out that the incinerator is within one kilometre of a European-Union designated Special Protection Area (SPA) which could be adversely affected by emissions from the incinerators. It also said that the area has more planned areas of conservation including Rostellan and Monkstown Creek.
The department warns there is also a potential risk to flora and fauna in the wider harbour area — including damage to waterbirds from mercury poisoning.
A spokesman for the department, headed by Green Minister John Gormley, last night said the submission was an objection per se.
"The minister hasn’t objected to the proposal as he is precluded by law from doing so. We have simply made comments on the proposal in the context of the possible impacts on any sensitive areas in the vicinity of the facility," he said.
A total of 284 submissions were lodged with An Bord Pleanála earlier this month, under the Strategic Infrastructure Act, objecting to the controversial incinerators.
The objectors are seeking an oral hearing on Indaver’s planned development but it’s not yet known if this request will be complied with. The board could just give a green or red light to the development, without further consultation. They have stated that they want to make a final decision, either way, by mid-June.
Indaver say the incinerators are "must-have" for this country if we want to avoid hefty EU levies for sending too much waste to landfill. A planning application for a 100,000-tonne incinerator was first lodged seven years ago but by the time the planning appeal process had run its course, the original permission had expired. The second request for planning permission was made via An Bord Pleanála as the Strategic Infrastructure Act came into force in the meantime.
Objections were received from the IFA, the Irish Midwives Association, Cobh Doctors Association, East Cork Tourism, local primary and secondary schools, local school boards of management, the Allen family at Ballymaloe House and Monkstown Bay Sailing Club. Local Labour, Fine Gael and Green party TDs and councillors also objected as did Michael McGrath TD of Fianna Fáil.
Cork Harbour for a Safe Environment (CHASE) spokeswoman Linda Fitzpatrick said the group were heartened by the level of objections and that it was much higher than they had expected.
"We were delighted to the see the minister and the department objecting as his predecessors Ministers Roche, Cullen and Dempsey wouldn’t even meet us. We are disgusted however that local people had to pay over e17,500 in total to once again make their views known," she said.
Commenting on the submissions received, an Indaver spokesperson said that many of the objections received by An Bord Pleanála were repetitive in nature.
"Ireland and Cork needs this infrastructure — our waste mountain and economy demands it," said Jane Hennessey.
CHASE have fought the planned incinerator for nearly seven years on the grounds that "the site is the wrong site" for physical reasons and that the local population will suffer adverse health consequences from dioxin emissions.
They say it flouts 13 of 14 World Health Organisation guidelines for locating incinerators including it being on a flood plain and just metres from population centres. It is also an area at risk of coastal erosion.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The document which is one of approximately 284 submissions, warns of potential problems that need to be addressed if permission is granted to the 280,000 tonne hazardous and household waste incinerators.
It points out that the incinerator is within one kilometre of a European-Union designated Special Protection Area (SPA) which could be adversely affected by emissions from the incinerators. It also said that the area has more planned areas of conservation including Rostellan and Monkstown Creek.
The department warns there is also a potential risk to flora and fauna in the wider harbour area — including damage to waterbirds from mercury poisoning.
A spokesman for the department, headed by Green Minister John Gormley, last night said the submission was an objection per se.
"The minister hasn’t objected to the proposal as he is precluded by law from doing so. We have simply made comments on the proposal in the context of the possible impacts on any sensitive areas in the vicinity of the facility," he said.
A total of 284 submissions were lodged with An Bord Pleanála earlier this month, under the Strategic Infrastructure Act, objecting to the controversial incinerators.
The objectors are seeking an oral hearing on Indaver’s planned development but it’s not yet known if this request will be complied with. The board could just give a green or red light to the development, without further consultation. They have stated that they want to make a final decision, either way, by mid-June.
Indaver say the incinerators are "must-have" for this country if we want to avoid hefty EU levies for sending too much waste to landfill. A planning application for a 100,000-tonne incinerator was first lodged seven years ago but by the time the planning appeal process had run its course, the original permission had expired. The second request for planning permission was made via An Bord Pleanála as the Strategic Infrastructure Act came into force in the meantime.
Objections were received from the IFA, the Irish Midwives Association, Cobh Doctors Association, East Cork Tourism, local primary and secondary schools, local school boards of management, the Allen family at Ballymaloe House and Monkstown Bay Sailing Club. Local Labour, Fine Gael and Green party TDs and councillors also objected as did Michael McGrath TD of Fianna Fáil.
Cork Harbour for a Safe Environment (CHASE) spokeswoman Linda Fitzpatrick said the group were heartened by the level of objections and that it was much higher than they had expected.
"We were delighted to the see the minister and the department objecting as his predecessors Ministers Roche, Cullen and Dempsey wouldn’t even meet us. We are disgusted however that local people had to pay over e17,500 in total to once again make their views known," she said.
Commenting on the submissions received, an Indaver spokesperson said that many of the objections received by An Bord Pleanála were repetitive in nature.
"Ireland and Cork needs this infrastructure — our waste mountain and economy demands it," said Jane Hennessey.
CHASE have fought the planned incinerator for nearly seven years on the grounds that "the site is the wrong site" for physical reasons and that the local population will suffer adverse health consequences from dioxin emissions.
They say it flouts 13 of 14 World Health Organisation guidelines for locating incinerators including it being on a flood plain and just metres from population centres. It is also an area at risk of coastal erosion.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Department warns An Bord Pleanála of risks from harbour incinerators
THE Department of the Environment has lodged a submission to An Bord Pleanála outlining potential risks to human, plant and animal life from the proposed development of two e150 million incinerators at Cork Harbour.
The document which is one of approximately 284 submissions, warns of potential problems that need to be addressed if permission is granted to the 280,000 tonne hazardous and household waste incinerators.
It points out that the incinerator is within one kilometre of a European-Union designated Special Protection Area (SPA) which could be adversely affected by emissions from the incinerators. It also said that the area has more planned areas of conservation including Rostellan and Monkstown Creek.
The department warns there is also a potential risk to flora and fauna in the wider harbour area — including damage to waterbirds from mercury poisoning.
A spokesman for the department, headed by Green Minister John Gormley, last night said the submission was an objection per se.
"The minister hasn’t objected to the proposal as he is precluded by law from doing so. We have simply made comments on the proposal in the context of the possible impacts on any sensitive areas in the vicinity of the facility," he said.
A total of 284 submissions were lodged with An Bord Pleanála earlier this month, under the Strategic Infrastructure Act, objecting to the controversial incinerators.
The objectors are seeking an oral hearing on Indaver’s planned development but it’s not yet known if this request will be complied with. The board could just give a green or red light to the development, without further consultation. They have stated that they want to make a final decision, either way, by mid-June.
Indaver say the incinerators are "must-have" for this country if we want to avoid hefty EU levies for sending too much waste to landfill. A planning application for a 100,000-tonne incinerator was first lodged seven years ago but by the time the planning appeal process had run its course, the original permission had expired. The second request for planning permission was made via An Bord Pleanála as the Strategic Infrastructure Act came into force in the meantime.
Objections were received from the IFA, the Irish Midwives Association, Cobh Doctors Association, East Cork Tourism, local primary and secondary schools, local school boards of management, the Allen family at Ballymaloe House and Monkstown Bay Sailing Club. Local Labour, Fine Gael and Green party TDs and councillors also objected as did Michael McGrath TD of Fianna Fáil.
Cork Harbour for a Safe Environment (CHASE) spokeswoman Linda Fitzpatrick said the group were heartened by the level of objections and that it was much higher than they had expected.
"We were delighted to the see the minister and the department objecting as his predecessors Ministers Roche, Cullen and Dempsey wouldn’t even meet us. We are disgusted however that local people had to pay over e17,500 in total to once again make their views known," she said.
Commenting on the submissions received, an Indaver spokesperson said that many of the objections received by An Bord Pleanála were repetitive in nature.
"Ireland and Cork needs this infrastructure — our waste mountain and economy demands it," said Jane Hennessey.
CHASE have fought the planned incinerator for nearly seven years on the grounds that "the site is the wrong site" for physical reasons and that the local population will suffer adverse health consequences from dioxin emissions.
They say it flouts 13 of 14 World Health Organisation guidelines for locating incinerators including it being on a flood plain and just metres from population centres. It is also an area at risk of coastal erosion.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The document which is one of approximately 284 submissions, warns of potential problems that need to be addressed if permission is granted to the 280,000 tonne hazardous and household waste incinerators.
It points out that the incinerator is within one kilometre of a European-Union designated Special Protection Area (SPA) which could be adversely affected by emissions from the incinerators. It also said that the area has more planned areas of conservation including Rostellan and Monkstown Creek.
The department warns there is also a potential risk to flora and fauna in the wider harbour area — including damage to waterbirds from mercury poisoning.
A spokesman for the department, headed by Green Minister John Gormley, last night said the submission was an objection per se.
"The minister hasn’t objected to the proposal as he is precluded by law from doing so. We have simply made comments on the proposal in the context of the possible impacts on any sensitive areas in the vicinity of the facility," he said.
A total of 284 submissions were lodged with An Bord Pleanála earlier this month, under the Strategic Infrastructure Act, objecting to the controversial incinerators.
The objectors are seeking an oral hearing on Indaver’s planned development but it’s not yet known if this request will be complied with. The board could just give a green or red light to the development, without further consultation. They have stated that they want to make a final decision, either way, by mid-June.
Indaver say the incinerators are "must-have" for this country if we want to avoid hefty EU levies for sending too much waste to landfill. A planning application for a 100,000-tonne incinerator was first lodged seven years ago but by the time the planning appeal process had run its course, the original permission had expired. The second request for planning permission was made via An Bord Pleanála as the Strategic Infrastructure Act came into force in the meantime.
Objections were received from the IFA, the Irish Midwives Association, Cobh Doctors Association, East Cork Tourism, local primary and secondary schools, local school boards of management, the Allen family at Ballymaloe House and Monkstown Bay Sailing Club. Local Labour, Fine Gael and Green party TDs and councillors also objected as did Michael McGrath TD of Fianna Fáil.
Cork Harbour for a Safe Environment (CHASE) spokeswoman Linda Fitzpatrick said the group were heartened by the level of objections and that it was much higher than they had expected.
"We were delighted to the see the minister and the department objecting as his predecessors Ministers Roche, Cullen and Dempsey wouldn’t even meet us. We are disgusted however that local people had to pay over e17,500 in total to once again make their views known," she said.
Commenting on the submissions received, an Indaver spokesperson said that many of the objections received by An Bord Pleanála were repetitive in nature.
"Ireland and Cork needs this infrastructure — our waste mountain and economy demands it," said Jane Hennessey.
CHASE have fought the planned incinerator for nearly seven years on the grounds that "the site is the wrong site" for physical reasons and that the local population will suffer adverse health consequences from dioxin emissions.
They say it flouts 13 of 14 World Health Organisation guidelines for locating incinerators including it being on a flood plain and just metres from population centres. It is also an area at risk of coastal erosion.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Bill for 'defects' in 700 homes could be €60m
ONE of the country's biggest developers has told a court he could be facing €60m of compensation claims from as many as 759 potential lawsuits over alleged building defects.
Menolly Homes, which is owned by developer Seamus Ross, is seeking an "unusual" court order granting him protection from claims for compensation and repair works.
Hundreds of homeowners claim their walls and floors are "heaving and cracking" because of allegedly defective quarrying material used to build their houses.
The mammoth court battle between Menolly Homes and the Lagan Group, who provided infill used to build houses in three estates in north Dublin, is being watched by hundreds of households, many of whom are poised to sue over "serious damage" to their homes.
The proceedings have been brought by four construction companies -- Hansfield Developments, Viking Construction, Menolly Properties and Menolly Homes -- against three companies in the Lagan group --Irish Asphalt Limited, Lagan Holdings Ltd and Lagan Construciton Ltd. The court order sought by Menolly Homes and related companies arises from alleged structural defects in houses on three estates, Drynam Hall in Kinsealy, Beaupark in Clongriffin and Myrtle in Baldoyle.
In the proceedings it is claimed that aggregate infill bought from Irish Asphalt Limited (IAL) was used in the construction of all three estates and was also used under common areas such as footpaths and roads. It is alleged to have contained unacceptable excessive levels of pyrite. The infill used by Menolly was sourced from Bay Lane, a Lagan-owned quarry near Kilshane in Dublin, but IAL rejects claims that defects in houses were caused by its quarrying material.
"The only common denominator, the only constant feature in the damaged houses is the presence of Bay Lane material," Brian O'Moore, Senior Counsel for Menolly Homes told the Commercial Court yesterday.
Mr O'Moore also said that "there was something quite rotten" in the development of the Bay Lane quarry and said that a former executive at Irish Alsphalt, would say in evidence that the board of the Lagan Group was informed that the aggregate material was not fit for use. It is also claimed that in the course of applying for planning permission for the quarry, one of IAL's own geology and soils experts had data on aggregate testing conducted by Lagan witheld from him.
Professor Geoffrey Walton, who will not give evidence, is alleged to have claimed in a letter that he was advised that Lagan was not willing to disclose certain findings because of "indiscreet competitors".
Prior to problems emerging in 2005, Menolly Homes built more than 14,000 houses under the HomeBond scheme, which provides structural defect cover for new homes. Two experts were yesterday sworn in as assessors to assist the presiding judge, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan.
Dearbhail McDonald Legal Editor
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Menolly Homes, which is owned by developer Seamus Ross, is seeking an "unusual" court order granting him protection from claims for compensation and repair works.
Hundreds of homeowners claim their walls and floors are "heaving and cracking" because of allegedly defective quarrying material used to build their houses.
The mammoth court battle between Menolly Homes and the Lagan Group, who provided infill used to build houses in three estates in north Dublin, is being watched by hundreds of households, many of whom are poised to sue over "serious damage" to their homes.
The proceedings have been brought by four construction companies -- Hansfield Developments, Viking Construction, Menolly Properties and Menolly Homes -- against three companies in the Lagan group --Irish Asphalt Limited, Lagan Holdings Ltd and Lagan Construciton Ltd. The court order sought by Menolly Homes and related companies arises from alleged structural defects in houses on three estates, Drynam Hall in Kinsealy, Beaupark in Clongriffin and Myrtle in Baldoyle.
In the proceedings it is claimed that aggregate infill bought from Irish Asphalt Limited (IAL) was used in the construction of all three estates and was also used under common areas such as footpaths and roads. It is alleged to have contained unacceptable excessive levels of pyrite. The infill used by Menolly was sourced from Bay Lane, a Lagan-owned quarry near Kilshane in Dublin, but IAL rejects claims that defects in houses were caused by its quarrying material.
"The only common denominator, the only constant feature in the damaged houses is the presence of Bay Lane material," Brian O'Moore, Senior Counsel for Menolly Homes told the Commercial Court yesterday.
Mr O'Moore also said that "there was something quite rotten" in the development of the Bay Lane quarry and said that a former executive at Irish Alsphalt, would say in evidence that the board of the Lagan Group was informed that the aggregate material was not fit for use. It is also claimed that in the course of applying for planning permission for the quarry, one of IAL's own geology and soils experts had data on aggregate testing conducted by Lagan witheld from him.
Professor Geoffrey Walton, who will not give evidence, is alleged to have claimed in a letter that he was advised that Lagan was not willing to disclose certain findings because of "indiscreet competitors".
Prior to problems emerging in 2005, Menolly Homes built more than 14,000 houses under the HomeBond scheme, which provides structural defect cover for new homes. Two experts were yesterday sworn in as assessors to assist the presiding judge, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan.
Dearbhail McDonald Legal Editor
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Owners subsidising developers, says council
APARTMENT OWNERS are being forced to subsidise developers who refuse to pay property management fees for their unsold units, Dublin City Council has said.
Management companies were collapsing and individual apartment owners were facing spiralling property management costs because of the failure of developers to pay fees for apartments they have been unable to sell.
The problem was worsening, the council said, because of the increasing numbers of unsold units in new developments, and because of a lack of legislation covering the area.
In some cases, developers had taken advantage of the legislative vacuum to write discriminatory clauses into the legal documents signed by purchasers, exempting the developer from paying management charges on unsold units. In others, the developers were simply refusing to pay, the council said.
One developer of a large complex stopped work at Christmas, leaving three blocks of apartments unfinished. One-quarter of the apartments in the finished blocks remained unsold. The developer is not paying the development charge for the unsold units and the owners of the remaining apartments are expected to pay the full charge while living in an unfinished complex.
“Developers are behaving like feudal lords. The odds are stacked against the owner,” said Evelyn Hanlon, senior executive officer with the council’s housing division.
“The people occupying are having to pay for the whole of the complex. If there are 100 apartments but only 70 occupied, the whole fee remains the same but it’s borne by fewer people,” she said.
In recent years, apartment owners had begun to accept management companies were necessary to ensure repairs took place and common areas were looked after, Ms Hanlon said.
However, the economic downturn made people more reluctant to pay charges, particularly when they were left living in unfinished estates or when they perceived they were being asked to pay more than their fair share.
A further problem was that developers were excluding owners from having a role in management companies through legal contracts stating that control of the management company would not be handed over until the entire estate was finished and sold.
There were cases where owners were refused permission to attend the management company agm by the developer, Ms Hanlon said.
In 2006, the then minister for justice Michael McDowell launched a consultation process on multi-unit development.
Last June, the Law Reform Commission’s report recommending the introduction of legislation for the area was published, but Ms Hanlon said there has been no information on when a Bill will be published.
“There is no legislation supporting apartment dwellers and it is making living in apartments unsustainable,” Councillor Kevin Humphreys (Lab) said.
If the property management companies were allowed to collapse, people would be left without basic services, said Councillor Seán Kenny (Lab).
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Management companies were collapsing and individual apartment owners were facing spiralling property management costs because of the failure of developers to pay fees for apartments they have been unable to sell.
The problem was worsening, the council said, because of the increasing numbers of unsold units in new developments, and because of a lack of legislation covering the area.
In some cases, developers had taken advantage of the legislative vacuum to write discriminatory clauses into the legal documents signed by purchasers, exempting the developer from paying management charges on unsold units. In others, the developers were simply refusing to pay, the council said.
One developer of a large complex stopped work at Christmas, leaving three blocks of apartments unfinished. One-quarter of the apartments in the finished blocks remained unsold. The developer is not paying the development charge for the unsold units and the owners of the remaining apartments are expected to pay the full charge while living in an unfinished complex.
“Developers are behaving like feudal lords. The odds are stacked against the owner,” said Evelyn Hanlon, senior executive officer with the council’s housing division.
“The people occupying are having to pay for the whole of the complex. If there are 100 apartments but only 70 occupied, the whole fee remains the same but it’s borne by fewer people,” she said.
In recent years, apartment owners had begun to accept management companies were necessary to ensure repairs took place and common areas were looked after, Ms Hanlon said.
However, the economic downturn made people more reluctant to pay charges, particularly when they were left living in unfinished estates or when they perceived they were being asked to pay more than their fair share.
A further problem was that developers were excluding owners from having a role in management companies through legal contracts stating that control of the management company would not be handed over until the entire estate was finished and sold.
There were cases where owners were refused permission to attend the management company agm by the developer, Ms Hanlon said.
In 2006, the then minister for justice Michael McDowell launched a consultation process on multi-unit development.
Last June, the Law Reform Commission’s report recommending the introduction of legislation for the area was published, but Ms Hanlon said there has been no information on when a Bill will be published.
“There is no legislation supporting apartment dwellers and it is making living in apartments unsustainable,” Councillor Kevin Humphreys (Lab) said.
If the property management companies were allowed to collapse, people would be left without basic services, said Councillor Seán Kenny (Lab).
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 23 February 2009
Gormley seeks solution to Fermoy weir row
MINISTER for the Environment John Gormley has pledged to try and find a solution to the row over State plans to alter the river Blackwater’s weir in Fermoy, Co Cork.
Mr Gormley has promised to discuss the issue with his Cabinet colleague, Minister for Natural Resources Eamon Ryan and his junior counterpart, Seán Power.
Mr Ryan’s department plans to replace the weir on the river Blackwater with a rock-ramp fish pass for returning wild salmon.
The work will coincide with implementation of a 32 million flood plan for Fermoy by the Office of Public Works, according to the department.
However, Fermoy Rowing Club, which is marking its 125th anniversary this year, claims the weir only needs to be repaired.
An engineer’s report which the club commissioned suggested the cheaper and more effective solution would be to repair the weir and install a second fish pass. The club says that a rock-ramp pass would affect river levels and threaten the club’s existence.
“There has been a weir on the Blackwater in Fermoy since 1160,” Fermoy Rowing Club secretary Donal Buckley said.
“Thomas Cromwell recorded it in his 1530s inventory of monasteries for Henry VIII. The Scottish entrepreneur John Anderson built the modern town around the millrace and the bridge.” He says that the local triathlon club, sub-aqua club, University Canoe Club, other kayakers and swimmers would be affected negatively, as the increased flow could suck them on to the rock pass.
Mr Gormley was met with a protest over the weir issue last Friday evening in Fermoy.
A meeting was subsequently held between the Minister and Mr Buckley, facilitated by Green Party local election candidate Adam Douglas – at which Mr Gormley promised to try and seek a resolution. Mr Ryan’s department told The Irish Times late last year that the weir was currently in breach of the EU Habitats Directive as it was preventing salmon from migrating.
Mr Buckley has challenged this claim. He says that information received by the rowing club from the European Commission by MEP Kathy Sinnott indicates that a case, involving a complaint about the weir lodged in 2003, was now “closed” as the Government was dealing with the issue.
A spokeswoman for Mr Ryan’s department said that Mr Power had met with Fermoy town council officials and rowing club representatives.
The town council will review the department’s proposals for the weir, or come up with an alternative which would improve the fish pass and maintaining the amenity for users, the spokeswoman said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Mr Gormley has promised to discuss the issue with his Cabinet colleague, Minister for Natural Resources Eamon Ryan and his junior counterpart, Seán Power.
Mr Ryan’s department plans to replace the weir on the river Blackwater with a rock-ramp fish pass for returning wild salmon.
The work will coincide with implementation of a 32 million flood plan for Fermoy by the Office of Public Works, according to the department.
However, Fermoy Rowing Club, which is marking its 125th anniversary this year, claims the weir only needs to be repaired.
An engineer’s report which the club commissioned suggested the cheaper and more effective solution would be to repair the weir and install a second fish pass. The club says that a rock-ramp pass would affect river levels and threaten the club’s existence.
“There has been a weir on the Blackwater in Fermoy since 1160,” Fermoy Rowing Club secretary Donal Buckley said.
“Thomas Cromwell recorded it in his 1530s inventory of monasteries for Henry VIII. The Scottish entrepreneur John Anderson built the modern town around the millrace and the bridge.” He says that the local triathlon club, sub-aqua club, University Canoe Club, other kayakers and swimmers would be affected negatively, as the increased flow could suck them on to the rock pass.
Mr Gormley was met with a protest over the weir issue last Friday evening in Fermoy.
A meeting was subsequently held between the Minister and Mr Buckley, facilitated by Green Party local election candidate Adam Douglas – at which Mr Gormley promised to try and seek a resolution. Mr Ryan’s department told The Irish Times late last year that the weir was currently in breach of the EU Habitats Directive as it was preventing salmon from migrating.
Mr Buckley has challenged this claim. He says that information received by the rowing club from the European Commission by MEP Kathy Sinnott indicates that a case, involving a complaint about the weir lodged in 2003, was now “closed” as the Government was dealing with the issue.
A spokeswoman for Mr Ryan’s department said that Mr Power had met with Fermoy town council officials and rowing club representatives.
The town council will review the department’s proposals for the weir, or come up with an alternative which would improve the fish pass and maintaining the amenity for users, the spokeswoman said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Heritage-project grants of €4m announced
Grants worth €4.1 million for heritage-related projects were announced today. More than 540 heritage projects nationwide will receive funding, under the Heritage Council’s 2009 Grants Programme, which aims to assist in the management of the State’s heritage.
Projects that will receive funding, details of which was announced by Heritage Council chief executive, Michael Starrett, include conservation and rebinding of the four earliest minute books held by the GAA, the reestablishment of viable breeding populations of white-tailed sea eagles in southwest Ireland and of the red kite across Ireland, and a survey of basking sharks in Irish waters.
Other recipients of heritage grants will be a study of the Travelling community’s cultural heritage in Cork and the restoration and re-siting of a former Lagan canal barge in Armagh.
Speaking today, Mr Starrett said: “Heritage in Ireland is not a luxury but essential to our quality of life and sustainable economy. . . . At a time of global economic crisis, it is timely to remember how cost effective and strategic a small spend on our heritage can be.”
This year has seen an increase in the range of applications for funding by 20 per cent, with many smaller and community led projects receiving funding, the Heritage Council said.
The Heritage Council is the statutory body charged with identifying, protecting, preserving and enhancing Ireland’s national heritage.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Projects that will receive funding, details of which was announced by Heritage Council chief executive, Michael Starrett, include conservation and rebinding of the four earliest minute books held by the GAA, the reestablishment of viable breeding populations of white-tailed sea eagles in southwest Ireland and of the red kite across Ireland, and a survey of basking sharks in Irish waters.
Other recipients of heritage grants will be a study of the Travelling community’s cultural heritage in Cork and the restoration and re-siting of a former Lagan canal barge in Armagh.
Speaking today, Mr Starrett said: “Heritage in Ireland is not a luxury but essential to our quality of life and sustainable economy. . . . At a time of global economic crisis, it is timely to remember how cost effective and strategic a small spend on our heritage can be.”
This year has seen an increase in the range of applications for funding by 20 per cent, with many smaller and community led projects receiving funding, the Heritage Council said.
The Heritage Council is the statutory body charged with identifying, protecting, preserving and enhancing Ireland’s national heritage.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Ireland’s only cable car to be replaced 40 years on
IRELAND’S only cable car is set to be replaced next month — exactly 40 years on from when it was first installed to link an island off the south-west coast to the mainland.
The new e30,000 car will replace one that was set up in 1969 to provide Dursey Island’s population with an alternative to the sometimes treacherous boat crossing of the channel, which has extremely strong and dangerous currents.
Cork County Council had the cable car built by a firm in Limerick.
But as there was no company in this country capable of galvanising such a large object, it had to be sent to England.
It is now back in Dursey waiting to be installed.
Ted Murphy, a senior executive engineer with the county council, said good weather would be needed to complete the project.
"We hope to install it next month. We will be checking with Met Éireann to find a good weather window. It will take about a week because we will have to take the old one down," Mr Murphy said.
When the cable car is out of action, boats will be used to ferry Dursey folk on and off the island.
In the 1800s there were hundreds of people living on the island, but the population has dwindled to less than 10.
However, there are a number of holiday homes on the island — which is 6.5km long and 1.5km wide — and visitors swell the population at weekends and during the summer.
Paul Culleton, the council’s senior technician, has designed a more modern, comfortable and robust cable car.
It’s not just humans who will use it. Islanders have always insisted that the cable car be available to transport animals and since the service began many cattle have crossed over, dangling 219 metres over Dursey Sound.
"It was a dilemma to design a more comfortable cable car which still has to be robust enough to deal with animals," Mr Murphy said.
The cable car operates 365 days a year by local man Paddy Sheehan.
"We have trained up other people to operate the system when he’s away on holidays," Mr Murphy added.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The new e30,000 car will replace one that was set up in 1969 to provide Dursey Island’s population with an alternative to the sometimes treacherous boat crossing of the channel, which has extremely strong and dangerous currents.
Cork County Council had the cable car built by a firm in Limerick.
But as there was no company in this country capable of galvanising such a large object, it had to be sent to England.
It is now back in Dursey waiting to be installed.
Ted Murphy, a senior executive engineer with the county council, said good weather would be needed to complete the project.
"We hope to install it next month. We will be checking with Met Éireann to find a good weather window. It will take about a week because we will have to take the old one down," Mr Murphy said.
When the cable car is out of action, boats will be used to ferry Dursey folk on and off the island.
In the 1800s there were hundreds of people living on the island, but the population has dwindled to less than 10.
However, there are a number of holiday homes on the island — which is 6.5km long and 1.5km wide — and visitors swell the population at weekends and during the summer.
Paul Culleton, the council’s senior technician, has designed a more modern, comfortable and robust cable car.
It’s not just humans who will use it. Islanders have always insisted that the cable car be available to transport animals and since the service began many cattle have crossed over, dangling 219 metres over Dursey Sound.
"It was a dilemma to design a more comfortable cable car which still has to be robust enough to deal with animals," Mr Murphy said.
The cable car operates 365 days a year by local man Paddy Sheehan.
"We have trained up other people to operate the system when he’s away on holidays," Mr Murphy added.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 22 February 2009
Metro North rail bids due this week
The four consortiums vying to build the Metro North rail system in Dublin are finalising their bids and will submit them to the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) this week. The Sunday Business Post understands that the consortiums have focused on reducing costs where possible, and that bids are expected to be in the region of €3 billion to €4 billion. Sources confirmed that the drop in property prices, and competition among subcontractors for work, had allowed them to revise costings downwards.
Sources close to the consortiums said that the technical and financial aspects of the bids had been stressed as the main points on which a decision would be made. The sources said that the government had reiterated that the project was not in danger of being scrapped.
Transport minister Noel Dempsey has said that the government supports the project, but that it must represent value for money in the current economic climate. The minister said that capital investment projects that generated employment in the construction sector were a priority, and that the rail project should generate several hundred jobs.
However, raising private capital to fund the 17-kilometre link between the city centre and Swords is likely to be challenging for the consortiums. This is expected to be a significant factor in the RPA’s selection of the final offer over the coming months.
The RPA is expected to examine the bids over the next month, before meeting the individual consortiums for briefings and questions on their submissions.The bidders will be given time to elaborate on technical details or variations in their project designs.
The four consortiums are Dublin Express Link, which includes SIAC,H SBC and French Metro operators Keolis; Cathro Consortium,which includes Luas operator Veolia and Siemens; Metro Express, which includes AIB, Transdev and Sisk; and the CelticMetro Group,wh ich is composed of foreign operators and headed by Tokyo-based investment groupMitsui.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
Sources close to the consortiums said that the technical and financial aspects of the bids had been stressed as the main points on which a decision would be made. The sources said that the government had reiterated that the project was not in danger of being scrapped.
Transport minister Noel Dempsey has said that the government supports the project, but that it must represent value for money in the current economic climate. The minister said that capital investment projects that generated employment in the construction sector were a priority, and that the rail project should generate several hundred jobs.
However, raising private capital to fund the 17-kilometre link between the city centre and Swords is likely to be challenging for the consortiums. This is expected to be a significant factor in the RPA’s selection of the final offer over the coming months.
The RPA is expected to examine the bids over the next month, before meeting the individual consortiums for briefings and questions on their submissions.The bidders will be given time to elaborate on technical details or variations in their project designs.
The four consortiums are Dublin Express Link, which includes SIAC,H SBC and French Metro operators Keolis; Cathro Consortium,which includes Luas operator Veolia and Siemens; Metro Express, which includes AIB, Transdev and Sisk; and the CelticMetro Group,wh ich is composed of foreign operators and headed by Tokyo-based investment groupMitsui.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
Green light for €125m shopping development in Carlow
Developer Eamon Duignan and his business partners have been given the go-ahead for a €125m shopping centre in Carlow that is expected to create 400 jobs during the construction phase. The scheme will involve the redevelopment of the Penneys site in the town, and the low-cost clothing retailer is to operate a shop at the redeveloped centre.
Planning was granted for the development despite the fact that An Bord Pleanala's inspector recommended it be refused on the basis that it would "be prejudicial to public health".
However, the board overruled that recommendation, stating that the site was zoned own-centre and therefore it was an appropriate form of development.
"In deciding not to accept the inspector's recommendation to refuse permission, the board considered
that the proposed development was in line with the policies set out in the current Carlow Town Development Plan, that it would
not be appropriate to
refuse permission for reasons of prematurity and that it would have a positive impact overall on the environment of Hanover Park," it stated.
Duignan will now be able to construct more than 62,000 square metres of shops, offices and apartments on the site of nearly seven acres. DTZ Sherry FitzGerald will let the new centre on behalf of the developer who has numerous retail interests.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Planning was granted for the development despite the fact that An Bord Pleanala's inspector recommended it be refused on the basis that it would "be prejudicial to public health".
However, the board overruled that recommendation, stating that the site was zoned own-centre and therefore it was an appropriate form of development.
"In deciding not to accept the inspector's recommendation to refuse permission, the board considered
that the proposed development was in line with the policies set out in the current Carlow Town Development Plan, that it would
not be appropriate to
refuse permission for reasons of prematurity and that it would have a positive impact overall on the environment of Hanover Park," it stated.
Duignan will now be able to construct more than 62,000 square metres of shops, offices and apartments on the site of nearly seven acres. DTZ Sherry FitzGerald will let the new centre on behalf of the developer who has numerous retail interests.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Campaigners urges M3 workers to strike
CAMPAIGNERS seeking to have a controversial motorway rerouted have called on construction workers involved in the project to go on strike. Tarawatch urged builders working on the M3 motorway project to take industrial action over the 10% pay cut proposed by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF). They said it was the flagship project for the CIF and that the move could also help focus attention on the ongoing conservation campaign.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 20 February 2009
Survey plans for old village
Detailed surveys are to be carried out on the old village on the Great Blasket Island after the State bought land there for €2m.
Building conservation officers will carry out a survey with a view to stabilising the buildings, the Office of Public Works said yesterday.
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Building conservation officers will carry out a survey with a view to stabilising the buildings, the Office of Public Works said yesterday.
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Incinerator plan scrapped
An incinerator planned for a power plant is to be redeveloped into a natural gas-fired station instead.
The plans for the incinerator at the Great Island Power Plant in South Wexford have been quashed with news that €250m is to be spent on redeveloping it into a natural gas-fired turbine.
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The plans for the incinerator at the Great Island Power Plant in South Wexford have been quashed with news that €250m is to be spent on redeveloping it into a natural gas-fired turbine.
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Dunne lodges €1m in 'unpaid fees' case
DEVELOPER Sean Dunne is to lodge €1m in court pending the outcome of a legal action against him by a firm of estate agents over €1.5m in alleged unpaid fees.
CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) initiated proceedings against Mr Dunne in the Commercial Court last month and yesterday the judge was told the case would go to a hearing and Mr Dunne would lodge €1m in court within 21 days along with a defence and counter-claim.
Late last year, the High Court found that an €83m office block development on Dublin's north quays should not have been built because the Dublin Docklands Development Authority had accepted land from the developer as part of a deal which led to the building's go-ahead.
CBRE, 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 at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin, and the part exchange of that with another property -- Hume House, at Pembroke Road.
Last month, the court was told Mr Dunne was contending the alleged liability was not his but of one of his companies, Mountbrook Homes Ltd. CBRE claims the agreement was made with Mr Dunne personally.
CBRE director Willie Dowling said the aspect of his company's fee in dispute related to an investment fee agreed at 0.75pc of the sale price, which amounted to €1.44m plus VAT. He later negotiated a reduction of that fee on a goodwill basis to €1.25m, plus VAT (€1.52m).
In November last year, Mr Dunne disputed the level of fee which was "entirely at odds" with his previous position.
The case was adjourned to April.
Tim Healy and Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) initiated proceedings against Mr Dunne in the Commercial Court last month and yesterday the judge was told the case would go to a hearing and Mr Dunne would lodge €1m in court within 21 days along with a defence and counter-claim.
Late last year, the High Court found that an €83m office block development on Dublin's north quays should not have been built because the Dublin Docklands Development Authority had accepted land from the developer as part of a deal which led to the building's go-ahead.
CBRE, 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 at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin, and the part exchange of that with another property -- Hume House, at Pembroke Road.
Last month, the court was told Mr Dunne was contending the alleged liability was not his but of one of his companies, Mountbrook Homes Ltd. CBRE claims the agreement was made with Mr Dunne personally.
CBRE director Willie Dowling said the aspect of his company's fee in dispute related to an investment fee agreed at 0.75pc of the sale price, which amounted to €1.44m plus VAT. He later negotiated a reduction of that fee on a goodwill basis to €1.25m, plus VAT (€1.52m).
In November last year, Mr Dunne disputed the level of fee which was "entirely at odds" with his previous position.
The case was adjourned to April.
Tim Healy and Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Developers owe capital's council almost €25m
DUBLIN City Council is owed almost €25m in development levies from builders who cannot afford to pay up.
And yesterday it emerged that another €118m in levies is under threat because some developments already granted planning permission might not go ahead. The money is paid by developers as part of their planning permission after building work commences and is earmarked to pay for roads, water, parks, sewerage and other essential services.
But city councillors on the Finance Special Policy Committee will be told next week that officials are chasing developers for €25m, and that budgets will have to be amended to take account of the falling revenue.
Development levies will pay for 8.1pc of the council's capital projects budget this year, which totals €345.5m. It expects levies to pay for almost €28m worth of projects, some of which could be under threat.
Plans were also made to spend the €118m due in levies, but after the economic downturn put hundreds of projects on hold the money is not being paid over.
"Some of it is owed for developments already done, and the rest is for developments that might not proceed," Labour councillor Dermot Lacey said.
"There is a problem about collection. There's a fault line in the linking of income to the council with the granting of permissions.
Funding
"There is going to be enormous problems in the city council over the next couple of years. The real problem is the repayments for work that's already under way. There's a real problem for funding of local authorities, and they're huge issues."
The move comes as figures supplied to councillors show that the amount being generated through levies has dramatically fallen in the last year.
Figures obtained by Fine Gael councillor Naoise O Muiri show that the levies peaked at a total of €68m in 2007, up from €57m in 2006 and €63m in 2005.
But last year the amount dropped to just €30m, and city management expect the amount to fall to €25m this year.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
And yesterday it emerged that another €118m in levies is under threat because some developments already granted planning permission might not go ahead. The money is paid by developers as part of their planning permission after building work commences and is earmarked to pay for roads, water, parks, sewerage and other essential services.
But city councillors on the Finance Special Policy Committee will be told next week that officials are chasing developers for €25m, and that budgets will have to be amended to take account of the falling revenue.
Development levies will pay for 8.1pc of the council's capital projects budget this year, which totals €345.5m. It expects levies to pay for almost €28m worth of projects, some of which could be under threat.
Plans were also made to spend the €118m due in levies, but after the economic downturn put hundreds of projects on hold the money is not being paid over.
"Some of it is owed for developments already done, and the rest is for developments that might not proceed," Labour councillor Dermot Lacey said.
"There is a problem about collection. There's a fault line in the linking of income to the council with the granting of permissions.
Funding
"There is going to be enormous problems in the city council over the next couple of years. The real problem is the repayments for work that's already under way. There's a real problem for funding of local authorities, and they're huge issues."
The move comes as figures supplied to councillors show that the amount being generated through levies has dramatically fallen in the last year.
Figures obtained by Fine Gael councillor Naoise O Muiri show that the levies peaked at a total of €68m in 2007, up from €57m in 2006 and €63m in 2005.
But last year the amount dropped to just €30m, and city management expect the amount to fall to €25m this year.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Gormley faces protest over plan to ‘vandalise’ weir
MINISTER for the Environment John Gormley is expected to face a large protest when he visits a town in North Cork later today.
Protesters say it is ironic that John Gormley will launch a document entitled The Heritage of North Cork, while his junior minister, Eamonn Ryan, is intent on semi-demolishing a piece of history in the locality.
The 12th-century weir in Fermoy is at the centre of a major row as plans to lower it and introduce new fish runs are being vehemently opposed by a number of people.
Members of Fermoy Rowing Club, in particular, are solidly opposed to the plan, saying it will lower the water so much it will sound the death knell of rowing in the town, which has been going on for the past 125 years.
They are planning a protest outside the local town council offices for 4.20pm today, to coincide with Mr Gormley’s launch of the heritage document.
A request by club members for a meeting has been turned down by Mr Gormley, who said it would be inappropriate.
"There has been a weir on the Blackwater in Fermoy since 1160. John Anderson built the modern town around the millrace and the bridge. It is critical that Mr Gormley understands that," said Fermoy Rowing Club secretary Donal O’Keeffe. "His colleague in Government, Minister Eamonn Ryan. cannot be allowed to destroy the weir and our rowing club in a costly, needless and reckless act of vandalism."
Mr O’Keeffe said there is a safer, cheaper and better alternative involving repairing the weir and, if necessary, adding new fish passes.
For details of the campaign to save the weir see www.savefermoyweir.com
Mr Gormley will visit Cork, Ballincollig, Kinsale and Fermoy today with Green Party local election candidates.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Protesters say it is ironic that John Gormley will launch a document entitled The Heritage of North Cork, while his junior minister, Eamonn Ryan, is intent on semi-demolishing a piece of history in the locality.
The 12th-century weir in Fermoy is at the centre of a major row as plans to lower it and introduce new fish runs are being vehemently opposed by a number of people.
Members of Fermoy Rowing Club, in particular, are solidly opposed to the plan, saying it will lower the water so much it will sound the death knell of rowing in the town, which has been going on for the past 125 years.
They are planning a protest outside the local town council offices for 4.20pm today, to coincide with Mr Gormley’s launch of the heritage document.
A request by club members for a meeting has been turned down by Mr Gormley, who said it would be inappropriate.
"There has been a weir on the Blackwater in Fermoy since 1160. John Anderson built the modern town around the millrace and the bridge. It is critical that Mr Gormley understands that," said Fermoy Rowing Club secretary Donal O’Keeffe. "His colleague in Government, Minister Eamonn Ryan. cannot be allowed to destroy the weir and our rowing club in a costly, needless and reckless act of vandalism."
Mr O’Keeffe said there is a safer, cheaper and better alternative involving repairing the weir and, if necessary, adding new fish passes.
For details of the campaign to save the weir see www.savefermoyweir.com
Mr Gormley will visit Cork, Ballincollig, Kinsale and Fermoy today with Green Party local election candidates.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Bright ideas sought for docklands civic space
DOES HARRY CROSBIE think things are going to turn militant? Even political rallies are to be catered for in the new “civic and public space” being planned by Crosbie for a site behind the O2 Arena (formerly the Point Theatre) in Dublin’s docklands.
A design competition is being organised in collaboration with the RIAI for the space, which is to host “free rock, jazz and trad shows as well as drama, monster céilís and dances, political rallies and events of every kind, including a large weekly produce market”.
According to Crosbie, Dublin city planners are “hugely enthusiastic” about the proposals, which may also include a “giant fireplace” for children to sit around in winter – though no doubt the public liability implications of such an attraction will have to be considered.
The irrepressible impresario is convinced that, in these deeply recessionary times, people want more entertainment to take their minds off the bleak news of banking crises, job losses and the property collapse – which is why bookings at the O2 are so strong.
However, one of the casualties of the recession is Crosbie’s plan to build a 40-storey tower at the Point, designed by Scott Tallon Walker; it has been put on hold. Also in grave doubt is Dunnes Stores’ original plan to become the anchor tenant for the Point Village.
In the meantime, expressions of interest are being invited from architects for the commission to design the Point Square (which the Dunnes Stores outlet was to front onto). Contact John Graby, director, RIAI, 8 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
A design competition is being organised in collaboration with the RIAI for the space, which is to host “free rock, jazz and trad shows as well as drama, monster céilís and dances, political rallies and events of every kind, including a large weekly produce market”.
According to Crosbie, Dublin city planners are “hugely enthusiastic” about the proposals, which may also include a “giant fireplace” for children to sit around in winter – though no doubt the public liability implications of such an attraction will have to be considered.
The irrepressible impresario is convinced that, in these deeply recessionary times, people want more entertainment to take their minds off the bleak news of banking crises, job losses and the property collapse – which is why bookings at the O2 are so strong.
However, one of the casualties of the recession is Crosbie’s plan to build a 40-storey tower at the Point, designed by Scott Tallon Walker; it has been put on hold. Also in grave doubt is Dunnes Stores’ original plan to become the anchor tenant for the Point Village.
In the meantime, expressions of interest are being invited from architects for the commission to design the Point Square (which the Dunnes Stores outlet was to front onto). Contact John Graby, director, RIAI, 8 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tourism plan for Killruddery
PROPOSALS TO develop the Killruddery estate on the outskirts of Bray, Co Wicklow, as a 250,000 visitor-a-year tourist attraction have been endorsed by the county’s senior planners.
The Elizabethan Revival house, which dates from 1618, has been used in the making of The Tudors, Far and Away and Becoming Jane. Now it’s set to be developed with shops, cafés and homes.
The proposal from the estate’s owners, the Brabazon family, Earls of Meath, would result in an attraction on the scale of Killruddery’s near neighbour, Powerscourt House, which already sees visitor numbers in the order of a quarter of a million per year.
Envisaged is the rezoning of part of the demesne around the house and gardens, including courtyards and outbuildings, for tourism use.
The tourism use would provide for a craft centre, restaurants/tea rooms and craft factory outlets as well as shops, a farmers’ market and equestrian centre, among others.
The rezoning proposal also includes a residential development on an eight-hectare site close to the Bray Southern Cross Road.
Killruddery demesne encompasses the valley between the Little Sugar Loaf and Bray Head – both of which are candidates for Special Area Amenity orders – and is a spectacular setting.
The gardens are considered the finest surviving example in Ireland of a 17th century formal garden.
The approach to the house leads through a French-style 18th century wrought iron gate into a granite forecourt designed by Daniel Robertson, the architect principally responsible for the layout of the gardens at Powerscourt.
The rezoning proposals were recommended by Wicklow’s senior planners in response to submissions on the forthcoming Bray Environs Local Area Plan .
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The Elizabethan Revival house, which dates from 1618, has been used in the making of The Tudors, Far and Away and Becoming Jane. Now it’s set to be developed with shops, cafés and homes.
The proposal from the estate’s owners, the Brabazon family, Earls of Meath, would result in an attraction on the scale of Killruddery’s near neighbour, Powerscourt House, which already sees visitor numbers in the order of a quarter of a million per year.
Envisaged is the rezoning of part of the demesne around the house and gardens, including courtyards and outbuildings, for tourism use.
The tourism use would provide for a craft centre, restaurants/tea rooms and craft factory outlets as well as shops, a farmers’ market and equestrian centre, among others.
The rezoning proposal also includes a residential development on an eight-hectare site close to the Bray Southern Cross Road.
Killruddery demesne encompasses the valley between the Little Sugar Loaf and Bray Head – both of which are candidates for Special Area Amenity orders – and is a spectacular setting.
The gardens are considered the finest surviving example in Ireland of a 17th century formal garden.
The approach to the house leads through a French-style 18th century wrought iron gate into a granite forecourt designed by Daniel Robertson, the architect principally responsible for the layout of the gardens at Powerscourt.
The rezoning proposals were recommended by Wicklow’s senior planners in response to submissions on the forthcoming Bray Environs Local Area Plan .
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Rezoning of Blackrock home 'would hit shopping centres'
DÚN LAOGHAIRE Business Association has expressed concern that a submission by businessman John Reihill to rezone lands at his 19th century listed mansion, Deepwell, in Blackrock, Co Dublin would damage existing shopping areas in the county.
Reihill, who is best known for his involvement in his family business, fuel importer and distributor Tedcastles, made the submission for consideration under the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council’s draft development plan revision for 2010-2016.
The site at Deepwell is bounded by Blackrock Dart station and adjoins Blackrock Park. Blackrock shopping centre is to the south and Frascati shopping centre on the far side of the Blackrock bypass. Reihill is looking to change the zoning of the lands from Objective A “to protect and improve residential amenity” to objective DC “to protect, provide for and/or improve district centre facilities”.
In the proposal for rezoning to the council, submitted by town planner Tom Phillips and Associates, he says the Deepwell lands are recognised “as constituting one of the last remaining significant brownfield sites within Blackrock village”. The submission goes on to say that the rezoning of these lands offers “significant potential to enhance the overall land use mix at this strategic location at the entrance to the village”. It also appeals to the council that a protected structure on the lands “should not preclude the proposed rezoning”.
But, in a letter circulated to elected representatives in the area, Dún Laoghaire Business Association is saying that shopping areas within Dún Laoghaire Rathdown “are already under economic pressure and would be further damaged should this rezoning occur”. It estimates that the lands in question are approximately the same size as Superquinn shopping centre in Blackrock “and therefore would have a negative effect on all existing shopping centres within the county”.
Reihill’s proposal, however, points to another project the council is trying to get off the ground. Reihill’s submission says that following discussions with the Parks Department “it was agreed that the subject lands offer significant potential in the enhancement of linkages with Blackrock Park, through the progression of the Blackrock Park masterplan”.
Although the site has been occupied since the 1740s, the house at Deepwell, a protected structure on 2.6 acres, was built 100 years later. Its name was changed from Fairy Hill and the walled garden was introduced by Richard S Guinness in 1842. It now has Italianate gardens, a temple and herb garden. It’s open to the public at certain times.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Reihill, who is best known for his involvement in his family business, fuel importer and distributor Tedcastles, made the submission for consideration under the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council’s draft development plan revision for 2010-2016.
The site at Deepwell is bounded by Blackrock Dart station and adjoins Blackrock Park. Blackrock shopping centre is to the south and Frascati shopping centre on the far side of the Blackrock bypass. Reihill is looking to change the zoning of the lands from Objective A “to protect and improve residential amenity” to objective DC “to protect, provide for and/or improve district centre facilities”.
In the proposal for rezoning to the council, submitted by town planner Tom Phillips and Associates, he says the Deepwell lands are recognised “as constituting one of the last remaining significant brownfield sites within Blackrock village”. The submission goes on to say that the rezoning of these lands offers “significant potential to enhance the overall land use mix at this strategic location at the entrance to the village”. It also appeals to the council that a protected structure on the lands “should not preclude the proposed rezoning”.
But, in a letter circulated to elected representatives in the area, Dún Laoghaire Business Association is saying that shopping areas within Dún Laoghaire Rathdown “are already under economic pressure and would be further damaged should this rezoning occur”. It estimates that the lands in question are approximately the same size as Superquinn shopping centre in Blackrock “and therefore would have a negative effect on all existing shopping centres within the county”.
Reihill’s proposal, however, points to another project the council is trying to get off the ground. Reihill’s submission says that following discussions with the Parks Department “it was agreed that the subject lands offer significant potential in the enhancement of linkages with Blackrock Park, through the progression of the Blackrock Park masterplan”.
Although the site has been occupied since the 1740s, the house at Deepwell, a protected structure on 2.6 acres, was built 100 years later. Its name was changed from Fairy Hill and the walled garden was introduced by Richard S Guinness in 1842. It now has Italianate gardens, a temple and herb garden. It’s open to the public at certain times.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Green energy sector feels chill wind of credit crunch
THE CREDIT crunch is apparently taking the wind out of the renewable energy sector’s sails.
Some analysts, and even the Government at one point, were claiming the nascent green energy industry was immune from the squeeze on business lending – that appears to be no longer the case.
Bord Gáis chief executive John Mullins noted this week that wind farm developers were having difficulty raising the cash they needed from banks to pursue their plans.
This leaves them in a bit of a bind. Most of the applications for planning and licensing of wind farms come from small operators. These are ultimately hoping to add value by getting these projects through the initial stages before selling them on to bigger players. The bigger players have the resources to deliver the goods, but may not be necessarily interested in the initial development stages, which involve applying for planning, licensing and grid connection.
The trick for smaller operators is to bring projects to a point where they are attractive to bigger operators, and then sell them on. That is likely to prove more difficult if they cannot get the cash to bring their proposed wind farms to first or second base.
However, Mullins says Bord Gáis, which is spending about €250 million on renewable energy projects, will buy wind farms at an earlier stage of their development. There may well be disadvantages in this but, on the plus side, in the current market these projects will be cheaper to buy.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Some analysts, and even the Government at one point, were claiming the nascent green energy industry was immune from the squeeze on business lending – that appears to be no longer the case.
Bord Gáis chief executive John Mullins noted this week that wind farm developers were having difficulty raising the cash they needed from banks to pursue their plans.
This leaves them in a bit of a bind. Most of the applications for planning and licensing of wind farms come from small operators. These are ultimately hoping to add value by getting these projects through the initial stages before selling them on to bigger players. The bigger players have the resources to deliver the goods, but may not be necessarily interested in the initial development stages, which involve applying for planning, licensing and grid connection.
The trick for smaller operators is to bring projects to a point where they are attractive to bigger operators, and then sell them on. That is likely to prove more difficult if they cannot get the cash to bring their proposed wind farms to first or second base.
However, Mullins says Bord Gáis, which is spending about €250 million on renewable energy projects, will buy wind farms at an earlier stage of their development. There may well be disadvantages in this but, on the plus side, in the current market these projects will be cheaper to buy.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Baths plan on Valentia refused
An organic cafe owner said he will not give up on his plans for the development of seaweed baths on the edge of the Atlantic at Valentia Island, but will try again as soon as there is an upturn in the economy, writes Anne Lucey.
Paul Duff of the Lighthouse cafe on Valentia has been refused permission by Kerry County Council to roof old stone sheds and convert them to seaweed bath houses.
The baths were considered over-development and concerns were also raised by An Taisce.
Mr Duff will not appeal the decision but has decided to “wait for the upturn”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Paul Duff of the Lighthouse cafe on Valentia has been refused permission by Kerry County Council to roof old stone sheds and convert them to seaweed bath houses.
The baths were considered over-development and concerns were also raised by An Taisce.
Mr Duff will not appeal the decision but has decided to “wait for the upturn”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Park plan for former dump in Wexford
An innovative 30-acre town park is planned for the site of a former dump in Co Wexford.
The park, to be located on the outskirts of Wexford town, will feature sculptures, quirky maze areas and a skateboard park, all set amid wildlife. It will be one of the only former landfill sites in the country to be converted into parkland, and will be similar in design to St Stephen’s Green.
Botanist and landscape designer Ted Walsh, who spent six months finalising the preliminary plan for the park, said a 12.8 acre landfill site (the former town dump) in Carcur has been set aside, one-third of which will be used as an active park.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The park, to be located on the outskirts of Wexford town, will feature sculptures, quirky maze areas and a skateboard park, all set amid wildlife. It will be one of the only former landfill sites in the country to be converted into parkland, and will be similar in design to St Stephen’s Green.
Botanist and landscape designer Ted Walsh, who spent six months finalising the preliminary plan for the park, said a 12.8 acre landfill site (the former town dump) in Carcur has been set aside, one-third of which will be used as an active park.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Permission given for Kerry pipeline
AN BORD Pleanála has granted permission for the construction of a 26km underground pipeline to link the country’s first liquefied natural gas terminal at the Shannon estuary in Co Kerry to the existing natural gas network in Co Limerick.
The proposal for the €500 million regassification terminal on Shannon Development land near Tarbert has already received permission.
The applications for the terminal and the pipeline by Shannon LNG, a subsidiary of the giant US Hess corporation, were dealt with separately.
Both were fast-tracked to an Bord Pleanála under the Strategic Infrastructure Act, and an oral hearing was held in each case.
The appeals board said it had regard for the National Development Plan regarding security of energy supply and the Kerry County Development Plan in granting permission for the pipeline which will connect with the natural gas grid at Leahy’s near Foynes, Co Limerick.
The board has directed that a section of the pipe be rerouted so as not to interfere with an area of fen west of the N69 at Doonard Upper.
It has also directed that geotechnical surveys be carried out in areas of peat to be crossed by the pipe, and that “no peat be removed off site”.
The board says this is for health and safety reasons and to prevent water pollution. (The issue of soil disturbance on areas of peatland was raised during the hearing).
Some 17 conditions have been imposed by the board, including that surveys on breeding sites of badgers, otters and bats be carried out before work begins.
Archaeological monitoring of all excavations will be carried out.
The pipe will cross 20 roads, three rivers, 11 streams, farmland and forestry, and involve 72 landowners, the hearing in Listowel was told in December.
The terminal will take four years, and the pipeline will begin in the fourth year.
The route is along the southern side of the estuary to avoid interference with the ecologically-important Shannon estuary, a special protected area, said representatives of Shannon LNG. It was also the cheapest of the three routes considered.
The hearing was told wayleaves had been agreed with most landowners, and acquisitions were being sought in the case of five to six properties.
However, the main objectors’ group , Safety Before LNG, said it was challenging the decision under Section 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 .
It has asked the board to rule whether work associated with the terminal was or was not development.
Spokesman John McElligott said their challenge was supported by actor Pierce Brosnan, MEP Kathy Sinnott , Friends of the Irish Environment and others.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The proposal for the €500 million regassification terminal on Shannon Development land near Tarbert has already received permission.
The applications for the terminal and the pipeline by Shannon LNG, a subsidiary of the giant US Hess corporation, were dealt with separately.
Both were fast-tracked to an Bord Pleanála under the Strategic Infrastructure Act, and an oral hearing was held in each case.
The appeals board said it had regard for the National Development Plan regarding security of energy supply and the Kerry County Development Plan in granting permission for the pipeline which will connect with the natural gas grid at Leahy’s near Foynes, Co Limerick.
The board has directed that a section of the pipe be rerouted so as not to interfere with an area of fen west of the N69 at Doonard Upper.
It has also directed that geotechnical surveys be carried out in areas of peat to be crossed by the pipe, and that “no peat be removed off site”.
The board says this is for health and safety reasons and to prevent water pollution. (The issue of soil disturbance on areas of peatland was raised during the hearing).
Some 17 conditions have been imposed by the board, including that surveys on breeding sites of badgers, otters and bats be carried out before work begins.
Archaeological monitoring of all excavations will be carried out.
The pipe will cross 20 roads, three rivers, 11 streams, farmland and forestry, and involve 72 landowners, the hearing in Listowel was told in December.
The terminal will take four years, and the pipeline will begin in the fourth year.
The route is along the southern side of the estuary to avoid interference with the ecologically-important Shannon estuary, a special protected area, said representatives of Shannon LNG. It was also the cheapest of the three routes considered.
The hearing was told wayleaves had been agreed with most landowners, and acquisitions were being sought in the case of five to six properties.
However, the main objectors’ group , Safety Before LNG, said it was challenging the decision under Section 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 .
It has asked the board to rule whether work associated with the terminal was or was not development.
Spokesman John McElligott said their challenge was supported by actor Pierce Brosnan, MEP Kathy Sinnott , Friends of the Irish Environment and others.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Major development in Tralee gets go-ahead
PERMISSION HAS been granted for one of the most ambitious development projects ever in Tralee, Co Kerry, involving a new shopping centre on the GAA grounds and the building of a new GAA stadium on the racecourse near the town.
An Bord Pleanála has authorised the conversion of the Austin Stack GAA ground in Tralee to a multi-storey shopping centre and granted permission for a new GAA stadium on the Ballybeggan racecourse on the outskirts of the town.
The plan, estimated at costing €100 million by local developers Séamus O’Halloran and John Casey, involved several organisations including two local authorities, Tralee Town Council, as well as the county council, the GAA and the local race company. It met with resistance from racegoers as well as town traders.
Tralee Town Council had granted permission to John Casey Project Management for the mixed-use town centre development of Austin Stack Park, but this was immediately appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Kerry County Council had also given the go-ahead for a GAA stadium at Ballybeggan racecourse to the management company and this too had been appealed.
Yesterday the board – which held an oral hearing in Tralee into the Austin Stack development – ruled that the 38,821sq m development of the Stacks and nearby John Mitchells GAA club would not harm the town centre.
The board also noted the proximity of public transport facilities, including Tralee bus and railway stations, to the development.
In the case of Ballybeggan, it said the GAA stadium with full-size pitch and terracing and stands to accommodate 15,000 people was in accordance with the historical and long-established use of Ballybeggan as a recreational and sports facility and amenity use.
Sinn Féin said €43 million would be injected into the local economy and this would be “a lifeline to Tralee and Kerry”.
Town councillors Cathal Foley and Toiréasa Ferris said that up to 1,500 medium- and long-term jobs would be created “at a time of deep economic gloom”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
An Bord Pleanála has authorised the conversion of the Austin Stack GAA ground in Tralee to a multi-storey shopping centre and granted permission for a new GAA stadium on the Ballybeggan racecourse on the outskirts of the town.
The plan, estimated at costing €100 million by local developers Séamus O’Halloran and John Casey, involved several organisations including two local authorities, Tralee Town Council, as well as the county council, the GAA and the local race company. It met with resistance from racegoers as well as town traders.
Tralee Town Council had granted permission to John Casey Project Management for the mixed-use town centre development of Austin Stack Park, but this was immediately appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Kerry County Council had also given the go-ahead for a GAA stadium at Ballybeggan racecourse to the management company and this too had been appealed.
Yesterday the board – which held an oral hearing in Tralee into the Austin Stack development – ruled that the 38,821sq m development of the Stacks and nearby John Mitchells GAA club would not harm the town centre.
The board also noted the proximity of public transport facilities, including Tralee bus and railway stations, to the development.
In the case of Ballybeggan, it said the GAA stadium with full-size pitch and terracing and stands to accommodate 15,000 people was in accordance with the historical and long-established use of Ballybeggan as a recreational and sports facility and amenity use.
Sinn Féin said €43 million would be injected into the local economy and this would be “a lifeline to Tralee and Kerry”.
Town councillors Cathal Foley and Toiréasa Ferris said that up to 1,500 medium- and long-term jobs would be created “at a time of deep economic gloom”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Councils' park-and-ride policy criticised
THE FOUR Dublin local authorities have failed to deliver park-and-ride facilities to reduce Dublin city traffic, despite having access to a €50 million fund for their development, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey has said.
The €50 million Transport 21 fund is available to local authorities for traffic management activities, including park-and-ride facilities which allow motorists to park their cars to take public transport to the city.
In an effort to encourage their development, Mr Dempsey ring-fenced €1 million specifically for park-and-ride development in 2008 and said he was prepared to increase this funding if local authorities came forward with proposals. However, no local authority responded, the Department of Transport has said.
A larger budget of €5 million has been made available for park-and-ride development in 2009, despite there having been no uptake in 2008.
Speaking at an Oireachtas transport committee this week, Mr Dempsey expressed his exasperation at the lack of interest shown by local authorities.
“It breaks my heart that for the past four or five years money has been provided by my department under Transport 21 for park-and-ride facilities and that to say progress on it is poor does not adequately describe the situation. It is abysmal.”
Dublin City Council yesterday said it has no plans for park-and-ride facilities in the city, and that such facilities were more suitably located outside its boundaries.
Fingal County Council said it had no formal park-and-ride sites but that two council-owned sites in Balbriggan were used by commuters to park on an informal basis and a feasibility study was being conducted on the possibility of providing park-and-ride at Lissenhall, north of Swords.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said it was its policy to “encourage” park-and-ride. It did not have such facilities at present, but they were planned as part of the Luas extension in Carrickmines.
South Dublin County Council did not respond yesterday to queries about its facilities or plans.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The €50 million Transport 21 fund is available to local authorities for traffic management activities, including park-and-ride facilities which allow motorists to park their cars to take public transport to the city.
In an effort to encourage their development, Mr Dempsey ring-fenced €1 million specifically for park-and-ride development in 2008 and said he was prepared to increase this funding if local authorities came forward with proposals. However, no local authority responded, the Department of Transport has said.
A larger budget of €5 million has been made available for park-and-ride development in 2009, despite there having been no uptake in 2008.
Speaking at an Oireachtas transport committee this week, Mr Dempsey expressed his exasperation at the lack of interest shown by local authorities.
“It breaks my heart that for the past four or five years money has been provided by my department under Transport 21 for park-and-ride facilities and that to say progress on it is poor does not adequately describe the situation. It is abysmal.”
Dublin City Council yesterday said it has no plans for park-and-ride facilities in the city, and that such facilities were more suitably located outside its boundaries.
Fingal County Council said it had no formal park-and-ride sites but that two council-owned sites in Balbriggan were used by commuters to park on an informal basis and a feasibility study was being conducted on the possibility of providing park-and-ride at Lissenhall, north of Swords.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said it was its policy to “encourage” park-and-ride. It did not have such facilities at present, but they were planned as part of the Luas extension in Carrickmines.
South Dublin County Council did not respond yesterday to queries about its facilities or plans.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Deer cull planned as spiralling numbers threaten farmlands
WILD DEER roaming the countryside are to be culled by conservationists in a bid to protect farmlands and maintain herds humanely.
For the first time in the Republic, licensed deer stalkers will be called out by farmers to shoot the protected species if they are damaging crops, forests or causing traffic accidents.
Despite more than 20,000 deer being legally hunted each year, experts believe there could be five times as many around the country.
The new deer management programme – announced by the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), the Irish Deer Society and the Wild Deer Association of Ireland – will also advise landowners on other ways to manage deer on their property.
Paul Wood, of the Irish Deer Society, said the scheme was not about killing huge numbers of deer but about dealing with localised problems. “We are a conservation organisation. We are not a deer-shooting organisation, but deer have no natural enemies and therefore the rifle is an important management tool,” said Mr Wood.
“It is possible this could cause some controversy because people don’t understand the problem. People don’t realise there are so many deer. But I would prefer to see deer shot humanly and properly and carefully, rather than a free fall and people taking it into their own hands.
“If there’s going to be a management situation, it must be done correctly and properly.
“Unmanaged deer herds can increase annually by 30 per cent.
“Proper management conducted during the open season should reduce the need for Section 42 licences, which allow the hunting of female deer out of season and can leave calves on their own.”
The IFA said the rise in deer numbers poses a threat to road-users and private property.
Deputy president Derek Deane encouraged farmers who have problems with deer numbers to use the scheme, which will preserve the deer population in their own environment.
“The dramatic rise in deer numbers in the last few years has posed problems for farmers, including fence damage, encroaching on crops, grazing of pastureland and increasing the risk of disease outbreaks,” said Mr Deane.
“All these have financial implications for farmers.
“The IFA recognises the value of maintaining a healthy herd, but it must be within the natural environment for the deer.”
President of the Wild Deer Association of Ireland Pat Scully said education will also be an element to programme. “Part of the problem is down to a lack of deer-management knowledge,” he added. “Hunters often concentrate on culling male deer because they want a set of trophy antlers.
“This does very little to control deer numbers as female numbers escalate. This approach does little for farmers or for the national deer herd.”
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
For the first time in the Republic, licensed deer stalkers will be called out by farmers to shoot the protected species if they are damaging crops, forests or causing traffic accidents.
Despite more than 20,000 deer being legally hunted each year, experts believe there could be five times as many around the country.
The new deer management programme – announced by the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), the Irish Deer Society and the Wild Deer Association of Ireland – will also advise landowners on other ways to manage deer on their property.
Paul Wood, of the Irish Deer Society, said the scheme was not about killing huge numbers of deer but about dealing with localised problems. “We are a conservation organisation. We are not a deer-shooting organisation, but deer have no natural enemies and therefore the rifle is an important management tool,” said Mr Wood.
“It is possible this could cause some controversy because people don’t understand the problem. People don’t realise there are so many deer. But I would prefer to see deer shot humanly and properly and carefully, rather than a free fall and people taking it into their own hands.
“If there’s going to be a management situation, it must be done correctly and properly.
“Unmanaged deer herds can increase annually by 30 per cent.
“Proper management conducted during the open season should reduce the need for Section 42 licences, which allow the hunting of female deer out of season and can leave calves on their own.”
The IFA said the rise in deer numbers poses a threat to road-users and private property.
Deputy president Derek Deane encouraged farmers who have problems with deer numbers to use the scheme, which will preserve the deer population in their own environment.
“The dramatic rise in deer numbers in the last few years has posed problems for farmers, including fence damage, encroaching on crops, grazing of pastureland and increasing the risk of disease outbreaks,” said Mr Deane.
“All these have financial implications for farmers.
“The IFA recognises the value of maintaining a healthy herd, but it must be within the natural environment for the deer.”
President of the Wild Deer Association of Ireland Pat Scully said education will also be an element to programme. “Part of the problem is down to a lack of deer-management knowledge,” he added. “Hunters often concentrate on culling male deer because they want a set of trophy antlers.
“This does very little to control deer numbers as female numbers escalate. This approach does little for farmers or for the national deer herd.”
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Dublin local authorities owed up to €322m in unpaid levies
THE FOUR Dublin local authorities are collectively owed up to €322 million from property developers in unpaid levies.
Dublin City Council is owed €142 million in development levy contributions by builders according to a report to be presented to the council’s finance committee next week.
While €118 million relates to developments which have not yet been completed, €28 million remains outstanding from developers whose schemes are completed but have not paid their debt to the council.
Developers of residential or commercial schemes, as a condition of planning permission, must pay a levy towards council costs of providing water, roads and sewerage for their developments. Levies in the city are €13,908 per unit for residential projects and €132 per sq m for commercial or industrial schemes.
Fingal County Council is owed €70 million, the bulk of which is now subject to phased payments that have been agreed with the developers. However, the council said it would institute legal proceedings if the money was not forthcoming.
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said it is owed a “nominal figure” of €86.7 million, but that the actual figure would be much less because of issues relating to duplicate permission for the one site, and phased payments that have yet to be tallied.
South Dublin County Council said it was owed in the region of €22.5 million in development levies.
Separately, Dublin City Council is facing a massive drop in funding for the city’s infrastructure, following a fall of more than 55 per cent in the value of levies paid by developers due to the downturn in construction.
The council brought in almost €68 million in development levies in 2007. In 2008, it collected just €30 million in levies and is expecting to get less than €25 million this year.
Levies are collected by the council on a quarterly basis and dwindled over the course of last year from almost €12 million in the first three months to just under €4 million in the last three months of the year.
The money is ringfenced and used to fund the development of the city’s capital infrastructure. The council expects to fund eight percent of infrastructure from this source in 2009.
Fine Gael councillor Naoise Ó Muirí said the council needed to find new sources of funding for the city’s infrastructure and should consider the introduction of an investment bond scheme.
“We can’t afford to take this hit on our capital budget without generating new income. The Government could facilitate Dublin City Council in moving to municipal bonds, or ‘munis’, as an alternative source of funding,” he said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Dublin City Council is owed €142 million in development levy contributions by builders according to a report to be presented to the council’s finance committee next week.
While €118 million relates to developments which have not yet been completed, €28 million remains outstanding from developers whose schemes are completed but have not paid their debt to the council.
Developers of residential or commercial schemes, as a condition of planning permission, must pay a levy towards council costs of providing water, roads and sewerage for their developments. Levies in the city are €13,908 per unit for residential projects and €132 per sq m for commercial or industrial schemes.
Fingal County Council is owed €70 million, the bulk of which is now subject to phased payments that have been agreed with the developers. However, the council said it would institute legal proceedings if the money was not forthcoming.
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said it is owed a “nominal figure” of €86.7 million, but that the actual figure would be much less because of issues relating to duplicate permission for the one site, and phased payments that have yet to be tallied.
South Dublin County Council said it was owed in the region of €22.5 million in development levies.
Separately, Dublin City Council is facing a massive drop in funding for the city’s infrastructure, following a fall of more than 55 per cent in the value of levies paid by developers due to the downturn in construction.
The council brought in almost €68 million in development levies in 2007. In 2008, it collected just €30 million in levies and is expecting to get less than €25 million this year.
Levies are collected by the council on a quarterly basis and dwindled over the course of last year from almost €12 million in the first three months to just under €4 million in the last three months of the year.
The money is ringfenced and used to fund the development of the city’s capital infrastructure. The council expects to fund eight percent of infrastructure from this source in 2009.
Fine Gael councillor Naoise Ó Muirí said the council needed to find new sources of funding for the city’s infrastructure and should consider the introduction of an investment bond scheme.
“We can’t afford to take this hit on our capital budget without generating new income. The Government could facilitate Dublin City Council in moving to municipal bonds, or ‘munis’, as an alternative source of funding,” he said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Development of National Museum is postponed
PLANS TO develop the National Museum at Collins Barracks in Dublin have been postponed because of budgetary restraints.
Minister of State for Finance Martin Mansergh has confirmed that a project to extend the museum’s exhibition space has been put on hold. Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Dr Mansergh said progress on the project was at an “advanced stage”.
He said the Office of Public Works (OPW) was currently finalising tender documents, which would be ready by April of this year. “However, given the current budgetary situation, it will not be possible to progress this project at the present time. The project will proceed as planned when the overall financial situation improves,” he said.
Fine Gael’s spokeswoman on tourism, Olivia Mitchell, said the suspension of the project was a blow to the tourism sector. She said the Asgard yacht, which carried guns used in the 1916 Rising, was due to be placed on show in the barracks following restoration, as were artefacts from Captain Cook’s south seas voyages.
“This is a short-sighted cutback that will end up costing Ireland more in the longer term than it will save immediately,” she said.
“Alongside the financial folly of scrapping revenue-generating projects, there is also the issue that planning permission for the exhibition space will lapse at the end of this year and it is unclear as to how many hoops would have to be jumped through to receive it again.”
Ms Mitchell claimed the plan to develop the project had been “abandoned”. However, an OPW spokesman denied that this was the case.
“It would be unfair to put contractors to the expense of preparing bids without the expectation that the project would proceed immediately or in the short term,” a spokesman said.
Meanwhile, work that will enable Dublin’s Natural History Museum to reopen will be carried out this summer, according to the OPW. The museum closed to the public in July 2007 after a staircase collapsed.
An OPW spokesman said the work was now expected to be completed by September.
In December of last year it emerged that a major renovation plan for the Merrion Street facility had been put on hold because of cutbacks. Some €15 million had been earmarked in the National Development Plan to upgrade the 150-year-old building.
An OPW spokesman said: “We are preparing a set of works that will be undertaken to get the museum opened.” He said they were “looking at options that can enable the museum to be open again to the public this year”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Minister of State for Finance Martin Mansergh has confirmed that a project to extend the museum’s exhibition space has been put on hold. Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Dr Mansergh said progress on the project was at an “advanced stage”.
He said the Office of Public Works (OPW) was currently finalising tender documents, which would be ready by April of this year. “However, given the current budgetary situation, it will not be possible to progress this project at the present time. The project will proceed as planned when the overall financial situation improves,” he said.
Fine Gael’s spokeswoman on tourism, Olivia Mitchell, said the suspension of the project was a blow to the tourism sector. She said the Asgard yacht, which carried guns used in the 1916 Rising, was due to be placed on show in the barracks following restoration, as were artefacts from Captain Cook’s south seas voyages.
“This is a short-sighted cutback that will end up costing Ireland more in the longer term than it will save immediately,” she said.
“Alongside the financial folly of scrapping revenue-generating projects, there is also the issue that planning permission for the exhibition space will lapse at the end of this year and it is unclear as to how many hoops would have to be jumped through to receive it again.”
Ms Mitchell claimed the plan to develop the project had been “abandoned”. However, an OPW spokesman denied that this was the case.
“It would be unfair to put contractors to the expense of preparing bids without the expectation that the project would proceed immediately or in the short term,” a spokesman said.
Meanwhile, work that will enable Dublin’s Natural History Museum to reopen will be carried out this summer, according to the OPW. The museum closed to the public in July 2007 after a staircase collapsed.
An OPW spokesman said the work was now expected to be completed by September.
In December of last year it emerged that a major renovation plan for the Merrion Street facility had been put on hold because of cutbacks. Some €15 million had been earmarked in the National Development Plan to upgrade the 150-year-old building.
An OPW spokesman said: “We are preparing a set of works that will be undertaken to get the museum opened.” He said they were “looking at options that can enable the museum to be open again to the public this year”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Developer claims embassy requirement not justified
A DEVELOPER who paid €8.5 million for a building on Dublin’s Ailesbury Road has claimed before the High Court there is no justification for a planning requirement that it can only be used as an embassy.
Derek Quinlan bought the former Mexican embassy building at Ailesbury Road in October 2007 and shortly afterwards applied to Dublin City Council for permission to refurbish and extend the existing offices in the premises.
He sought permission to, among other matters, remove a free-standing pergola and build a single-storey extension at the rear of the building. Mr Quinlan intended to use the premises as offices and the premises represented “a very significant investment” by him, including €1.67 million for the refurbishment works.
However, the council indicated it would only grant permission subject to the use of the entire premises “solely for use as an embassy” as defined in the 2005-2011 city development plan.
The building is a protected structure which was used as an embassy by Mexico and previously by Germany since 1964.
The council gave its reason as to control development, protect the amenities of the residential conservation area as zoned in the development plan and facilitate the zoning objectives of that plan.
Mr Quinlan appealed to An Bord Pleanála but its ruling also required the embassy condition be included. On September 9th last, the council granted him permission subject to the disputed condition. In his High Court proceedings against the board and the council, Mr Quinlan wants orders quashing the disputed condition.
Eamon Galligan SC, for Mr Quinlan, said while the building had been the Mexican embassy until 1995, it had also been used as offices before it was purchased by Mr Quinlan. Mr Galligan said the council had relied on its development plan to impose this condition but there was no provision in the plan justifying such a condition.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Derek Quinlan bought the former Mexican embassy building at Ailesbury Road in October 2007 and shortly afterwards applied to Dublin City Council for permission to refurbish and extend the existing offices in the premises.
He sought permission to, among other matters, remove a free-standing pergola and build a single-storey extension at the rear of the building. Mr Quinlan intended to use the premises as offices and the premises represented “a very significant investment” by him, including €1.67 million for the refurbishment works.
However, the council indicated it would only grant permission subject to the use of the entire premises “solely for use as an embassy” as defined in the 2005-2011 city development plan.
The building is a protected structure which was used as an embassy by Mexico and previously by Germany since 1964.
The council gave its reason as to control development, protect the amenities of the residential conservation area as zoned in the development plan and facilitate the zoning objectives of that plan.
Mr Quinlan appealed to An Bord Pleanála but its ruling also required the embassy condition be included. On September 9th last, the council granted him permission subject to the disputed condition. In his High Court proceedings against the board and the council, Mr Quinlan wants orders quashing the disputed condition.
Eamon Galligan SC, for Mr Quinlan, said while the building had been the Mexican embassy until 1995, it had also been used as offices before it was purchased by Mr Quinlan. Mr Galligan said the council had relied on its development plan to impose this condition but there was no provision in the plan justifying such a condition.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
€350m plan for new Galway harbour
A €350 million development plan for Galway harbour aims to move the port south on land reclaimed from Galway Bay.
The project aims to attract cruise liners into a transformed deepwater port, develop a new rail link and build up to 300 marina berths.
An “iconic” structure marking the port from sea approaches will be commissioned as part of the three-phase development, according to Galway Harbour Company.
Significantly, the harbour company intends to work with CIÉ on redeveloping the existing harbour area, and a local area action plan will be initiated as part of this, it says.
The three-phase plan has been prepared in advance of Galway’s hosting the first Irish stop-over for the Volvo Ocean Race. The Government has committed €8 million to Galway’s Volvo participation, and the event is expected to attracted 140,000 spectators and a worldwide television audience, with a prospective spend of over €40 million during the fortnight from May 23rd to June 6th.
However, no State funds are anticipated for the harbour project, which aims to qualify for strategic infrastructure approval with Bord Pleanála. Some 99 per cent of the new port will be built on reclaimed land and it is “vital” for Galway’s future, the company’s chief executive Eamon Bradshaw says.
First phase from 2010 to 2013 will involve reclamation using dredged material, building a new quay wall, the development of an extended rail link, the provision of new fishing berths and the development of a 177-berth marina.
The second phase will involve completing the marina and fishing berths, and building a new nautical centre and harbour office between 2013 and 2015. The final phase will involve providing an eastern marina with 110 berths, constructing public promenades to the east and west of the development and landscaping.
Inshore fishermen have been consulted, and initial talks have taken place with a number of stakeholders, the company says. It aims to fund the development through disposal of some of its existing portfolio, and it says it has already received Cabinet approval in principal.
The plan refines an initial €2 billion strategy presented in August 2006 to former taoiseach Bertie Ahern by a “vision” group set up for the port. This focused on moving the existing tidal port to deepwater, and was marketed as a “flagship” project for the west for the 2007-2013 national development plan.
However, An Taisce’s Galway branch was critical of lack of consultation, and said an overall plan for Galway docks was already a requirement in the Galway City Council development strategy.
Last year, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey published a Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008 to permit the 10 State port companies to pursue a “robust commercial agenda” both in and outside the State and boost their commercial mandate.
Irish Times
wwww.buckplanning.ie
The project aims to attract cruise liners into a transformed deepwater port, develop a new rail link and build up to 300 marina berths.
An “iconic” structure marking the port from sea approaches will be commissioned as part of the three-phase development, according to Galway Harbour Company.
Significantly, the harbour company intends to work with CIÉ on redeveloping the existing harbour area, and a local area action plan will be initiated as part of this, it says.
The three-phase plan has been prepared in advance of Galway’s hosting the first Irish stop-over for the Volvo Ocean Race. The Government has committed €8 million to Galway’s Volvo participation, and the event is expected to attracted 140,000 spectators and a worldwide television audience, with a prospective spend of over €40 million during the fortnight from May 23rd to June 6th.
However, no State funds are anticipated for the harbour project, which aims to qualify for strategic infrastructure approval with Bord Pleanála. Some 99 per cent of the new port will be built on reclaimed land and it is “vital” for Galway’s future, the company’s chief executive Eamon Bradshaw says.
First phase from 2010 to 2013 will involve reclamation using dredged material, building a new quay wall, the development of an extended rail link, the provision of new fishing berths and the development of a 177-berth marina.
The second phase will involve completing the marina and fishing berths, and building a new nautical centre and harbour office between 2013 and 2015. The final phase will involve providing an eastern marina with 110 berths, constructing public promenades to the east and west of the development and landscaping.
Inshore fishermen have been consulted, and initial talks have taken place with a number of stakeholders, the company says. It aims to fund the development through disposal of some of its existing portfolio, and it says it has already received Cabinet approval in principal.
The plan refines an initial €2 billion strategy presented in August 2006 to former taoiseach Bertie Ahern by a “vision” group set up for the port. This focused on moving the existing tidal port to deepwater, and was marketed as a “flagship” project for the west for the 2007-2013 national development plan.
However, An Taisce’s Galway branch was critical of lack of consultation, and said an overall plan for Galway docks was already a requirement in the Galway City Council development strategy.
Last year, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey published a Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008 to permit the 10 State port companies to pursue a “robust commercial agenda” both in and outside the State and boost their commercial mandate.
Irish Times
wwww.buckplanning.ie
Council to revise Croke Park parking ban
DUBLIN CITY Council’s plans to ban match-goers from parking within two kilometres from Croke Park are to be revised following more than 100 objections to the proposed bylaws.
All non-residents were to be banned from parking within the 2km cordon during matches. Those who flouted the ban would risk having their vehicle clamped or removed and have to pay a fee for their release. Several TDs raised concerns about the ban, including former taoiseach Bertie Ahern who was worried that the parking restriction would stop people attending Mass.
Senior city council officials last September recommended the bylaws be scrapped following the predominantly negative reaction to the public consultation process.
However, councillors voted to defer a decision pending talks with the Croke Park authorities, the Department of Transport, public transport providers and the Garda.
The executive manager of the council’s traffic department Tim O’Sullivan has said that during these discussions it emerged that the issue of people not being able to attend Mass was a “red herring” because most services took place outside the proposed parking restriction hours, and in the case of services during the restriction, people would not get parking anyway because of match-goers taking all the spaces.
Objections raised in relation to access to pubs, restaurants and other businesses were also red herrings Mr O’Sullivan said, as again people cannot get parking anyway because of match-goers.
However, he said complaints in relation to displacement of the parking problem to areas just outside the cordon were valid and studies should be carried out in order to quantify this effect. The introduction of “park and ride” should also be investigated. The Garda re-iterated its opposition to the bylaws, Mr O’Sullivan said.
The council’s transport committee has decided the bylaws should be amended to reflect some of the concerns which emerged in the consultation process, and that a new draft be put out to public consultation. However, it is unlikely that new bylaws will be in place to deal with the parking problems which will occur during this year’s GAA season.
Fianna Fáil councillor Mary Fitzpatrick, who originally proposed the bylaws, said the response to the public consultation, including from those who objected on the grounds of parking displacement, showed how severe the parking problems associated with Croke Park were.
“This is a densely populated area with little or no off-street parking. The public consultation process served to underline the serious problems with traffic around Croke Park,” she said.
The current proposed cordon stretches north to Griffith Avenue, south to Talbot Street, Gardiner Street and Parnell Square, east to North Strand Road and west to Botanic Road.
Councillors and TDs, including Seán Haughey (FF), Richard Bruton (FG) and Finian McGrath (Ind) whose constituents lived just outside those areas said the parking problem would be transferred to areas on the cordon’s margins.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
All non-residents were to be banned from parking within the 2km cordon during matches. Those who flouted the ban would risk having their vehicle clamped or removed and have to pay a fee for their release. Several TDs raised concerns about the ban, including former taoiseach Bertie Ahern who was worried that the parking restriction would stop people attending Mass.
Senior city council officials last September recommended the bylaws be scrapped following the predominantly negative reaction to the public consultation process.
However, councillors voted to defer a decision pending talks with the Croke Park authorities, the Department of Transport, public transport providers and the Garda.
The executive manager of the council’s traffic department Tim O’Sullivan has said that during these discussions it emerged that the issue of people not being able to attend Mass was a “red herring” because most services took place outside the proposed parking restriction hours, and in the case of services during the restriction, people would not get parking anyway because of match-goers taking all the spaces.
Objections raised in relation to access to pubs, restaurants and other businesses were also red herrings Mr O’Sullivan said, as again people cannot get parking anyway because of match-goers.
However, he said complaints in relation to displacement of the parking problem to areas just outside the cordon were valid and studies should be carried out in order to quantify this effect. The introduction of “park and ride” should also be investigated. The Garda re-iterated its opposition to the bylaws, Mr O’Sullivan said.
The council’s transport committee has decided the bylaws should be amended to reflect some of the concerns which emerged in the consultation process, and that a new draft be put out to public consultation. However, it is unlikely that new bylaws will be in place to deal with the parking problems which will occur during this year’s GAA season.
Fianna Fáil councillor Mary Fitzpatrick, who originally proposed the bylaws, said the response to the public consultation, including from those who objected on the grounds of parking displacement, showed how severe the parking problems associated with Croke Park were.
“This is a densely populated area with little or no off-street parking. The public consultation process served to underline the serious problems with traffic around Croke Park,” she said.
The current proposed cordon stretches north to Griffith Avenue, south to Talbot Street, Gardiner Street and Parnell Square, east to North Strand Road and west to Botanic Road.
Councillors and TDs, including Seán Haughey (FF), Richard Bruton (FG) and Finian McGrath (Ind) whose constituents lived just outside those areas said the parking problem would be transferred to areas on the cordon’s margins.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Flood risk analysis requested in response to Dublin Bay infill plan
AN BORD Pleanála has requested an assessment of the flood risk to Clontarf seafront as well as the Liffey, Dodder and Tolka rivers, from proposals to infill 21 hectares (52 acres) of Dublin Bay.
Dublin Port Company is seeking permission for new deep-water berths at the northeastern part of Dublin Port.
In addition to the proposed infill, there would be additional dredging or other works on a further 17 hectares (43 acres) of the bay.
The proposal is being resisted by the campaign group Dublin Bay Watch, chaired by Clontarf based member of Dublin City Council Gerry Breen.
In its letter to the port company An Bord Pleanála specifically refers to flood dangers at Clontarf, drawing the port company’s attention to a storm water culvert along the Clontarf coastline “which is understood to be seriously impaired due to the absence of several of the outfall flap valves”. Flap valves are designed to prevent seawater rising through local drains.
The letter also refers to the “need for greater clarity in the determination of return period discharges for the rivers Liffey, Tolka and Dodder”.
In addition An Bord Pleanála has asked for “detailed analysis of longterm tidal trends with the bay as a result of increasing sea levels” and has also requested “more comprehensive explanation of the impact of climate change and how it is implemented within the modelling studies”.
The port company applied to the strategic infrastructure division of the planning board on September 8th last and the period for public submissions closed in October.
The port company has said the extra deep water berths are essential to the operation of the port which is at capacity. The company said this in turn has implications for the prosperity of the State, as the majority of goods imported and exported move through Dublin Port.
The deadline for the additional information is March 20th.
However, Mr Breen told The Irish Times the scale of the information required was a “clear” indication that An Bord Pleanála considered the information supplied by Dublin Port in support of its application to be inadequate.
“An Bord Pleanála has shown itself to be rigorous in assessing all proposals before it and this additional information request shows that the environmental impact statement submitted did not fulfil all the necessary requirements”.
Mr Breen said he was looking forward to an oral hearing proposed for May “that will allow members of the public who are worried about the infill to spell out their concerns”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Dublin Port Company is seeking permission for new deep-water berths at the northeastern part of Dublin Port.
In addition to the proposed infill, there would be additional dredging or other works on a further 17 hectares (43 acres) of the bay.
The proposal is being resisted by the campaign group Dublin Bay Watch, chaired by Clontarf based member of Dublin City Council Gerry Breen.
In its letter to the port company An Bord Pleanála specifically refers to flood dangers at Clontarf, drawing the port company’s attention to a storm water culvert along the Clontarf coastline “which is understood to be seriously impaired due to the absence of several of the outfall flap valves”. Flap valves are designed to prevent seawater rising through local drains.
The letter also refers to the “need for greater clarity in the determination of return period discharges for the rivers Liffey, Tolka and Dodder”.
In addition An Bord Pleanála has asked for “detailed analysis of longterm tidal trends with the bay as a result of increasing sea levels” and has also requested “more comprehensive explanation of the impact of climate change and how it is implemented within the modelling studies”.
The port company applied to the strategic infrastructure division of the planning board on September 8th last and the period for public submissions closed in October.
The port company has said the extra deep water berths are essential to the operation of the port which is at capacity. The company said this in turn has implications for the prosperity of the State, as the majority of goods imported and exported move through Dublin Port.
The deadline for the additional information is March 20th.
However, Mr Breen told The Irish Times the scale of the information required was a “clear” indication that An Bord Pleanála considered the information supplied by Dublin Port in support of its application to be inadequate.
“An Bord Pleanála has shown itself to be rigorous in assessing all proposals before it and this additional information request shows that the environmental impact statement submitted did not fulfil all the necessary requirements”.
Mr Breen said he was looking forward to an oral hearing proposed for May “that will allow members of the public who are worried about the infill to spell out their concerns”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)