Cosgrave Developments has been given the go-ahead for a €300m development at the former Dun Laoghaire golf course in south Dublin.
The new development will include more than 600 homes, mostly apartments, in buildings rising as high as seven storeys. Five parks, measuring a total of 7.5 acres, will also be provided as part of the scheme.
The new development is on the southern part of the 78-acre site and is in addition to more than 850 residential units that were approved by An Bord Pleanála last year.
Cosgrave took control of the former golf club after agreeing a land swap with the members that included a €20m fee and the provision of a new 27-hole golf course at Ballyman Glen on the border between Dublin and Wicklow.
The Dun Laoghaire land was rezoned in 2004 after the Department of the Environment ruled that insufficient land had been rezoned for housing.
Cosgrave Developments is part of the Cosgrave Property Group owned by Joe, Mick, Peter, Willie and Helen Cosgrave.
Dun Laoghaire golf club recently told members it is considering increasing fees and membership in an attempt to reduce an operating deficit that is expected to reach about €1.7m this year.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Harlequin shelves €100m Brittas Bay luxury hotel plan
Harlequin Holdings, owned by property developer Jerry Conlon who has been linked with Anglo Irish Bank, has abandoned plans for a €100m luxury golf and hotel development at Wicklow's Brittas Bay after council planners recommended their proposals be refused.
A planning application for the development, which Harlequin was developing in partnership with the Brennan Hotel Group, was withdrawn just one day before Wicklow County Council was due to make its decision.
The massive development would have included a 142-suite hotel; an 18-hole golf course; 12 two-storey holiday cottages; a three-storey sports academy; a bowling green and pavilion; four all-weather pitches and 356 parking spaces.
The application had been with the council since August 2008. However, failure to win support from planners dealt the development a huge blow. In her report, planner Elizabeth Bolger said the proposed development was in an area of outstanding natural beauty which could be eroded should it go ahead. With many of the hotel suites having their own external entrances, she suggested many could be used for long term occupation, contravening the council's settlement strategy. In addition, local road and water infrastructure was insufficient for such a large development and the environmental impact statement was inadequate, Bolger added.
A spokesman for the Harlequin Holdings was unavailable to comment last week.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
A planning application for the development, which Harlequin was developing in partnership with the Brennan Hotel Group, was withdrawn just one day before Wicklow County Council was due to make its decision.
The massive development would have included a 142-suite hotel; an 18-hole golf course; 12 two-storey holiday cottages; a three-storey sports academy; a bowling green and pavilion; four all-weather pitches and 356 parking spaces.
The application had been with the council since August 2008. However, failure to win support from planners dealt the development a huge blow. In her report, planner Elizabeth Bolger said the proposed development was in an area of outstanding natural beauty which could be eroded should it go ahead. With many of the hotel suites having their own external entrances, she suggested many could be used for long term occupation, contravening the council's settlement strategy. In addition, local road and water infrastructure was insufficient for such a large development and the environmental impact statement was inadequate, Bolger added.
A spokesman for the Harlequin Holdings was unavailable to comment last week.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Councils refute claim waste quota will not be met
COUNCIL officials in Dublin have denied suggestions they will be unable to meet obligations to supply household waste to the controversial Poolbeg incinerator. But officials have declined to reveal exactly what financial penalties they would face in the event of any such shortfall.
Green councillors in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council believe that an increase in recycling trends and in private waste collectors who are more 'green minded' may lead to difficulties in the future for councils having to supply certain levels of waste.
At a recent meeting, Cllr Tom Kivlehan asked the county manger to "report and discuss the consequences and penalties" facing the authorities in the event of such a shortfall. However, an official response noted that the "Dublin regional authorities fully expect to meet their waste commitments under their contract."
In 2007, 470,000 tonnes of waste was generated in the Dublin area and was growing at an annual rate of 1.3%.
"The contract for the waste-to-energy plant guarantees a minimum of 320,000 tonnes per annum from the Dublin region and as can be seen from the above figures there is little reason to believe that the minimum level of waste delivery will not be achieved."
But Cllr Kivlehan said that there are concerns surrounding what effects recycling initiatives will have on the level of waste brought to the incinerator.
"With recycling, in real terms what you are left with ... [is] the organic faction and badly soiled recyclables," he said.
"If recycling gets stronger, they wouldn't be able to meet their quotas or else they would have to start dragging in rubbish from other areas."
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Green councillors in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council believe that an increase in recycling trends and in private waste collectors who are more 'green minded' may lead to difficulties in the future for councils having to supply certain levels of waste.
At a recent meeting, Cllr Tom Kivlehan asked the county manger to "report and discuss the consequences and penalties" facing the authorities in the event of such a shortfall. However, an official response noted that the "Dublin regional authorities fully expect to meet their waste commitments under their contract."
In 2007, 470,000 tonnes of waste was generated in the Dublin area and was growing at an annual rate of 1.3%.
"The contract for the waste-to-energy plant guarantees a minimum of 320,000 tonnes per annum from the Dublin region and as can be seen from the above figures there is little reason to believe that the minimum level of waste delivery will not be achieved."
But Cllr Kivlehan said that there are concerns surrounding what effects recycling initiatives will have on the level of waste brought to the incinerator.
"With recycling, in real terms what you are left with ... [is] the organic faction and badly soiled recyclables," he said.
"If recycling gets stronger, they wouldn't be able to meet their quotas or else they would have to start dragging in rubbish from other areas."
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Permission granted for Dempsey's dream home
TRANSPORT minister Noel Dempsey is doing his bit for the struggling building industry by personally creating a number of construction jobs in his home constituency.
The Meath West TD is preparing to demolish his home in Newtown, Trim and replace it with a new structure.
A planning application filed with Meath County Council, through agents RKD Architects, in the name of Noel and Bernadette Dempsey, has recently been given the green light by officials.
Filed in November last year, Dempsey's plans were given the go-ahead at the end of January.
He will demolish everything at his Trim home, with the exception of his downstairs office, and in its place build a new country residence.
According to a description, the project will consist of "a split-level residential dwelling retaining the existing home office at the lower level of a total gross floor area of 282sq m with external site works, landscaping, reusing existing connection to public foul sewer and services and new connection to the public surface-water drain on a site of 0.2328 hectares currently occupied by an existing house and home office which is to be demolished". As is normal in the majority of such planning applications, the minister will be subject to a number of planning conditions as part of his overall permission.
A total of 11 such conditions were imposed, mostly pertaining to the finished structure keeping in line with the submitted plans and drawings.
Visual amenity conditions included in the permission state that the builders will use the specified tile colours, that serviced lines and cables remain underground and that existing site boundaries are maintained.
Other conditions for the development relate to the normal financial contributions made by developers or applicants in relation to services provided by the local authority.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
The Meath West TD is preparing to demolish his home in Newtown, Trim and replace it with a new structure.
A planning application filed with Meath County Council, through agents RKD Architects, in the name of Noel and Bernadette Dempsey, has recently been given the green light by officials.
Filed in November last year, Dempsey's plans were given the go-ahead at the end of January.
He will demolish everything at his Trim home, with the exception of his downstairs office, and in its place build a new country residence.
According to a description, the project will consist of "a split-level residential dwelling retaining the existing home office at the lower level of a total gross floor area of 282sq m with external site works, landscaping, reusing existing connection to public foul sewer and services and new connection to the public surface-water drain on a site of 0.2328 hectares currently occupied by an existing house and home office which is to be demolished". As is normal in the majority of such planning applications, the minister will be subject to a number of planning conditions as part of his overall permission.
A total of 11 such conditions were imposed, mostly pertaining to the finished structure keeping in line with the submitted plans and drawings.
Visual amenity conditions included in the permission state that the builders will use the specified tile colours, that serviced lines and cables remain underground and that existing site boundaries are maintained.
Other conditions for the development relate to the normal financial contributions made by developers or applicants in relation to services provided by the local authority.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Power plant poses no health risk, says firm
THE DEVELOPER of a 200 megawatt (MW) gas turbine power station proposed for east Galway says the project will not pose a health risk to local residents and will be environmentally sustainable.
Joe Hodgins, former manager of ESB’s Moneypoint coal-fired power station, was responding to fears voiced by over 200 schoolchildren, teachers and parents at a protest outside Galway County Council offices this week.
Galway West TDs Frank Fahey (FF) and Noel Grealish (Ind) and Senator Fidelma Healy Eames have backed residents’ calls for the proposed plant at Cashla, near Athenry, to be withdrawn.
Mr Fahey, who said he had submitted an objection, said “the company has not engaged in proper consultation with the local community and local residents are vehemently opposed to it”.
Mr Hodgins, managing director of Constant Energy Ltd in Loughrea, Co Galway, lodged the planning application several weeks ago for the 200MW open-cycle gas turbine plant at Cashla, Barrettspark, Co Galway.
The “peaking” power plant is designed to work with wind energy in providing back-up supply when wind power is intermittent.
Residents say the proposed plant poses a “risk to health, the environment, safety” and will cause “visual obtrusiveness, noise pollution, contamination of the ground and water supply”.
Anne Carey, principal of Scoil Mhuire National School in Lisheenkyle, Co Galway, said the site was less than 1km from the school premises.
“It is not a suitable location and I only learned about this proposal last Thursday – a week before the closure of submissions to the local authority,” she said.
She said several hundred people had signed a petition and a number of objections were lodged. The school organised three buses to transport 196 primary school pupils, younger siblings, parents and teachers to the council’s offices on Thursday, which was the deadline for objections to the planning application.
The residents’ group, “People before Profit”, argue that the proposed location for the plant is in a heavily-populated rural area, with 500 to 1,000 households and four primary schools in a three-mile radius.
“The proposed site is to be located on agricultural land which has not been zoned for any type of development,” the group said.
A similar project proposed for Claremorris, Co Mayo, was “successfully opposed” by residents, the group said. They added that residents in Ladera Ranch in California took their objections “all the way to the US Supreme Court to successfully overturn a decision to allow the building of a similar power station”.
The residents said they feared emissions could “lead to serious health issues and complications for the residents in the surrounding areas, especially for those already suffering with asthma, allergies or other respiratory illnesses”.
Mr Hodgins said the fears were groundless, and a voluntary public consultation had taken place last week in co-operation with the local development committee.
“This is a new and more efficient design of plant, run on natural gas, which will not run when wind energy is being fed into the grid,” he said. “In this way, it will actually contribute to a reduction in emissions nationally.”
The company’s plans were in the early stages, he said, as an integrated pollution prevention control would have to be applied for from the Environmental Protection Agency if planning permission was granted. A grid connection had been applied for, he said. “We would be very happy to work with the local community on this project,” he added.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Joe Hodgins, former manager of ESB’s Moneypoint coal-fired power station, was responding to fears voiced by over 200 schoolchildren, teachers and parents at a protest outside Galway County Council offices this week.
Galway West TDs Frank Fahey (FF) and Noel Grealish (Ind) and Senator Fidelma Healy Eames have backed residents’ calls for the proposed plant at Cashla, near Athenry, to be withdrawn.
Mr Fahey, who said he had submitted an objection, said “the company has not engaged in proper consultation with the local community and local residents are vehemently opposed to it”.
Mr Hodgins, managing director of Constant Energy Ltd in Loughrea, Co Galway, lodged the planning application several weeks ago for the 200MW open-cycle gas turbine plant at Cashla, Barrettspark, Co Galway.
The “peaking” power plant is designed to work with wind energy in providing back-up supply when wind power is intermittent.
Residents say the proposed plant poses a “risk to health, the environment, safety” and will cause “visual obtrusiveness, noise pollution, contamination of the ground and water supply”.
Anne Carey, principal of Scoil Mhuire National School in Lisheenkyle, Co Galway, said the site was less than 1km from the school premises.
“It is not a suitable location and I only learned about this proposal last Thursday – a week before the closure of submissions to the local authority,” she said.
She said several hundred people had signed a petition and a number of objections were lodged. The school organised three buses to transport 196 primary school pupils, younger siblings, parents and teachers to the council’s offices on Thursday, which was the deadline for objections to the planning application.
The residents’ group, “People before Profit”, argue that the proposed location for the plant is in a heavily-populated rural area, with 500 to 1,000 households and four primary schools in a three-mile radius.
“The proposed site is to be located on agricultural land which has not been zoned for any type of development,” the group said.
A similar project proposed for Claremorris, Co Mayo, was “successfully opposed” by residents, the group said. They added that residents in Ladera Ranch in California took their objections “all the way to the US Supreme Court to successfully overturn a decision to allow the building of a similar power station”.
The residents said they feared emissions could “lead to serious health issues and complications for the residents in the surrounding areas, especially for those already suffering with asthma, allergies or other respiratory illnesses”.
Mr Hodgins said the fears were groundless, and a voluntary public consultation had taken place last week in co-operation with the local development committee.
“This is a new and more efficient design of plant, run on natural gas, which will not run when wind energy is being fed into the grid,” he said. “In this way, it will actually contribute to a reduction in emissions nationally.”
The company’s plans were in the early stages, he said, as an integrated pollution prevention control would have to be applied for from the Environmental Protection Agency if planning permission was granted. A grid connection had been applied for, he said. “We would be very happy to work with the local community on this project,” he added.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Bord Pleanála rejects €100m development plan
THE MIDWEST economy suffered a setback yesterday with An Bord Pleanála rejecting a planned €100 million redevelopment of the Tinerana estate on the shores of Lough Derg.
The plan by Tinerana Ltd to transform the estate into a tourism resort was to generate 400 jobs through the construction and operation phase of the integrated tourism development.
The Limerick-based company purchased the estate on 270 acres of land on the shores of Lough Derg from former Killaloe doctor Paschal Carmody and his wife, Dr Frieda Keane Carmody in a multi-million euro deal in 2006.
In the plan, the company sought planning permission for the refurbishment of Tinerana House; an 18-hole championship golf course, a 32-bed apart-hotel, 155 two-bed holiday homes and an equestrian centre.
The developers claim that the development would have generated €30 million per annum for the regional economy and €8-€10 million per annum for the local economy.
There were no local objections to the plan and it was granted planning permission by Clare County Council last October. However, An Taisce appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála with its heritage officer Ian Lumley describing the proposal as an “outmoded, exploitative, construction-based, car-based development”.
In a rebuttal, the developers accused An Taisce of “scaremongering” in opposing the development. However, An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission for the proposal after its inspector stated that “the net economic benefit to the county of a grant of permission for such uses on an inappropriate site is negligible”.
The inspector stated that the proposal “would be a large commercial scheme which would provide employment and facilities for tourists.
“However, there is only a finite market for the visitor accommodation and other hotel uses which make up the bulk of the proposal.
“Authorising such uses on one site would render it less commercially attractive to develop them somewhere else.”
The board formally refused permission on two grounds: that the proposal would involve an unacceptably large amount of built development distributed through the landscape, whose scale and character would not be in keeping with the rural location of the site and that the proposal would pose an unacceptable risk of environmental pollution, be prejudicial to public health and to the natural heritage of the area.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The plan by Tinerana Ltd to transform the estate into a tourism resort was to generate 400 jobs through the construction and operation phase of the integrated tourism development.
The Limerick-based company purchased the estate on 270 acres of land on the shores of Lough Derg from former Killaloe doctor Paschal Carmody and his wife, Dr Frieda Keane Carmody in a multi-million euro deal in 2006.
In the plan, the company sought planning permission for the refurbishment of Tinerana House; an 18-hole championship golf course, a 32-bed apart-hotel, 155 two-bed holiday homes and an equestrian centre.
The developers claim that the development would have generated €30 million per annum for the regional economy and €8-€10 million per annum for the local economy.
There were no local objections to the plan and it was granted planning permission by Clare County Council last October. However, An Taisce appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála with its heritage officer Ian Lumley describing the proposal as an “outmoded, exploitative, construction-based, car-based development”.
In a rebuttal, the developers accused An Taisce of “scaremongering” in opposing the development. However, An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission for the proposal after its inspector stated that “the net economic benefit to the county of a grant of permission for such uses on an inappropriate site is negligible”.
The inspector stated that the proposal “would be a large commercial scheme which would provide employment and facilities for tourists.
“However, there is only a finite market for the visitor accommodation and other hotel uses which make up the bulk of the proposal.
“Authorising such uses on one site would render it less commercially attractive to develop them somewhere else.”
The board formally refused permission on two grounds: that the proposal would involve an unacceptably large amount of built development distributed through the landscape, whose scale and character would not be in keeping with the rural location of the site and that the proposal would pose an unacceptable risk of environmental pollution, be prejudicial to public health and to the natural heritage of the area.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 27 March 2009
Oral hearing set for planned €54m Cork incinerators
AN oral hearing is to be held by An Bord Pleanála next month into the controversial €54m incinerators planned for Cork Harbour.
It will be the second oral hearing into the planned incineration scheme at Ringaskiddy with local residents, opposed to the development, faced with forking out about e80,000.
The first An Bord Pleanála hearing took place in 2003. However, the board disregarded the recommendations of their senior inspector and, instead, granted planning permission to developers, Indaver.
Cork Harbour for a Safe Environment (CHASE), in the meantime, sought a judicial review of the decision. By the time the court action was finished, the initial planning had expired.
This time, however, Indaver lodged planning permission with the board under the Strategic Infrastructure Act. Amendments to the planning act were aimed at fast-tracking vital national infrastructure and sidestepping local authorities.
It is reported An Bord Pleanála received 284 submissions in relation to the proposed new incinerators. The hearing will take place from April 27.
The Department of the Environment is among the objectors, on the grounds of potential risks to human, plant and animal life.
Objections were also received from the IFA, the Irish Midwives Association, Cobh Doctors Association, East Cork Tourism, local primary and secondary schools and their boards of management.
CHASE spokeswoman Linda Fitzpatrick yesterday said the new hearing will cost the local community e80,000 to outline their case as they will have to bring in experts from all over the world. However, locals are delighted, she said, that health issues will be discussed, this time, unlike the previous hearing.
"We’re glad that we can state our case again but the financial cost is quite high. Last time, the inspector was not allowed to hear, and had to ignore, any health-based evidence. New EU planning rules means that these issues will be under the microscope," she said.
A spokeswoman for Indaver said the company was looking forward to dealing with arguments raised in submissions at the oral hearing. "We have always placed a high value on engaging with the people of the localities in which we operate. ... We are confident that the facts, not hearsay, will determine the merits of the proposal," she said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
It will be the second oral hearing into the planned incineration scheme at Ringaskiddy with local residents, opposed to the development, faced with forking out about e80,000.
The first An Bord Pleanála hearing took place in 2003. However, the board disregarded the recommendations of their senior inspector and, instead, granted planning permission to developers, Indaver.
Cork Harbour for a Safe Environment (CHASE), in the meantime, sought a judicial review of the decision. By the time the court action was finished, the initial planning had expired.
This time, however, Indaver lodged planning permission with the board under the Strategic Infrastructure Act. Amendments to the planning act were aimed at fast-tracking vital national infrastructure and sidestepping local authorities.
It is reported An Bord Pleanála received 284 submissions in relation to the proposed new incinerators. The hearing will take place from April 27.
The Department of the Environment is among the objectors, on the grounds of potential risks to human, plant and animal life.
Objections were also received from the IFA, the Irish Midwives Association, Cobh Doctors Association, East Cork Tourism, local primary and secondary schools and their boards of management.
CHASE spokeswoman Linda Fitzpatrick yesterday said the new hearing will cost the local community e80,000 to outline their case as they will have to bring in experts from all over the world. However, locals are delighted, she said, that health issues will be discussed, this time, unlike the previous hearing.
"We’re glad that we can state our case again but the financial cost is quite high. Last time, the inspector was not allowed to hear, and had to ignore, any health-based evidence. New EU planning rules means that these issues will be under the microscope," she said.
A spokeswoman for Indaver said the company was looking forward to dealing with arguments raised in submissions at the oral hearing. "We have always placed a high value on engaging with the people of the localities in which we operate. ... We are confident that the facts, not hearsay, will determine the merits of the proposal," she said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
€1bn Cork docklands plan gets go-ahead amid call for funding
THE ambitious €1 billion Atlantic Quarter project in Cork’s docklands got the green light from planners last night.
The mixed-use scheme, seen as a catalyst for the entire docklands regeneration, has the potential to create 4,800 jobs and provide homes for thousands of people.
Developers Howard Holdings welcomed the decision and called again on the Government to deliver funding for critical infrastructure to kickstart the city’s massive docklands regeneration.
"Howard Holdings is obviously delighted with the decision of Cork City Council, to grant planning and the company is reviewing the conditions at the moment," a spokesperson said.
"It’s the first step in the realisation of the docklands vision in Cork and in time, will represent a significant opportunity for Cork and the wider area.
"We now need the Government to commit to the necessary infrastructure to give the market the confidence and make this happen."
Planners attached 24 conditions, but gave the company 10 years in which to deliver its vision.
Once complete, Atlantic Quarter will feature a 51m-span swing bridge over the River Lee, which is dependent on Government funding, a "family" of three soaring cylindrical apartment towers, four huge office buildings with over half-a-million square feet of space, a 200-bed hotel, and a 5,500-person events centre called the Arena.
The tower blocks will feature publicly-accessible roof gardens.
Among the conditions are a reduction by three storeys of one of the project’s three landmark towers — from 19 storeys to 16.
The developers must provide, at their own expense, a shuttle bus service from Atlantic Quarter to the city, and appoint a mobility manager for the development.
A raft of other material changes to the height and design of several other buildings are also proposed.
The total number of car parking spaces on site will be capped at 1,830 spaces, with a maximum of 300 for the events centre, which may be increased to a maximum of 600 on condition that the 1,530 spaces intended to serve the remainder of the proposed development are reduced accordingly by 300.
Last year, Howard Holdings chief executive Greg Coughlan described Atlantic Quarter as a catalyst for other docklands schemes to follow. But he has repeatedly called on the Government to provide crucial "Gateway" money to part-fund the construction of the swing bridge.
The city council has submitted a funding application and a decision is awaited. However, there are fears that the collapse in the State’s finances will mean the money is not forthcoming.
In the meantime, An Bord Pleanála is due to rule in August on compulsory purchase orders to facilitate the bridge construction.
Atlantic Quarter was launched last year. The planning application contained in dozens of boxes was submitted to council on March 7, 2008 and was so large, a separate room was set aside to assess it.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The mixed-use scheme, seen as a catalyst for the entire docklands regeneration, has the potential to create 4,800 jobs and provide homes for thousands of people.
Developers Howard Holdings welcomed the decision and called again on the Government to deliver funding for critical infrastructure to kickstart the city’s massive docklands regeneration.
"Howard Holdings is obviously delighted with the decision of Cork City Council, to grant planning and the company is reviewing the conditions at the moment," a spokesperson said.
"It’s the first step in the realisation of the docklands vision in Cork and in time, will represent a significant opportunity for Cork and the wider area.
"We now need the Government to commit to the necessary infrastructure to give the market the confidence and make this happen."
Planners attached 24 conditions, but gave the company 10 years in which to deliver its vision.
Once complete, Atlantic Quarter will feature a 51m-span swing bridge over the River Lee, which is dependent on Government funding, a "family" of three soaring cylindrical apartment towers, four huge office buildings with over half-a-million square feet of space, a 200-bed hotel, and a 5,500-person events centre called the Arena.
The tower blocks will feature publicly-accessible roof gardens.
Among the conditions are a reduction by three storeys of one of the project’s three landmark towers — from 19 storeys to 16.
The developers must provide, at their own expense, a shuttle bus service from Atlantic Quarter to the city, and appoint a mobility manager for the development.
A raft of other material changes to the height and design of several other buildings are also proposed.
The total number of car parking spaces on site will be capped at 1,830 spaces, with a maximum of 300 for the events centre, which may be increased to a maximum of 600 on condition that the 1,530 spaces intended to serve the remainder of the proposed development are reduced accordingly by 300.
Last year, Howard Holdings chief executive Greg Coughlan described Atlantic Quarter as a catalyst for other docklands schemes to follow. But he has repeatedly called on the Government to provide crucial "Gateway" money to part-fund the construction of the swing bridge.
The city council has submitted a funding application and a decision is awaited. However, there are fears that the collapse in the State’s finances will mean the money is not forthcoming.
In the meantime, An Bord Pleanála is due to rule in August on compulsory purchase orders to facilitate the bridge construction.
Atlantic Quarter was launched last year. The planning application contained in dozens of boxes was submitted to council on March 7, 2008 and was so large, a separate room was set aside to assess it.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Gallery invites public to explore virtual metropolis
A virtual Dublin allows research on everything from computer games to urban planning
ALMOST EXACTLY two years ago, I wrote a story about Metropolis, an incredible and precise virtual Dublin under construction by researchers at Trinity College Dublin.
Supported by funding from Science Foundation Ireland, Metropolis was bringing together not just the expected computer scientists and engineers but also neuroscientists interested in how populating such a virtual world could give insight into how the human mind works and how people respond and act in crowd scenarios.
In addition, city planners and the Environmental Protection Agency were interested and involved in the project because of its ability to offer test cases for changing the urban landscape or responding to a natural disaster.
The problem for the average Dubliner, or Dublin visitor, though, was that they had no opportunity to see this virtual world themselves. Well, now anyone can come see a bit of virtual Dublin – more precisely, virtual TCD – at the latest event at Trinity College Dublin’s Science Gallery, which, like the research project, is also called Metropolis.
You can don 3D glasses and view Front Square as an immersive three-dimensional world, or see how computing graduates have manipulated a model of Trinity on an X-Box to show different special effects such as lighting and atmospheric changes. Visitors can participate in research that will contribute to the overall project.
There is also a fantastic game designed in co-operation with children at Dublin’s Central Remedial Clinic that has enabled them to explore the virtual city themselves.
The goal of the Metropolis researchers has been to create the largest simulations of crowds ever achieved, using motion-capture technology for the animated inhabitants who stride through this recreated Dublin as if they own the place. The research is modelled around five main areas of design and investigation: motion, appearance, sound, behaviour and multisensory perception.
Prof Carol O’Sullivan, a computer scientist and one of the principal investigators for Metropolis, says the virtual Dublin is allowing graduate student researchers to conduct experiments they wouldn’t be able to do otherwise on crowds, which will benefit computer games development and urban planning. Nine experiments are available for public users, ranging in time from five to 15 minutes.
One of the experiments in which visitors are able to participate involves them donning headphones and trying to pick out an individual in a crowded Front Square while people shout out “hellos” and “over heres” from various corners of the square.
The experiment looks at how much sound influences a viewer and would be very hard to replicate with real people in Front Square as you could hardly get enough volunteers for a big crowd for days on end, or have them shouting out all day long.
Other experiments ask users to gauge the number of cloned figures that are part of a large walking crowd, determine the emotions of a crowd, or pick out an object in busy traffic.
Perhaps the weirdest is a project in which the user tries to guess from body and leg movements which hidden animal is “dressed” as a sheep.
O’Sullivan says trying to use farm animals to get the motion-capture data was a particular challenge – especially the woolly body and legs of the sheep. But I can report with certainty that looking at a virtual sheep that is walking like a cow is a bit disconcerting as well.
O’Sullivan says the data gathered from adult visitors will be used by the graduates as part of their research. Children are more than welcome to try their skills on the workstations as well, but their data will not be used.
A number of film screenings and talks are also a part of this week’s event, which runs through this Sunday. Wall-E and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe are on today and tomorrow.
There is a talk by the creators of Metropolis at lunchtime today at the gallery, while this evening features a discussion on creating crowd scenes by Paul Kanyuk, a technical director with famed Pixar Studios.
Tomorrow there is a talk on a similar topic with Rhythm and Hues, the company that produced crowd scenes for the Narnia films as well as a Night at the Museum and other films.
Tickets are free but very limited – get more information and check availability with the Science Gallery or online, at www.sciencegallery.com/events.
Metropolis is now going into the final two years of its funding, says O’Sullivan, who adds that researchers are delighted to have the chance to show it off a bit to the public.
The next step is to start developing specific commercial applications, most likely in the areas of games development and urban planning.
Klillington@irishtimes.com
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
ALMOST EXACTLY two years ago, I wrote a story about Metropolis, an incredible and precise virtual Dublin under construction by researchers at Trinity College Dublin.
Supported by funding from Science Foundation Ireland, Metropolis was bringing together not just the expected computer scientists and engineers but also neuroscientists interested in how populating such a virtual world could give insight into how the human mind works and how people respond and act in crowd scenarios.
In addition, city planners and the Environmental Protection Agency were interested and involved in the project because of its ability to offer test cases for changing the urban landscape or responding to a natural disaster.
The problem for the average Dubliner, or Dublin visitor, though, was that they had no opportunity to see this virtual world themselves. Well, now anyone can come see a bit of virtual Dublin – more precisely, virtual TCD – at the latest event at Trinity College Dublin’s Science Gallery, which, like the research project, is also called Metropolis.
You can don 3D glasses and view Front Square as an immersive three-dimensional world, or see how computing graduates have manipulated a model of Trinity on an X-Box to show different special effects such as lighting and atmospheric changes. Visitors can participate in research that will contribute to the overall project.
There is also a fantastic game designed in co-operation with children at Dublin’s Central Remedial Clinic that has enabled them to explore the virtual city themselves.
The goal of the Metropolis researchers has been to create the largest simulations of crowds ever achieved, using motion-capture technology for the animated inhabitants who stride through this recreated Dublin as if they own the place. The research is modelled around five main areas of design and investigation: motion, appearance, sound, behaviour and multisensory perception.
Prof Carol O’Sullivan, a computer scientist and one of the principal investigators for Metropolis, says the virtual Dublin is allowing graduate student researchers to conduct experiments they wouldn’t be able to do otherwise on crowds, which will benefit computer games development and urban planning. Nine experiments are available for public users, ranging in time from five to 15 minutes.
One of the experiments in which visitors are able to participate involves them donning headphones and trying to pick out an individual in a crowded Front Square while people shout out “hellos” and “over heres” from various corners of the square.
The experiment looks at how much sound influences a viewer and would be very hard to replicate with real people in Front Square as you could hardly get enough volunteers for a big crowd for days on end, or have them shouting out all day long.
Other experiments ask users to gauge the number of cloned figures that are part of a large walking crowd, determine the emotions of a crowd, or pick out an object in busy traffic.
Perhaps the weirdest is a project in which the user tries to guess from body and leg movements which hidden animal is “dressed” as a sheep.
O’Sullivan says trying to use farm animals to get the motion-capture data was a particular challenge – especially the woolly body and legs of the sheep. But I can report with certainty that looking at a virtual sheep that is walking like a cow is a bit disconcerting as well.
O’Sullivan says the data gathered from adult visitors will be used by the graduates as part of their research. Children are more than welcome to try their skills on the workstations as well, but their data will not be used.
A number of film screenings and talks are also a part of this week’s event, which runs through this Sunday. Wall-E and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe are on today and tomorrow.
There is a talk by the creators of Metropolis at lunchtime today at the gallery, while this evening features a discussion on creating crowd scenes by Paul Kanyuk, a technical director with famed Pixar Studios.
Tomorrow there is a talk on a similar topic with Rhythm and Hues, the company that produced crowd scenes for the Narnia films as well as a Night at the Museum and other films.
Tickets are free but very limited – get more information and check availability with the Science Gallery or online, at www.sciencegallery.com/events.
Metropolis is now going into the final two years of its funding, says O’Sullivan, who adds that researchers are delighted to have the chance to show it off a bit to the public.
The next step is to start developing specific commercial applications, most likely in the areas of games development and urban planning.
Klillington@irishtimes.com
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Removal of Dáil car park opposed by some members of commission
THE TEMPORARY car park in Leinster House, which covered a historic lawn when it was created nearly a decade ago, is to be removed this summer, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission decided this week.
However, the decision to restore Leinster Lawn was not easily made, according to sources, and a number of members of the commission opposed the motion proposed by Fianna Fáil TD Michael Mulcahy.
Leinster House has 293 parking spaces which are used by members of the Oireachtas, some Oireachtas officials and some journalists. It will have 225 once the work is completed.
The Office of Public Works is prepared to offer 29 replacement spaces at other government institutions, but a spokesman last night said: “We will not be buying new stock.”
Minister of State at the OPW Martin Mansergh urged the members of the commission – which is responsible for running Leinster House – to agree to the change, which is unpopular with many in the buildings.
Leinster House, he said, could not seek to retain a development that should have disappeared years ago as part of the planning conditions that were given when a major extension called LH2000 was built.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey wrote a strongly worded letter to the commission, supporting the removal of the parking places and arguing that politicians had to give a lead on public transport.
The restoration of the lawn will be done by the OPW at a cost of approximately €200,000 – a far cry from the €500,000 figure that was pencilled in for the work in earlier plans.
That earlier figure was based on the assumed use of contractors to do the job. Using OPW staff will be more economical, Mr Mansergh told the commission.
Leinster Lawn, which faces Merrion Square in front of the Houses of the Oireachtas, was replaced by a car park in July 1998 as a temporary measure during the construction of LH200.
The planning permission for the work at the time required the lawn be reinstated after the building work was done, but this did not happen because the OPW deferred the work on the grounds that an underground car park was to be built.
The decision on Wednesday means that the car park, which would have cost €25 million and would have been open to the public, has now been deferred indefinitely because of the cutbacks.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
However, the decision to restore Leinster Lawn was not easily made, according to sources, and a number of members of the commission opposed the motion proposed by Fianna Fáil TD Michael Mulcahy.
Leinster House has 293 parking spaces which are used by members of the Oireachtas, some Oireachtas officials and some journalists. It will have 225 once the work is completed.
The Office of Public Works is prepared to offer 29 replacement spaces at other government institutions, but a spokesman last night said: “We will not be buying new stock.”
Minister of State at the OPW Martin Mansergh urged the members of the commission – which is responsible for running Leinster House – to agree to the change, which is unpopular with many in the buildings.
Leinster House, he said, could not seek to retain a development that should have disappeared years ago as part of the planning conditions that were given when a major extension called LH2000 was built.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey wrote a strongly worded letter to the commission, supporting the removal of the parking places and arguing that politicians had to give a lead on public transport.
The restoration of the lawn will be done by the OPW at a cost of approximately €200,000 – a far cry from the €500,000 figure that was pencilled in for the work in earlier plans.
That earlier figure was based on the assumed use of contractors to do the job. Using OPW staff will be more economical, Mr Mansergh told the commission.
Leinster Lawn, which faces Merrion Square in front of the Houses of the Oireachtas, was replaced by a car park in July 1998 as a temporary measure during the construction of LH200.
The planning permission for the work at the time required the lawn be reinstated after the building work was done, but this did not happen because the OPW deferred the work on the grounds that an underground car park was to be built.
The decision on Wednesday means that the car park, which would have cost €25 million and would have been open to the public, has now been deferred indefinitely because of the cutbacks.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
How a site notice provoked Paul O’Sullivan’s ire
The following story submitted by Paul O'Sullivan is one I am sure others can sympathize with ...
I visited my parent’s house last week, stayed for a couple of days and walked a lot around my old neighbourhood. On one of these walks I noticed several planning site notices, more than five, stapled to utility poles and hung on walls. All dated back further than five weeks, the statutory time-period for display of a site notice. In fact, one went back to 2003.
Not knowing either of the applicants I contacted the local authority, was passed along to the planning enforcement department and informed my complaint would be needed in writing, that there were forms and these could be sent via email. Two days later and no response I emailed the department with a simply outline of the simple query.
Five days later, two of which were weekend days, a member of the planning enforcement emailed, informing me the planning regulations did not cover enforcement proceedings against an applicant who had failed to remove their site notices. The regulations only stated that site notices must be removed and as the matter was now a litter concern I should contact the local area litter warden, for whom a number was provided, and in the event that the local authority might take action against the public utility provider I should also contact them.
For the record, the local area litter warden was a member of the same local authority as the member of planning enforcement, but for some reason direct contact was not considered.
In a response I refuted responsibility for the matter. As a third-party citizen who merely raised the issue I did not see how the onus could fall on me to pursue it further. I also suggested the response panged of passing-the-buck and a letter of complaint would be made to the local authority. In addition, a letter would be sent to the Department of Environment suggesting that an amendment to the regulations be made to cover the issue; if there were more than five within a short distance, I could only assume the same problem existed throughout the country.
Sure, in practical terms the problem may be innocuous. What provoked such ire was the principle of how the situation was handled, or not as the case may be, by the local authority. In short, it was indicative of many of this state’s problems.
Since not more than a day has passed since sending, I await reply from the Department of Environment.
Paul O'Sullivan
I visited my parent’s house last week, stayed for a couple of days and walked a lot around my old neighbourhood. On one of these walks I noticed several planning site notices, more than five, stapled to utility poles and hung on walls. All dated back further than five weeks, the statutory time-period for display of a site notice. In fact, one went back to 2003.
Not knowing either of the applicants I contacted the local authority, was passed along to the planning enforcement department and informed my complaint would be needed in writing, that there were forms and these could be sent via email. Two days later and no response I emailed the department with a simply outline of the simple query.
Five days later, two of which were weekend days, a member of the planning enforcement emailed, informing me the planning regulations did not cover enforcement proceedings against an applicant who had failed to remove their site notices. The regulations only stated that site notices must be removed and as the matter was now a litter concern I should contact the local area litter warden, for whom a number was provided, and in the event that the local authority might take action against the public utility provider I should also contact them.
For the record, the local area litter warden was a member of the same local authority as the member of planning enforcement, but for some reason direct contact was not considered.
In a response I refuted responsibility for the matter. As a third-party citizen who merely raised the issue I did not see how the onus could fall on me to pursue it further. I also suggested the response panged of passing-the-buck and a letter of complaint would be made to the local authority. In addition, a letter would be sent to the Department of Environment suggesting that an amendment to the regulations be made to cover the issue; if there were more than five within a short distance, I could only assume the same problem existed throughout the country.
Sure, in practical terms the problem may be innocuous. What provoked such ire was the principle of how the situation was handled, or not as the case may be, by the local authority. In short, it was indicative of many of this state’s problems.
Since not more than a day has passed since sending, I await reply from the Department of Environment.
Paul O'Sullivan
Thursday, 26 March 2009
NI judge loses Cork planning appeal
A NORTHERN Ireland judge, who was involved in a successful legal challenge to the requirement for senior Northern barristers to take an oath to serve the British queen, has lost a High Court case to overturn permission for a development of three houses allegedly adjacent to his holiday home in west Cork.
In 1999, Seamus Treacy, then a barrister, won a landmark legal action against having to promise to “well and truly serve Queen Elizabeth II”. He and another barrister claimed the declaration discriminated against them as nationalists and was an affront to their political sensibilities.
Mr Treacy, who was appointed a High Court judge in Northern Ireland in 2007, brought High Court proceedings here challenging a 2006 decision by Cork County Council to grant planning permission for a development of three houses at Colla, Schull.
His proceedings were brought against Cork County Council and the Minister for the Environment. The proposed developers, Kieran Coughlan and Claire Riordan, were notice parties.
Mr Coughlan and Ms Riordan lodged their planning application for their site at Colla on March 16th, 2006, and secured permission on July 4th, 2006. They proposed constructing three dwellings and related waste water treatment units.
In his judgment yesterday, Mr Justice John Hedigan ruled the high point of Mr Treacy’s claimed interest was that his holiday home was located nearby, but it was clear the development was below and out of sight of the applicant’s property.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
In 1999, Seamus Treacy, then a barrister, won a landmark legal action against having to promise to “well and truly serve Queen Elizabeth II”. He and another barrister claimed the declaration discriminated against them as nationalists and was an affront to their political sensibilities.
Mr Treacy, who was appointed a High Court judge in Northern Ireland in 2007, brought High Court proceedings here challenging a 2006 decision by Cork County Council to grant planning permission for a development of three houses at Colla, Schull.
His proceedings were brought against Cork County Council and the Minister for the Environment. The proposed developers, Kieran Coughlan and Claire Riordan, were notice parties.
Mr Coughlan and Ms Riordan lodged their planning application for their site at Colla on March 16th, 2006, and secured permission on July 4th, 2006. They proposed constructing three dwellings and related waste water treatment units.
In his judgment yesterday, Mr Justice John Hedigan ruled the high point of Mr Treacy’s claimed interest was that his holiday home was located nearby, but it was clear the development was below and out of sight of the applicant’s property.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Council says yes to apartment plan at former Solus factory in Bray
AFTER A five-year planning battle a consortium of high profile developers has been granted planning permission by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council for an apartment development at the former Solus Tower factory premises at Corke Abbey, Bray, Co Dublin.
The development proposed by Anthony Durkan, Christopher Bennett, Joan Pierce and Conor Kevaney comprises 60 apartments in two blocks ranging in height from two storeys to five storeys all over a basement car-park with 79 spaces.
There would be a mix of 44 two-beds, seven one-beds, and nine three-bed apartments.
The development would also have two roof terraces.
In 2006 the council refused planning permission for 78 apartments on the site and in 2004 An Bord Pleanála refused permission for 88 apartments.
Prior to that, German discount store Lidl was refused planning permission to build a store there.
- Meanwhile Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has circulated a detailed proposal to councillors informing them it wants to erect 30 JC Decaux advertising signs in the county.
This is a separate proposal to the one announced in February proposing 60 freestanding Clear Channel Ireland advertising billboards projected to make €10 million over 10 years.
Proceeds are earmarked to increase expenditure in the recreation and amenity areas of the council’s budget.
This time around the proposal is for for 30 single and double sided large Europanel metropole signs. While the council is remaining tight lipped on the expected revenue, the venture is expected to generate millions for the council given the size of the structures.
The locations for the billboards are believed to be at the junction of Mount Merrion Avenue and Rock Road, near Blackrock College, at the gateway to Cherrywood and at the entrance to Sandyford Industrial Estate.
The council says that any development by a local authority under a €126,000 threshold is deemed to be exempt from requiring planning permission. In the case of the outdoor advertising sites, each site is being developed individually and the cost is far lower than the €126,000 threshold.
- The Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) has challenged a proposal by Treasury Holding’s Spencer Dock Development Company to build an eight-storey office building on North Wall Quay, Dublin 1.
In an appeal letter to An Bord Pleanála, the DDDA says the office block, which was given the green light by Dublin City Council, is contrary to the North Lotts planning scheme 2002 in terms of its impact on the setting and fabric of two protected structures on the site.
The authority also says the development is too commercial in nature and would prevent the developer from delivering the required 20 per cent of social and affordable housing on the site.
The protected structures on the site are the Woolstore and the former Goods Depot and the DDDA says the height and massing would materially detract from their setting.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The development proposed by Anthony Durkan, Christopher Bennett, Joan Pierce and Conor Kevaney comprises 60 apartments in two blocks ranging in height from two storeys to five storeys all over a basement car-park with 79 spaces.
There would be a mix of 44 two-beds, seven one-beds, and nine three-bed apartments.
The development would also have two roof terraces.
In 2006 the council refused planning permission for 78 apartments on the site and in 2004 An Bord Pleanála refused permission for 88 apartments.
Prior to that, German discount store Lidl was refused planning permission to build a store there.
- Meanwhile Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has circulated a detailed proposal to councillors informing them it wants to erect 30 JC Decaux advertising signs in the county.
This is a separate proposal to the one announced in February proposing 60 freestanding Clear Channel Ireland advertising billboards projected to make €10 million over 10 years.
Proceeds are earmarked to increase expenditure in the recreation and amenity areas of the council’s budget.
This time around the proposal is for for 30 single and double sided large Europanel metropole signs. While the council is remaining tight lipped on the expected revenue, the venture is expected to generate millions for the council given the size of the structures.
The locations for the billboards are believed to be at the junction of Mount Merrion Avenue and Rock Road, near Blackrock College, at the gateway to Cherrywood and at the entrance to Sandyford Industrial Estate.
The council says that any development by a local authority under a €126,000 threshold is deemed to be exempt from requiring planning permission. In the case of the outdoor advertising sites, each site is being developed individually and the cost is far lower than the €126,000 threshold.
- The Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) has challenged a proposal by Treasury Holding’s Spencer Dock Development Company to build an eight-storey office building on North Wall Quay, Dublin 1.
In an appeal letter to An Bord Pleanála, the DDDA says the office block, which was given the green light by Dublin City Council, is contrary to the North Lotts planning scheme 2002 in terms of its impact on the setting and fabric of two protected structures on the site.
The authority also says the development is too commercial in nature and would prevent the developer from delivering the required 20 per cent of social and affordable housing on the site.
The protected structures on the site are the Woolstore and the former Goods Depot and the DDDA says the height and massing would materially detract from their setting.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Greystones - A new town
TEN YEARS AGO ago, Greystones was a very pleasant but slightly sleepy town, still far removed from the bustle of Dublin. Times have certainly changed. There is still a very attractive village atmosphere, but the population of greater Greystones has soared, with several large developments on the outskirts, and the arrival of the Dart. Not everyone is pleased with all the changes, but on the food front, few can complain.
A decade ago, options to eat out in Greystones were fairly limited. There were a couple of decent Italian trattorias, Bistro Vino by the station, or Cooper’s down by the harbour. The greatest treat was a visit to The Hungry Monk , a legendary establishment that still thrives. Last week, I counted no less than 20 businesses all serving food of some sort, all on Church Road, the main street, or a very short walk away from it. Eating at home has got a lot better too, with a clutch of fine-food shops to please the most fastidious of foodies.
Every restaurant seems to have its fans. Bistro Vino has been in operation for many years, serving wholesome Italian classics, but things have taken a change for the better under new ownership. Regulars (and there are many) swear that it offers the best value in town. Serving a range of pasta, pizza and a few more adventurous dishes, it is very popular for families out on the town.
Across the road is The Burnaby , a pub that is a regular lunchtime haunt for people working locally. The interior has been very sensitively restored and modernised and in many ways shows the way forward for that great institution that is the Irish pub. The cooking here has taken a jump forward recently; Aran’s seafood chowder is a meal in itself, and a delicious pie and a pint is a great way to start the weekend.
Bochelli has its fans too – it’s a classic Italian red-sauce joint with genuine attentive Italian service in a very lively atmosphere. The Royal Park , a traditional Chinese restaurant, may not stray too far from the usual formula, but the service is excellent and the food is reasonably priced.
Other favourites include Scent (mixed Asian) and Backstage @ Bels , with its theatrical theme. Food here is locally sourced where possible, and modern Irish in style. Also popular with Italian foodies is Diva , down by the harbour.
A little further up Church Road, the cooking gets more ambitious. The Three Qs , run by the three Quinn brothers (Paul, Colin and Brian), offers an excellent mix of modern and international cuisine in a pleasantly laid-back atmosphere. There is a distinctly Mediterranean feel to the menu, with falafel and Moroccan fish, but the dhal soup is a must-try too. The Irish side of the menu includes plenty of pork, game and fish (be sure to try the game pie). If the menu sounds overly complicated, fear not. It works perfectly, with real inventiveness and style. Three Qs also opens for breakfast and light lunches too; home-made baked beans with mature cheese on toast will banish any lingering winter blues.
Across the road you will find both The Hungry Monk, and Chakra (see panel, overleaf).
Coffee shops abound, and all seem to be buzzing, despite the recession. Summerville (formerly Poppies) is a favourite among walkers after a climb over Bray Head. During the week it seems to be full of mothers meeting for coffee after the school run. Another long-term tenant is Homan’s , down by the station, which makes a real effort to offer a decent cuppa and something to nibble alongside it. Scone afficionados tell me they make the real deal here.
Farther up the street, The Happy Pear and Caviston’s both do a very brisk lunchtime trade. Next door to The Happy Pear, A Caviston (the A is for Amy), a recent arrival, does a great lunch, featuring, not surprisingly, plenty of fishy salads. An off-shoot of the famous Glasthule shop, A Caviston offers an excellent selection of fish, cheese and other goodies, as well as having a cafe. The quality of cold meats, cheese and other deli foods has added an extra dimension to shopping in Greystones. Competition on the fish front is provided by Moran’s , which also supplies many of the local restaurants.
One thing missing from the food scene in recent years has been a decent butcher’s shop. Most proper foodies head up to Delgany, home to Farrelly’s , a traditional butchers that slaughters its own beef and lamb. Regulars here are treated to a stream of happy banter while waiting for their massive organic T-bone steaks. In recent months, however, there is competition from The Steak Shop , which opened just off the main street in Greystones, selling that rarity: properly hung beef and lamb.
There is more choice for the take-home brigade with the recent arrival of several upmarket shops. In addition to Supervalu, Tesco and Lidl (not to mention Superquinn just down the road in Charlesland), shoppers can now choose between Butler’s Pantry on Church Road, and a large new Donnybrook Fair , complete with on-site wok cookery, high-quality take-home foods (try the meatballs) and an excellent wine shop. This in turn provides competition for the Wicklow Arms in Delgany, with its well-selected range of wines and beers, and O’Briens on Church Road.
The population of Greystones must be among the healthiest in Ireland. In addition to The Happy Pear, there is Nature’s Gold health-food shop where, alongside homeopathic remedies, you will find all of the foodie’s cupboard staples, from Tamari soy sauce to a range of pulses and cereals. Beside Nature’s Gold is Ireton’s , a perfect example of the traditional Irish grocer. Another healthy option is the Ecoshop , recently arrived from Glen o’ the Downs. This offers an amazing array of eco-friendly goods for home, garden and table. For the kitchen there is an interesting selection of foods, including organic meats, vegetables and cheeses.
If all this food leaves you bloated, Greystones now boasts some of the finest sporting facilities in the country. There are three golf clubs, vibrant tennis, rugby, soccer and GAA clubs and, for the more sedate, a bowling club. Then there is a new community swimming pool and sports centre, as well as a Jackie Skelly pool and gym. The Charlesland Sports and Recreation Club has an all-weather athletic track, skateboard park, baseball diamond, tennis courts and a climbing wall. Once the harbour is completed, the sailing, rowing and angling clubs will return to normal, complete with new facilities.
Overall, the food scene in Greystones has been transformed in recent years and now offers a huge range of options for eating out and at home. There is still the remnant of a farmers’ market on Saturdays (this includes a very good butcher who travels from a farm in Co Antrim). Otherwise, people seem happy to spend their money in the local shops. Every Saturday, the main street is humming with contented locals filling their bags with a range of goodies, many of which are sourced from the green hills surrounding the town.
SOME RECENT DEVELOPMENTS in the Greystones area have been controversial, of course. To the south of the town, an approximate triangle encompassing Kilcoole to the south, Greystones to the north and Delgany to the west, is rapidly being filled with housing and other developments.
Both Delgany and Charlesland have expanded greatly over the past five years. The greater Greystones area, including Delgany and Charlesland, has grown by more than 40 per cent, and now has a population of 20,000. There were plans, turned down by An Bord Pleanála, to build a massive retail complex in Charlesland.
Within the town of Greystones, the Meridian Point shopping centre has been slow to take off, but could now receive a welcome boost with the opening of a new street, Theatre Lane, which features several retail outlets and a multi-disciplinary arts venue, Greystones Theatre and Studios. It has regular concerts and a resident gospel choir.
In a move that proved very divisive, Wicklow County Council entered into a public-private partnership scheme to develop the harbour and surrounding area to the north of the town. This is currently under construction and when completed it will include more than 340 residential units, shops, a 230-berth marina, and facilities for marine activities. The scheme has been delayed, and it is currently two months behind schedule.
The main harbour is due to open in May 2010, followed later by the boardwalk, housing and retail units. In the meantime, most of the harbour area is blocked off, although it is still possible to access the cliff walk to Bray Head.
With the opening of two new schools last year (one Educate Together, one Gaelscoil), Greystones now has five primary schools (six if you include Delgany). But as anyone travelling on the lively morning Dart will confirm, there is only one secondary school. Most students travel elsewhere to further their education.
Overall, many feel that Greystones is rapidly turning into a southside Malahide; for some this is a positive development, others feel that the developments over the past decade have been sufficient. I am conscious that for many visitors to Greystones, the foodie attractions of the village will play a strictly supporting role to the main business of the day – shopping. And I don’t mean shopping for food. So, for the fashion conscious, here are the edited highlights.
Toil & Glitter on Theatre Lane specialises in Scandinavian clothes and accessories, and carries a line of cool, elegantly deconstructed designs expertly chosen by owner Jill Barrens. Right next door, Shadore boutique, formerly of Wicklow town, is presided over by the irrepressible Sharon Mother, who loves nothing more than to have her clients “come in and play” with her quirky, highly individual selection of clothes. Mrs Wilson particularly covets her Aideen Bodkin brocade coat.
JuJu , on la Touche Place, is the place to go for investment and one-off items by labels such as Schumacher, John Rocha and Eileen Shields. It also stocks a beautiful, jewel-coloured range of cashmere by Johnston’s of Scotland. Little Miracles , next door, sells an affordable and stylish range of maternity clothing. The selection of wrap dresses come highly recommended for non-pregnant women as well. Rubana on Hillside Road carries a small but carefully chosen selection of elegant designer gear.
Tuchuzy on Church Road has a great selection of clothes by labels such as In-Wear, French Connection and The Barn. Escape boutique, beside Homan’s coffee shop on Church Road, is a long-established boutique catering for all ages and shapes with a wide range of stock including Noa-Noa, Pieszak ze Zinsky and Lysgaard.
Greystones is also home to two artisan jewellers – silversmith Colleen Gallagher, who designs and creates an extensive range of sculptural pieces from her shop, KC Gallagher , on Church Road, and goldsmith and gemmologist Anne-Mette O’Connor who creates highly individual and bespoke pieces from her workshop at AMOC , also on Church Road.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
A decade ago, options to eat out in Greystones were fairly limited. There were a couple of decent Italian trattorias, Bistro Vino by the station, or Cooper’s down by the harbour. The greatest treat was a visit to The Hungry Monk , a legendary establishment that still thrives. Last week, I counted no less than 20 businesses all serving food of some sort, all on Church Road, the main street, or a very short walk away from it. Eating at home has got a lot better too, with a clutch of fine-food shops to please the most fastidious of foodies.
Every restaurant seems to have its fans. Bistro Vino has been in operation for many years, serving wholesome Italian classics, but things have taken a change for the better under new ownership. Regulars (and there are many) swear that it offers the best value in town. Serving a range of pasta, pizza and a few more adventurous dishes, it is very popular for families out on the town.
Across the road is The Burnaby , a pub that is a regular lunchtime haunt for people working locally. The interior has been very sensitively restored and modernised and in many ways shows the way forward for that great institution that is the Irish pub. The cooking here has taken a jump forward recently; Aran’s seafood chowder is a meal in itself, and a delicious pie and a pint is a great way to start the weekend.
Bochelli has its fans too – it’s a classic Italian red-sauce joint with genuine attentive Italian service in a very lively atmosphere. The Royal Park , a traditional Chinese restaurant, may not stray too far from the usual formula, but the service is excellent and the food is reasonably priced.
Other favourites include Scent (mixed Asian) and Backstage @ Bels , with its theatrical theme. Food here is locally sourced where possible, and modern Irish in style. Also popular with Italian foodies is Diva , down by the harbour.
A little further up Church Road, the cooking gets more ambitious. The Three Qs , run by the three Quinn brothers (Paul, Colin and Brian), offers an excellent mix of modern and international cuisine in a pleasantly laid-back atmosphere. There is a distinctly Mediterranean feel to the menu, with falafel and Moroccan fish, but the dhal soup is a must-try too. The Irish side of the menu includes plenty of pork, game and fish (be sure to try the game pie). If the menu sounds overly complicated, fear not. It works perfectly, with real inventiveness and style. Three Qs also opens for breakfast and light lunches too; home-made baked beans with mature cheese on toast will banish any lingering winter blues.
Across the road you will find both The Hungry Monk, and Chakra (see panel, overleaf).
Coffee shops abound, and all seem to be buzzing, despite the recession. Summerville (formerly Poppies) is a favourite among walkers after a climb over Bray Head. During the week it seems to be full of mothers meeting for coffee after the school run. Another long-term tenant is Homan’s , down by the station, which makes a real effort to offer a decent cuppa and something to nibble alongside it. Scone afficionados tell me they make the real deal here.
Farther up the street, The Happy Pear and Caviston’s both do a very brisk lunchtime trade. Next door to The Happy Pear, A Caviston (the A is for Amy), a recent arrival, does a great lunch, featuring, not surprisingly, plenty of fishy salads. An off-shoot of the famous Glasthule shop, A Caviston offers an excellent selection of fish, cheese and other goodies, as well as having a cafe. The quality of cold meats, cheese and other deli foods has added an extra dimension to shopping in Greystones. Competition on the fish front is provided by Moran’s , which also supplies many of the local restaurants.
One thing missing from the food scene in recent years has been a decent butcher’s shop. Most proper foodies head up to Delgany, home to Farrelly’s , a traditional butchers that slaughters its own beef and lamb. Regulars here are treated to a stream of happy banter while waiting for their massive organic T-bone steaks. In recent months, however, there is competition from The Steak Shop , which opened just off the main street in Greystones, selling that rarity: properly hung beef and lamb.
There is more choice for the take-home brigade with the recent arrival of several upmarket shops. In addition to Supervalu, Tesco and Lidl (not to mention Superquinn just down the road in Charlesland), shoppers can now choose between Butler’s Pantry on Church Road, and a large new Donnybrook Fair , complete with on-site wok cookery, high-quality take-home foods (try the meatballs) and an excellent wine shop. This in turn provides competition for the Wicklow Arms in Delgany, with its well-selected range of wines and beers, and O’Briens on Church Road.
The population of Greystones must be among the healthiest in Ireland. In addition to The Happy Pear, there is Nature’s Gold health-food shop where, alongside homeopathic remedies, you will find all of the foodie’s cupboard staples, from Tamari soy sauce to a range of pulses and cereals. Beside Nature’s Gold is Ireton’s , a perfect example of the traditional Irish grocer. Another healthy option is the Ecoshop , recently arrived from Glen o’ the Downs. This offers an amazing array of eco-friendly goods for home, garden and table. For the kitchen there is an interesting selection of foods, including organic meats, vegetables and cheeses.
If all this food leaves you bloated, Greystones now boasts some of the finest sporting facilities in the country. There are three golf clubs, vibrant tennis, rugby, soccer and GAA clubs and, for the more sedate, a bowling club. Then there is a new community swimming pool and sports centre, as well as a Jackie Skelly pool and gym. The Charlesland Sports and Recreation Club has an all-weather athletic track, skateboard park, baseball diamond, tennis courts and a climbing wall. Once the harbour is completed, the sailing, rowing and angling clubs will return to normal, complete with new facilities.
Overall, the food scene in Greystones has been transformed in recent years and now offers a huge range of options for eating out and at home. There is still the remnant of a farmers’ market on Saturdays (this includes a very good butcher who travels from a farm in Co Antrim). Otherwise, people seem happy to spend their money in the local shops. Every Saturday, the main street is humming with contented locals filling their bags with a range of goodies, many of which are sourced from the green hills surrounding the town.
SOME RECENT DEVELOPMENTS in the Greystones area have been controversial, of course. To the south of the town, an approximate triangle encompassing Kilcoole to the south, Greystones to the north and Delgany to the west, is rapidly being filled with housing and other developments.
Both Delgany and Charlesland have expanded greatly over the past five years. The greater Greystones area, including Delgany and Charlesland, has grown by more than 40 per cent, and now has a population of 20,000. There were plans, turned down by An Bord Pleanála, to build a massive retail complex in Charlesland.
Within the town of Greystones, the Meridian Point shopping centre has been slow to take off, but could now receive a welcome boost with the opening of a new street, Theatre Lane, which features several retail outlets and a multi-disciplinary arts venue, Greystones Theatre and Studios. It has regular concerts and a resident gospel choir.
In a move that proved very divisive, Wicklow County Council entered into a public-private partnership scheme to develop the harbour and surrounding area to the north of the town. This is currently under construction and when completed it will include more than 340 residential units, shops, a 230-berth marina, and facilities for marine activities. The scheme has been delayed, and it is currently two months behind schedule.
The main harbour is due to open in May 2010, followed later by the boardwalk, housing and retail units. In the meantime, most of the harbour area is blocked off, although it is still possible to access the cliff walk to Bray Head.
With the opening of two new schools last year (one Educate Together, one Gaelscoil), Greystones now has five primary schools (six if you include Delgany). But as anyone travelling on the lively morning Dart will confirm, there is only one secondary school. Most students travel elsewhere to further their education.
Overall, many feel that Greystones is rapidly turning into a southside Malahide; for some this is a positive development, others feel that the developments over the past decade have been sufficient. I am conscious that for many visitors to Greystones, the foodie attractions of the village will play a strictly supporting role to the main business of the day – shopping. And I don’t mean shopping for food. So, for the fashion conscious, here are the edited highlights.
Toil & Glitter on Theatre Lane specialises in Scandinavian clothes and accessories, and carries a line of cool, elegantly deconstructed designs expertly chosen by owner Jill Barrens. Right next door, Shadore boutique, formerly of Wicklow town, is presided over by the irrepressible Sharon Mother, who loves nothing more than to have her clients “come in and play” with her quirky, highly individual selection of clothes. Mrs Wilson particularly covets her Aideen Bodkin brocade coat.
JuJu , on la Touche Place, is the place to go for investment and one-off items by labels such as Schumacher, John Rocha and Eileen Shields. It also stocks a beautiful, jewel-coloured range of cashmere by Johnston’s of Scotland. Little Miracles , next door, sells an affordable and stylish range of maternity clothing. The selection of wrap dresses come highly recommended for non-pregnant women as well. Rubana on Hillside Road carries a small but carefully chosen selection of elegant designer gear.
Tuchuzy on Church Road has a great selection of clothes by labels such as In-Wear, French Connection and The Barn. Escape boutique, beside Homan’s coffee shop on Church Road, is a long-established boutique catering for all ages and shapes with a wide range of stock including Noa-Noa, Pieszak ze Zinsky and Lysgaard.
Greystones is also home to two artisan jewellers – silversmith Colleen Gallagher, who designs and creates an extensive range of sculptural pieces from her shop, KC Gallagher , on Church Road, and goldsmith and gemmologist Anne-Mette O’Connor who creates highly individual and bespoke pieces from her workshop at AMOC , also on Church Road.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Corrib gas talks expected to continue next month
DIRECT TALKS involving the Government, Shell senior management and north Mayo representatives over the Corrib gas impasse are expected to continue next month, following almost five hours of discussions in Dublin yesterday.
The talks, involving three members of the Rossport Five, were described last night as “full and frank” in a joint statement issued afterwards by Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan and Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív.
“Core issues were discussed, and it was agreed to give some time for all parties to reflect,” the Ministers said. They were “hopeful that there will be a follow-up meeting as soon as possible”.
The session, chaired by former Department of Justice secretary general Joe Brosnan, was held at Mr Ó Cuív’s department headquarters in Mespil Road, Dublin.
It represented the first direct talks between Rossport Five members and Shell since the five were jailed for 94 days in 2005 over their opposition to the routing of the high-pressure Corrib gas onshore pipeline.
Shell was represented by John Gallagher, vice-president (technical) of Shell EP Europe, and Terry Nolan, Shell EP Ireland managing director.
When a third Shell nominee was unable to travel, attempts to nominate substitutes, including Shell EP Ireland director John Egan, were overruled by the Erris community delegation before discussions began.
The Mayo delegation included Rossport Five members Micheál Ó Seighin, Vincent McGrath and Willie Corduff of Pobal Chill Chomáin community group, along with Fr Michael Nallen, Mary Corduff and John Monaghan.
Erris group Pobal le Chéile, which represents business interests in the area, was represented by four delegates, including former Air Corps pilot and adventure sports company director Ciarán Ó Murchú and fisherman Anthony Irwin.
Fr Nallen was one of three priests who proposed a compromise location for the Corrib gas terminal at Glinsk, which has been rejected by Shell.
Both community groups support Fr Nallen’s compromise, while Shell to Sea is still holding out for an offshore terminal.
Shell to Sea was not invited to participate, according to its spokesman, Naoise Ó Mongáin, who staged a picket outside yesterday’s discussions at Mespil Road.
“Even if we were invited, we would not talk to Shell, while Maura Harrington is in Mountjoy Jail,” Mr Ó Mongáin said.
Harrington, his wife, was imprisoned for 28 days by Judge Mary Devins at Belmullet District Court earlier this month for an assault on a garda.
Mr Brosnan and the Ministers have said that the discussions will have an “open agenda” – the first time that the State has not tried to confine resolution attempts to particular terms of reference.
Shell EP Ireland has said it welcomes the opportunity to “participate in a positive and open manner in these talks”.
Pobal Chill Chomáin and Pobal le Chéile said they had agreed to accept the invitation from the Ministers “in an effort to resolve the issues that have plagued the Corrib gas project since its initiation in 2000”.
An Bord Pleanála is still in the early stages of assessing Shell’s revised plans for a modified pipeline route, and for planning approval for the critical beach valve station at Glengad.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has already indicated that it will initiate separate mediation on the issue between Shell and Pobal Chill Chomáin, following confirmation that a complaint lodged by the north Mayo community is “admissible”.
Shell EP Ireland said in a statement last night it was “very glad to have had the opportunity to meet today with the groups who oppose the project” and the discussions were “open, frank and constructive”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The talks, involving three members of the Rossport Five, were described last night as “full and frank” in a joint statement issued afterwards by Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan and Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív.
“Core issues were discussed, and it was agreed to give some time for all parties to reflect,” the Ministers said. They were “hopeful that there will be a follow-up meeting as soon as possible”.
The session, chaired by former Department of Justice secretary general Joe Brosnan, was held at Mr Ó Cuív’s department headquarters in Mespil Road, Dublin.
It represented the first direct talks between Rossport Five members and Shell since the five were jailed for 94 days in 2005 over their opposition to the routing of the high-pressure Corrib gas onshore pipeline.
Shell was represented by John Gallagher, vice-president (technical) of Shell EP Europe, and Terry Nolan, Shell EP Ireland managing director.
When a third Shell nominee was unable to travel, attempts to nominate substitutes, including Shell EP Ireland director John Egan, were overruled by the Erris community delegation before discussions began.
The Mayo delegation included Rossport Five members Micheál Ó Seighin, Vincent McGrath and Willie Corduff of Pobal Chill Chomáin community group, along with Fr Michael Nallen, Mary Corduff and John Monaghan.
Erris group Pobal le Chéile, which represents business interests in the area, was represented by four delegates, including former Air Corps pilot and adventure sports company director Ciarán Ó Murchú and fisherman Anthony Irwin.
Fr Nallen was one of three priests who proposed a compromise location for the Corrib gas terminal at Glinsk, which has been rejected by Shell.
Both community groups support Fr Nallen’s compromise, while Shell to Sea is still holding out for an offshore terminal.
Shell to Sea was not invited to participate, according to its spokesman, Naoise Ó Mongáin, who staged a picket outside yesterday’s discussions at Mespil Road.
“Even if we were invited, we would not talk to Shell, while Maura Harrington is in Mountjoy Jail,” Mr Ó Mongáin said.
Harrington, his wife, was imprisoned for 28 days by Judge Mary Devins at Belmullet District Court earlier this month for an assault on a garda.
Mr Brosnan and the Ministers have said that the discussions will have an “open agenda” – the first time that the State has not tried to confine resolution attempts to particular terms of reference.
Shell EP Ireland has said it welcomes the opportunity to “participate in a positive and open manner in these talks”.
Pobal Chill Chomáin and Pobal le Chéile said they had agreed to accept the invitation from the Ministers “in an effort to resolve the issues that have plagued the Corrib gas project since its initiation in 2000”.
An Bord Pleanála is still in the early stages of assessing Shell’s revised plans for a modified pipeline route, and for planning approval for the critical beach valve station at Glengad.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has already indicated that it will initiate separate mediation on the issue between Shell and Pobal Chill Chomáin, following confirmation that a complaint lodged by the north Mayo community is “admissible”.
Shell EP Ireland said in a statement last night it was “very glad to have had the opportunity to meet today with the groups who oppose the project” and the discussions were “open, frank and constructive”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Payments to councillors
BACK IN 2002, when the Exchequer was awash with money, the Government introduced a “representative payment” of €16,600 a year for local councillors. It wasn’t a great deal of money. The payment – and a related retirement bonus – was designed to bring new blood into local politics and to mark an end to Oireachtas members holding council seats.
But it also signalled a transition from the concept of the volunteer local representative who engaged in politics for altruistic purposes to a paid representative. Since then, the impetus towards salaried, full-time local politicians has gathered pace. It is time for a public debate on the issues involved.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley is in the process of preparing a White Paper on local government reform. Among the submissions he has received is one from existing councillors who are seeking scaled-back Oireachtas pay and conditions. They want salaries of at least €50,000 a year and State pensions as well as office accommodation, secretarial assistance and financial resources. They believe there should be special payments for mayors and for the chairmen of strategic committees.
It has always been accepted that local councillors should not be out of pocket for carrying out their duties. They receive various allowances and payments. In 2007, the cost of representation by our 883 councillors amounted to €29 million. The average sum received by an individual, including the representative payment, was in excess of €33,000. The highest-earning councillor received €80,000.
Most councillors do not become involved in community affairs because of the money. Some individuals see local politics as a path towards Leinster House. Others are happy for the status it offers and for an opportunity to contribute to their communities. But a handful, as various tribunals have found, abuse the system and engage in corrupt planning practices and improper land rezoning. Paying councillors to become professional politicians would not necessarily change that pattern or improve the quality of local representation.
Whatever about formal payments, anecdotal evidence and official concern would suggest that the allowances and expenses systems are being abused and need to be changed. With local elections less than three months away and a White Paper being prepared, candidates and the electorate deserve clear guidance about future pay and conditions.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
But it also signalled a transition from the concept of the volunteer local representative who engaged in politics for altruistic purposes to a paid representative. Since then, the impetus towards salaried, full-time local politicians has gathered pace. It is time for a public debate on the issues involved.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley is in the process of preparing a White Paper on local government reform. Among the submissions he has received is one from existing councillors who are seeking scaled-back Oireachtas pay and conditions. They want salaries of at least €50,000 a year and State pensions as well as office accommodation, secretarial assistance and financial resources. They believe there should be special payments for mayors and for the chairmen of strategic committees.
It has always been accepted that local councillors should not be out of pocket for carrying out their duties. They receive various allowances and payments. In 2007, the cost of representation by our 883 councillors amounted to €29 million. The average sum received by an individual, including the representative payment, was in excess of €33,000. The highest-earning councillor received €80,000.
Most councillors do not become involved in community affairs because of the money. Some individuals see local politics as a path towards Leinster House. Others are happy for the status it offers and for an opportunity to contribute to their communities. But a handful, as various tribunals have found, abuse the system and engage in corrupt planning practices and improper land rezoning. Paying councillors to become professional politicians would not necessarily change that pattern or improve the quality of local representation.
Whatever about formal payments, anecdotal evidence and official concern would suggest that the allowances and expenses systems are being abused and need to be changed. With local elections less than three months away and a White Paper being prepared, candidates and the electorate deserve clear guidance about future pay and conditions.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Work set to start on Galway's €4m arthouse cinema
GALWAY CITY Council’s planned “cultural quarter” has taken a step forward with confirmation that construction is due to start shortly on a €4 million arthouse cinema.
The 350-seat cinema is being developed on Merchant’s Road, close to the docks. The project has been initiated in partnership with Solas, comprising Galway Film Society, Galway Film Fleadh, Galway Film Centre and Galway Arts Centre.
Initial works will begin next month and construction is due to begin in June just after the departure of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Three cinemas are incorporated in the design – a 176-seater at basement level, a 77-seater on the second floor and a 105-seater on the third floor including 28 seats on the balcony.
The cinemas, equipped for 35mm and digital projection, will screen films of the “widest cultural diversity and will offer programmes that are innovative in form and challenging in content,” the city council says.
“Programmes will include Irish-made films, films in the Irish language, European and independent feature films, documentaries, animation, classic films as well as thematic, archival and retrospective cinema. Special emphasis will be given to educational screenings and matinee opportunities for diverse audiences,” it says.
The development includes a cafe and a bar area, a book and DVD shop and an online archive link to the National Film Archive and “specialist online cinema resources”, the council says.
The project was earmarked in the current city development plan which recognised a “deficit of culture and arts infrastructure in the city”. The authority has acquired additional property in the area as part of its “cultural quarter” plans, incorporating the new cinema and the existing city museum.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The 350-seat cinema is being developed on Merchant’s Road, close to the docks. The project has been initiated in partnership with Solas, comprising Galway Film Society, Galway Film Fleadh, Galway Film Centre and Galway Arts Centre.
Initial works will begin next month and construction is due to begin in June just after the departure of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Three cinemas are incorporated in the design – a 176-seater at basement level, a 77-seater on the second floor and a 105-seater on the third floor including 28 seats on the balcony.
The cinemas, equipped for 35mm and digital projection, will screen films of the “widest cultural diversity and will offer programmes that are innovative in form and challenging in content,” the city council says.
“Programmes will include Irish-made films, films in the Irish language, European and independent feature films, documentaries, animation, classic films as well as thematic, archival and retrospective cinema. Special emphasis will be given to educational screenings and matinee opportunities for diverse audiences,” it says.
The development includes a cafe and a bar area, a book and DVD shop and an online archive link to the National Film Archive and “specialist online cinema resources”, the council says.
The project was earmarked in the current city development plan which recognised a “deficit of culture and arts infrastructure in the city”. The authority has acquired additional property in the area as part of its “cultural quarter” plans, incorporating the new cinema and the existing city museum.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Government halts up to 80 major road schemes
THE GOVERNMENT has ordered a halt to planned spending on almost 80 national road-building schemes, worth billions of euro, until further notice.
The instruction was issued to the National Roads Authority late last month. Under it, the NRA is forbidden from spending on all capital projects which are not already under way, unless each new project is individually sanctioned by the Department of Finance.
The curbs will affect 78 major construction projects in the NRA Roads Programme, 55 of them national primary roads and 23 national secondary roads.
The curb will also extend to road maintenance where contracts for items such as road resurfacing will also need to be pre-approved by the Department of Finance.
A spokesman for the NRA said the authority was “very concerned”, particularly as a lot of current inter-urban schemes were ahead of schedule, and would be completed this year.
Under normal circumstances the NRA would then move ahead with 55 planned improvement schemes on national primary routes, including those linking Dublin with Monaghan, Sligo, Mayo and Wexford, as well as inter-regional routes, such as Limerick to Waterford and Limerick to Cork, and national secondary roads.
In effect the move means that as the inter-urban routes are completed over the coming 20 months, the NRA will gradually run out of work, unless schemes are individually approved by the department.
The department confirmed yesterday that all new capital projects now need to be pre-approved. A spokesman acknowledged that this new requirement had been imposed “in the light of changing economic circumstances”.
The only exception to the Government’s edict is to be the 6km Castleisland bypass in Co Kerry, sanctioned by the Department of Finance on March 19th.
Credit for the sanction was yesterday claimed by the Independent Kerry TD Jackie Healy Rae, who said he had used his position as a Government supporter to “at all times put the interest of the people [of Kerry] first”. He said the Opposition should “stop trying to jeopardise the further items that I have an agreement on”.
The instruction to the NRA mirrors that issued to local authorities ordering them to halt €500 million worth of work on regional and local roads, pending approval of each scheme from the department.
The Construction Industry Federation met Department of the Taoiseach secretary general Dermot McCarthy in recent weeks to express its concern at the Government’s instruction.
The federation said the halt in spending was “right across the board in relation to the National Development Plan commitments on water, housing and roads”. In relation to the roads it said the instruction was “absolutely savage”.
“At our emergency meeting with Dermot McCarthy we pointed out that every €100 million invested in infrastructure carried with it 1,000 jobs and returned €50 million to the Government in taxes and reduced social welfare payments . . . it is a major bone of contention,” federation spokesman Martin Whelan said.
The inter-urban motorway programme that was announced by the Government in 1999 comprised motorways to the Border and the regional cities of Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford.
Road schemes affected
Two schemes between Kells, Co Meath and Belturbet, Co Cavan on the N3
Three schemes on the N2 between Ashbourne and Co Monaghan
Three schemes on the N4 between Mullingar and Castlebaldwin
Three schemes on the N16 in counties Sligo, Leitrim and Cavan
Four schemes between Longford and Westport on the N5
Six schemes on the N25 between New Ross, Co Wexford and the Cork Southern Ring
Four schemes on the N13/N14/N15 group of roads in the northwest
Five schemes on the N22 between Tralee and Cork
Seven schemes on the N24 in Co Tipperary
23 schemes on national secondary roads.
These schemes will not now go ahead unless specifically sanctioned by the Department of Finance.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The instruction was issued to the National Roads Authority late last month. Under it, the NRA is forbidden from spending on all capital projects which are not already under way, unless each new project is individually sanctioned by the Department of Finance.
The curbs will affect 78 major construction projects in the NRA Roads Programme, 55 of them national primary roads and 23 national secondary roads.
The curb will also extend to road maintenance where contracts for items such as road resurfacing will also need to be pre-approved by the Department of Finance.
A spokesman for the NRA said the authority was “very concerned”, particularly as a lot of current inter-urban schemes were ahead of schedule, and would be completed this year.
Under normal circumstances the NRA would then move ahead with 55 planned improvement schemes on national primary routes, including those linking Dublin with Monaghan, Sligo, Mayo and Wexford, as well as inter-regional routes, such as Limerick to Waterford and Limerick to Cork, and national secondary roads.
In effect the move means that as the inter-urban routes are completed over the coming 20 months, the NRA will gradually run out of work, unless schemes are individually approved by the department.
The department confirmed yesterday that all new capital projects now need to be pre-approved. A spokesman acknowledged that this new requirement had been imposed “in the light of changing economic circumstances”.
The only exception to the Government’s edict is to be the 6km Castleisland bypass in Co Kerry, sanctioned by the Department of Finance on March 19th.
Credit for the sanction was yesterday claimed by the Independent Kerry TD Jackie Healy Rae, who said he had used his position as a Government supporter to “at all times put the interest of the people [of Kerry] first”. He said the Opposition should “stop trying to jeopardise the further items that I have an agreement on”.
The instruction to the NRA mirrors that issued to local authorities ordering them to halt €500 million worth of work on regional and local roads, pending approval of each scheme from the department.
The Construction Industry Federation met Department of the Taoiseach secretary general Dermot McCarthy in recent weeks to express its concern at the Government’s instruction.
The federation said the halt in spending was “right across the board in relation to the National Development Plan commitments on water, housing and roads”. In relation to the roads it said the instruction was “absolutely savage”.
“At our emergency meeting with Dermot McCarthy we pointed out that every €100 million invested in infrastructure carried with it 1,000 jobs and returned €50 million to the Government in taxes and reduced social welfare payments . . . it is a major bone of contention,” federation spokesman Martin Whelan said.
The inter-urban motorway programme that was announced by the Government in 1999 comprised motorways to the Border and the regional cities of Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford.
Road schemes affected
Two schemes between Kells, Co Meath and Belturbet, Co Cavan on the N3
Three schemes on the N2 between Ashbourne and Co Monaghan
Three schemes on the N4 between Mullingar and Castlebaldwin
Three schemes on the N16 in counties Sligo, Leitrim and Cavan
Four schemes between Longford and Westport on the N5
Six schemes on the N25 between New Ross, Co Wexford and the Cork Southern Ring
Four schemes on the N13/N14/N15 group of roads in the northwest
Five schemes on the N22 between Tralee and Cork
Seven schemes on the N24 in Co Tipperary
23 schemes on national secondary roads.
These schemes will not now go ahead unless specifically sanctioned by the Department of Finance.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 20 March 2009
Ireland is among EU's highest waste producers
IRISH people are among the highest generators of household waste in the EU, producing over 50pc more than our European neighbours, writes Paul Melia.
The average citizen in Ireland produces 786kgs of rubbish -- about 10 full wheelie bins per person -- far in excess of the 522kg EU average.
But we have one of the highest recycling rates, with new figures from the European Commission showing that 34pc of all waste is re-used here. We compost just 2pc of all household waste, and landfill 64pc.
The least amount of waste per person was generated in Romania, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The average citizen in Ireland produces 786kgs of rubbish -- about 10 full wheelie bins per person -- far in excess of the 522kg EU average.
But we have one of the highest recycling rates, with new figures from the European Commission showing that 34pc of all waste is re-used here. We compost just 2pc of all household waste, and landfill 64pc.
The least amount of waste per person was generated in Romania, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
‘Killarney our Vegas’ as 15th bookie’s gets go-ahead
With a population of just 15,000, the Kerry town is about to get its 15th betting shop. And local town council policy on betting shops was disregarded as An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for a new outlet.
Many locals have compared the tourist haven to Las Vegas due to the proliferation of gambling facilities. Local business couple Pat and Eileen Sheahan have been granted planning to convert existing ground floor retail space into a betting shop.
It is understood Boylesports — which also has another outlet in Killarney — will be moving into the premises. There are currently 14 betting offices in Killarney, according to the town council. In its new draft development plan, the council says its policy is not to give planning permission for betting offices.
But board inspector Bob Gunkel said as the draft plan had not yet been adopted, it could be changed in its final version and he would be reluctant to base a recommendation on a draft document.
The Sheahan-owned premises is in Michael Collins Place, close to the town centre. James and Shelley O’Neill, owners of Fairview guesthouse which adjoins the premises, objected to the planning decision, claiming there had been a huge increase in betting offices in the town and the development would have an adverse visual impact on the streetscape. The Sheahans had sold the first floor to Mr and Mrs O’Neill.
Mr Gunkel, however, found the building met all regulations on noise and said the closing hours would prevent any adverse impact on patrons of the guesthouse.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Many locals have compared the tourist haven to Las Vegas due to the proliferation of gambling facilities. Local business couple Pat and Eileen Sheahan have been granted planning to convert existing ground floor retail space into a betting shop.
It is understood Boylesports — which also has another outlet in Killarney — will be moving into the premises. There are currently 14 betting offices in Killarney, according to the town council. In its new draft development plan, the council says its policy is not to give planning permission for betting offices.
But board inspector Bob Gunkel said as the draft plan had not yet been adopted, it could be changed in its final version and he would be reluctant to base a recommendation on a draft document.
The Sheahan-owned premises is in Michael Collins Place, close to the town centre. James and Shelley O’Neill, owners of Fairview guesthouse which adjoins the premises, objected to the planning decision, claiming there had been a huge increase in betting offices in the town and the development would have an adverse visual impact on the streetscape. The Sheahans had sold the first floor to Mr and Mrs O’Neill.
Mr Gunkel, however, found the building met all regulations on noise and said the closing hours would prevent any adverse impact on patrons of the guesthouse.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
€35m Midleton road boasts top pedestrian safety features
THE visually-impaired and those with mobility problems should find Ireland’s newest road the safest to cross.
The €35 million northern relief road in Midleton, Co Cork, was opened to traffic yesterday and comes with some unique safety features that will particularly benefit pedestrians.
Visually-impaired people can press pedestrian push button units that will tell them about the number of lanes ahead and inform them of the direction of oncoming traffic.
Meanwhile, dimples or "blisters" on colour-coded tactile paving are aligned to guide them directly to the other side.
"In a suburban environment like this, they are top of our priority list and the cars come at the bottom in terms of road users that we are facilitating," said Cork County Council senior engineer, John Lapthorne.
For people in wheelchairs or those pushing buggies, there is a smooth, low-gradient surface between the path and the road at crossing points.
Dedicated cycle lanes, which are segregated from the main traffic, run along each side of the road.
The high cost of the 1.6km road reflected the price of land in urban areas.
The cost of acquiring the land was double that of the construction costs.
Part of the reason the road was developed was to allow easy access to the railway station in town, which will be opened later this year to coincide with the re-opening of the Cork-Midleton commuter rail service.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The €35 million northern relief road in Midleton, Co Cork, was opened to traffic yesterday and comes with some unique safety features that will particularly benefit pedestrians.
Visually-impaired people can press pedestrian push button units that will tell them about the number of lanes ahead and inform them of the direction of oncoming traffic.
Meanwhile, dimples or "blisters" on colour-coded tactile paving are aligned to guide them directly to the other side.
"In a suburban environment like this, they are top of our priority list and the cars come at the bottom in terms of road users that we are facilitating," said Cork County Council senior engineer, John Lapthorne.
For people in wheelchairs or those pushing buggies, there is a smooth, low-gradient surface between the path and the road at crossing points.
Dedicated cycle lanes, which are segregated from the main traffic, run along each side of the road.
The high cost of the 1.6km road reflected the price of land in urban areas.
The cost of acquiring the land was double that of the construction costs.
Part of the reason the road was developed was to allow easy access to the railway station in town, which will be opened later this year to coincide with the re-opening of the Cork-Midleton commuter rail service.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Cuts must not affect water monitoring
TWO YEARS after the alert was raised over serious contamination of Galway’s drinking water, a US expert has warned that public health monitoring of the water supply must not become a victim of Government cutbacks.
Dr Jon MacDonagh-Dumler, who has studied the impact of the cryptosporidium contamination which claimed over 100 lives in Milwaukee 16 years ago, said that drinking-water monitoring must remain “high on the priority list”.
If Ireland is to learn from mistakes made in the US, communication with the public on water quality issues is also imperative, he said.
While there were no fatalities in Galway’s cryptosporidium contamination two years ago, a small number of people still have chronic illness associated with it and city residents continue to express concern about lead contamination detected last year.
“The US is still not where it should be on this issue, in spite of the fact that the Milwaukee contamination in the Great Lakes area of 1993 is still the worst public health incident on record,” Dr MacDonagh-Dumler said.
He is based at NUI Galway on a Fulbright scholarship, where he is studying the implementation and likely impact here of the EU water framework directive.
The EU directive is an “innovative” piece of legislation on a “world scale”, which has great potential to improve water quality management – depending on how it is implemented in EU member states, he said.
The directive combines the regulations of 11 existing major EU directives in one management scheme.
Ireland and other member states must implement the first water management plan by the end of this year, and the deadline for public comments on draft river basin management plans is in June.
The directive allows for stakeholder involvement by the public, and public participation and education needs to be a priority here, he said. “Water quality is affected in so many ways by human activity that it only makes sense to get people involved in decision making,” he said.
Residents of one Galway suburb where lead was recorded at elevated levels last year fear that they may have to pay out over €370,00 in total to secure a safe domestic water supply.
For the past six months, residents of 251 homes in Old Mervue have been forced to draw water from a communal tank in their housing estate or use bottled water after tests revealed high lead levels in their water supply.
At a specially convened meeting for local residents, Anne Egan of Mervue Residents’ Association said that each household could be facing an average bill of €1,500 to connect up to a new piping system. The local authority is not required legally to provide a connection between the stopcock and domestic taps.
The residents have decided to seek their own legal opinion, and they have also voted in favour of commissioning an independent engineering report on the issue.
Work to replace the distribution main in Old Mervue is already under way and is due to be completed by September.
The Mervue Rapid group, which is involved in community initiatives, said that residents had a right to clean water. “We are worried many young couples in the area with mortgages, as well as the elderly, can’t afford this cost.”
Robert Pierce was at the meeting on behalf of his 84-year-old mother Lil, who lives in one of the affected homes.
“They are going to put good water past the house, and then make us pay for it. This can’t be right. We should take this to the European Court of Human Rights,” Mr Pierce said.
Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) supported the residents’ action, while Cllr Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green) said that “we need as a city to deal with this problem [and] sit down with the council and get a plan in place”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Dr Jon MacDonagh-Dumler, who has studied the impact of the cryptosporidium contamination which claimed over 100 lives in Milwaukee 16 years ago, said that drinking-water monitoring must remain “high on the priority list”.
If Ireland is to learn from mistakes made in the US, communication with the public on water quality issues is also imperative, he said.
While there were no fatalities in Galway’s cryptosporidium contamination two years ago, a small number of people still have chronic illness associated with it and city residents continue to express concern about lead contamination detected last year.
“The US is still not where it should be on this issue, in spite of the fact that the Milwaukee contamination in the Great Lakes area of 1993 is still the worst public health incident on record,” Dr MacDonagh-Dumler said.
He is based at NUI Galway on a Fulbright scholarship, where he is studying the implementation and likely impact here of the EU water framework directive.
The EU directive is an “innovative” piece of legislation on a “world scale”, which has great potential to improve water quality management – depending on how it is implemented in EU member states, he said.
The directive combines the regulations of 11 existing major EU directives in one management scheme.
Ireland and other member states must implement the first water management plan by the end of this year, and the deadline for public comments on draft river basin management plans is in June.
The directive allows for stakeholder involvement by the public, and public participation and education needs to be a priority here, he said. “Water quality is affected in so many ways by human activity that it only makes sense to get people involved in decision making,” he said.
Residents of one Galway suburb where lead was recorded at elevated levels last year fear that they may have to pay out over €370,00 in total to secure a safe domestic water supply.
For the past six months, residents of 251 homes in Old Mervue have been forced to draw water from a communal tank in their housing estate or use bottled water after tests revealed high lead levels in their water supply.
At a specially convened meeting for local residents, Anne Egan of Mervue Residents’ Association said that each household could be facing an average bill of €1,500 to connect up to a new piping system. The local authority is not required legally to provide a connection between the stopcock and domestic taps.
The residents have decided to seek their own legal opinion, and they have also voted in favour of commissioning an independent engineering report on the issue.
Work to replace the distribution main in Old Mervue is already under way and is due to be completed by September.
The Mervue Rapid group, which is involved in community initiatives, said that residents had a right to clean water. “We are worried many young couples in the area with mortgages, as well as the elderly, can’t afford this cost.”
Robert Pierce was at the meeting on behalf of his 84-year-old mother Lil, who lives in one of the affected homes.
“They are going to put good water past the house, and then make us pay for it. This can’t be right. We should take this to the European Court of Human Rights,” Mr Pierce said.
Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) supported the residents’ action, while Cllr Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green) said that “we need as a city to deal with this problem [and] sit down with the council and get a plan in place”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Developer says €300m Dún Laoghaire scheme to go ahead
COSGRAVE DEVELOPMENTS says it plans to proceed with developing the former Dún Laoghaire golf course grounds, despite rumours that the €300 million development could be mothballed until economic conditions improve.
Last June the company got planning permission from An Bord Pleanála for the southern portion of the site at Glenageary Road Upper and Kill Avenue to build 856 residential units consisting of apartments and houses, offices, and retail units, as well as an eight-acre park with a lake. A spokesman for Cosgrave Developments says the company is working through compliance with the 58 planning conditions imposed by the planning board and says it hopes to announce that it is ready to start work on the site “in a couple of weeks”. “When we are through the compliance process we will be deciding on when and how.”
The council was unable to comment in time for this article on how long it envisages compliance will take on the site. The board granted planning permission subject to 58 conditions, including payment of a levy charge to provide a bus service that will link the development with Dún Laoghaire Dart station.
Cosgrave bought the 78-acre golf club site for €20 million plus a 27-hole course at Ballyman Glen near Enniskerry, from the club’s members in 2002. Another planning application to build 577 apartments, 28 houses and a crèche on the northern part of the 78-acre site off Glenageary Road Upper and Eglinton Park is still in the planning process. The land in question was controversially rezoned in 2004 after the then minister for the environment, Martin Cullen, used his powers under the 2000 Planning Act to issue a statutory directive to the council to rezone more land in the area to provide extra housing.
Ken MacDonald of Hooke MacDonald, the appointed agent for the residential element of the golf club lands scheme, says as far as he is aware the scheme is set to go ahead as soon as planning issues are resolved.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Last June the company got planning permission from An Bord Pleanála for the southern portion of the site at Glenageary Road Upper and Kill Avenue to build 856 residential units consisting of apartments and houses, offices, and retail units, as well as an eight-acre park with a lake. A spokesman for Cosgrave Developments says the company is working through compliance with the 58 planning conditions imposed by the planning board and says it hopes to announce that it is ready to start work on the site “in a couple of weeks”. “When we are through the compliance process we will be deciding on when and how.”
The council was unable to comment in time for this article on how long it envisages compliance will take on the site. The board granted planning permission subject to 58 conditions, including payment of a levy charge to provide a bus service that will link the development with Dún Laoghaire Dart station.
Cosgrave bought the 78-acre golf club site for €20 million plus a 27-hole course at Ballyman Glen near Enniskerry, from the club’s members in 2002. Another planning application to build 577 apartments, 28 houses and a crèche on the northern part of the 78-acre site off Glenageary Road Upper and Eglinton Park is still in the planning process. The land in question was controversially rezoned in 2004 after the then minister for the environment, Martin Cullen, used his powers under the 2000 Planning Act to issue a statutory directive to the council to rezone more land in the area to provide extra housing.
Ken MacDonald of Hooke MacDonald, the appointed agent for the residential element of the golf club lands scheme, says as far as he is aware the scheme is set to go ahead as soon as planning issues are resolved.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Ministers hold talks on Corrib gas
THREE MEMBERS of the “Rossport Five” are due to meet senior Shell executives and two Government Ministers in Dublin today in a bid to resolve health and safety issues related to the Corrib gas project.
The negotiations, chaired by former Department of Justice secretary-general Joe Brosnan, represent the first direct talks between “Rossport Five” members and Shell since the five men were jailed for 94 days in 2005 over their opposition to the routing of the Corrib gas onshore pipeline.
Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan and Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív will discuss the issues with three senior Shell executives – including John Gallagher, a vice-president of Shell Europe, and Terry Nolan, Shell EP Ireland managing director – and 10 Erris community representatives.
The Mayo delegation includes “Rossport Five” members Micheál Ó Seighin, Vincent McGrath and Willie Corduff of Pobal Chill Chomáin community group. Pobal Chill Chomáin will also be represented by Fr Michael Nallen, who proposed a compromise location for the Corrib gas terminal, Mary Corduff and John Monaghan.
The Erris group Pobal le Chéile, which represents business interests in the area, will also participate with its four delegates, including former Air Corps pilot Ciarán Ó Murchú and fisherman Anthony Irwin.
The discussions will have an “open agenda” for the first time in the State’s involvement in the dispute. Both Pobal Chill Chomáin and Pobal le Chéile have so far declined to participate in the ministerial forum, established by Mr Ryan and Mr Ó Cuív late last year and chaired by Mr Brosnan, because of restricted terms of reference. Mr Brosnan said yesterday he hoped the talks would be successful.
In a joint statement, the two Ministers said “the aim of this meeting is to try to resolve issues in relation to the Corrib gas project”.
The Ministers said they hoped all parties would “enter the talks in a positive and open manner”, and “have agreed that the meeting will be conducted in an even-handed way and that it will have an open agenda with no predetermined outcome”.
Shell EP Ireland said it welcomed the opportunity to “participate in a positive and open manner in these talks”.
Earlier this week, Shell’s exploration and production division head, Malcolm Brinded, was quoted by Bloomberg financial news agency as stating that the company would complete its natural gas pipelines this year.
However, An Bord Pleanála is still in the early stages of assessing Shell’s revised plans for a modified pipeline route, and for planning approval for the critical beach valve station at Glengad.
The board is still accepting submissions until April 7th, and the issue is expected to result in an oral hearing – with the earliest final decision date being August 10th.
The company postponed plans to lay its offshore pipeline last year due to several issues.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The negotiations, chaired by former Department of Justice secretary-general Joe Brosnan, represent the first direct talks between “Rossport Five” members and Shell since the five men were jailed for 94 days in 2005 over their opposition to the routing of the Corrib gas onshore pipeline.
Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan and Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív will discuss the issues with three senior Shell executives – including John Gallagher, a vice-president of Shell Europe, and Terry Nolan, Shell EP Ireland managing director – and 10 Erris community representatives.
The Mayo delegation includes “Rossport Five” members Micheál Ó Seighin, Vincent McGrath and Willie Corduff of Pobal Chill Chomáin community group. Pobal Chill Chomáin will also be represented by Fr Michael Nallen, who proposed a compromise location for the Corrib gas terminal, Mary Corduff and John Monaghan.
The Erris group Pobal le Chéile, which represents business interests in the area, will also participate with its four delegates, including former Air Corps pilot Ciarán Ó Murchú and fisherman Anthony Irwin.
The discussions will have an “open agenda” for the first time in the State’s involvement in the dispute. Both Pobal Chill Chomáin and Pobal le Chéile have so far declined to participate in the ministerial forum, established by Mr Ryan and Mr Ó Cuív late last year and chaired by Mr Brosnan, because of restricted terms of reference. Mr Brosnan said yesterday he hoped the talks would be successful.
In a joint statement, the two Ministers said “the aim of this meeting is to try to resolve issues in relation to the Corrib gas project”.
The Ministers said they hoped all parties would “enter the talks in a positive and open manner”, and “have agreed that the meeting will be conducted in an even-handed way and that it will have an open agenda with no predetermined outcome”.
Shell EP Ireland said it welcomed the opportunity to “participate in a positive and open manner in these talks”.
Earlier this week, Shell’s exploration and production division head, Malcolm Brinded, was quoted by Bloomberg financial news agency as stating that the company would complete its natural gas pipelines this year.
However, An Bord Pleanála is still in the early stages of assessing Shell’s revised plans for a modified pipeline route, and for planning approval for the critical beach valve station at Glengad.
The board is still accepting submissions until April 7th, and the issue is expected to result in an oral hearing – with the earliest final decision date being August 10th.
The company postponed plans to lay its offshore pipeline last year due to several issues.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 16 March 2009
€100m plan for station is on track
IARNROD Eireann is to press ahead with plans to build a €100m skyscraper to incorporate a new train station in the middle of Dublin, despite the economic downturn, writes Paul Melia.
And it says it is confident of finding a development partner to build a 10-storey, 60-metre-high office development at Tara Street, pictured right in this architect's illustration.
The rail company will apply this month for planning permission to build a €100m office block and new train station which will allow up to 14,500 passengers an hour to access the DART and other rail services.
One of the busiest stations on the network, Tara Street handles 25,000 passengers a day, or 20pc of all people using the network.
DART and commuter services will increase from 12 services per hour each way to 20 after the city centre resignalling project is completed.
The station will remain open during the construction period.
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
And it says it is confident of finding a development partner to build a 10-storey, 60-metre-high office development at Tara Street, pictured right in this architect's illustration.
The rail company will apply this month for planning permission to build a €100m office block and new train station which will allow up to 14,500 passengers an hour to access the DART and other rail services.
One of the busiest stations on the network, Tara Street handles 25,000 passengers a day, or 20pc of all people using the network.
DART and commuter services will increase from 12 services per hour each way to 20 after the city centre resignalling project is completed.
The station will remain open during the construction period.
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Calls to axe Metro North ‘short-sighted’
Any plans by the government to axe the Metro North would be ‘‘short-sighted’’, according to one of the consortiums bidding to build the 17-kilometre rail system.
In the first official comment from any of the four consortiums competing to build the project, Metro Express technical manager John Duffy criticised some commentators for giving ‘‘monopoly money’’ estimates on the cost of the project. He said that commentators and politicians were ‘‘making up figures about costs, when they actually have no idea about them’’. Estimates of the cost of the rail link between Dublin city centre, Dublin Airport and Swords have ranged between €3 billion and €6 billion.
The Metro Express consortium includes the Sisk construction company, Mercury Engineering, Transdev rail operators, AIB and the Macquarie Group bank.
Duffy said that, as far as the consortiums and the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) were concerned, the rail system is ‘‘definitely proceeding’’, despite pressures on the public finances. ‘‘There has never been a better time to build in recent years,” Duffy said.
‘‘The huge fact that seems to be lost is that, as a PPP (public private partnership) scheme, the consortium will pay for the first five years of construction, which is the general rule with these projects.
‘‘The government can also choose to pay this back over a 25-year period,” said Duffy. He added that Metro North would provide between 5,000 and 7,000 jobs, and the costs of materials and land had gone down, along with interest rates.
‘‘Cost savings on it have been the priority for all the consortiums. We have spent €10million on our bid, and Ireland’s international reputation for PPPs would be seriously affected if Metro North was axed,” Duffy told The Sunday Business Post. RPA spokesman Tom Manning said the agency was working ‘‘flat out’’ reviewing the bids.
‘‘This project will create up to 7,000 jobs, and we have calculated this will save €140 million out of the social welfare budget for unemployed construction workers, without taking into account their spend and income tax return,” he said.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
In the first official comment from any of the four consortiums competing to build the project, Metro Express technical manager John Duffy criticised some commentators for giving ‘‘monopoly money’’ estimates on the cost of the project. He said that commentators and politicians were ‘‘making up figures about costs, when they actually have no idea about them’’. Estimates of the cost of the rail link between Dublin city centre, Dublin Airport and Swords have ranged between €3 billion and €6 billion.
The Metro Express consortium includes the Sisk construction company, Mercury Engineering, Transdev rail operators, AIB and the Macquarie Group bank.
Duffy said that, as far as the consortiums and the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) were concerned, the rail system is ‘‘definitely proceeding’’, despite pressures on the public finances. ‘‘There has never been a better time to build in recent years,” Duffy said.
‘‘The huge fact that seems to be lost is that, as a PPP (public private partnership) scheme, the consortium will pay for the first five years of construction, which is the general rule with these projects.
‘‘The government can also choose to pay this back over a 25-year period,” said Duffy. He added that Metro North would provide between 5,000 and 7,000 jobs, and the costs of materials and land had gone down, along with interest rates.
‘‘Cost savings on it have been the priority for all the consortiums. We have spent €10million on our bid, and Ireland’s international reputation for PPPs would be seriously affected if Metro North was axed,” Duffy told The Sunday Business Post. RPA spokesman Tom Manning said the agency was working ‘‘flat out’’ reviewing the bids.
‘‘This project will create up to 7,000 jobs, and we have calculated this will save €140 million out of the social welfare budget for unemployed construction workers, without taking into account their spend and income tax return,” he said.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
Plans to knock down landmark Galway hotel
Businessman Gerry Barrett plans to demolish the Corrib Great Southern Hotel in Galway, just weeks after local controversy about the zoning of the hotel site.
A company called MD Merlin Developments, which is controlled by Barrett’s Edward Holdings, has sought permission to demolish the 175-bedroom, five-storey hotel. The hotel is on a site of 6.5 acres on the Dublin Road close to Galway city.
Barrett could not be contacted for comment last week, and it is not clear what he plans to do with the site if his application is successful. At a meeting of Galway city council last month, an independent councillor, Declan McDonnell, proposed that the hotel site be rezoned for commercial use, which could significantly increase its value.
The motion was supported by Labour Party councillor Tom Costello, but was opposed by the city manager, Joe McGrath. While McDonnell withdrew the proposal, the matter is likely to arise again next month when the Galway city development plan comes under review.
Barrett bought the Corrib hotel in 2006 when he paid a total of €140 million for it with the Great Southern hotels on Eyre Square in Galway and in Killarney in Kerry. He sold the Killarney hotel and rebranded the Eyre Square hotel as the Meyrick.
The value of the Corrib hotel was not disclosed at the time, but accounts for MD Merlin Developments show the firm has fixed assets valued at €36.9 million. The firm made an after-tax loss of €2.5 million in 2007, but said another group company, Talebury Properties, had agreed to provide it with financial support.
During 2007, MD Merlin Developments received €41.5 million from its parent company, KH Kitty Hall Holdings. It also had a bank loan of €9 million, which was secured on the assets of the firm and other group companies.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
A company called MD Merlin Developments, which is controlled by Barrett’s Edward Holdings, has sought permission to demolish the 175-bedroom, five-storey hotel. The hotel is on a site of 6.5 acres on the Dublin Road close to Galway city.
Barrett could not be contacted for comment last week, and it is not clear what he plans to do with the site if his application is successful. At a meeting of Galway city council last month, an independent councillor, Declan McDonnell, proposed that the hotel site be rezoned for commercial use, which could significantly increase its value.
The motion was supported by Labour Party councillor Tom Costello, but was opposed by the city manager, Joe McGrath. While McDonnell withdrew the proposal, the matter is likely to arise again next month when the Galway city development plan comes under review.
Barrett bought the Corrib hotel in 2006 when he paid a total of €140 million for it with the Great Southern hotels on Eyre Square in Galway and in Killarney in Kerry. He sold the Killarney hotel and rebranded the Eyre Square hotel as the Meyrick.
The value of the Corrib hotel was not disclosed at the time, but accounts for MD Merlin Developments show the firm has fixed assets valued at €36.9 million. The firm made an after-tax loss of €2.5 million in 2007, but said another group company, Talebury Properties, had agreed to provide it with financial support.
During 2007, MD Merlin Developments received €41.5 million from its parent company, KH Kitty Hall Holdings. It also had a bank loan of €9 million, which was secured on the assets of the firm and other group companies.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
Gormley wants independent valuations in state land deals
The minister will tell local authority managers that only in exceptional, justified circumstances should valuation reports not be obtained. ‘‘Having the benefit of considering professional, independent valuation reports should prove to be of assistance to councillors and help ensure best practice and transparency,” said the Green Party leader. ‘‘It also assures the public all efforts are made to maximise the price for land.”
The move was welcomed by Vincent P Martin, a Green Party councillor in Monaghan, in dispute with Monaghan County Council over procedures adopted for the sale of two local sites by private treaty. Martin had raised questions with the council about the sale of industrial and commercial sites at the Convent Lands in Carrickmacross.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
The move was welcomed by Vincent P Martin, a Green Party councillor in Monaghan, in dispute with Monaghan County Council over procedures adopted for the sale of two local sites by private treaty. Martin had raised questions with the council about the sale of industrial and commercial sites at the Convent Lands in Carrickmacross.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
Clontarf and Lad Lane planning sagas to rumble on
IN ONE of the city’s longest running planning sagas, developer Mark Piggott has got permission from the council to knock Clontarf’s Redcourt House – “fire gutted and derelict says Piggott – for a scheme of 59 apartments.
The Victorian property hit the headlines last year when the burned remains of a man were found after a fire in the house. In January Piggott got permission to convert the house into four apartments and build a five-storey 33-unit apartment block and nine townhouses on the site. In the wake of the fire Piggott submitted an alternative application seeking permission to knock the house and build a new house containing five apartments as well as a five-storey 54-unit apartment building.
The house on 1.65 acres has been at the centre of a planning dispute in recent years. While Piggott bought the house in 2004 for €7.5m, there are planning files for the house dating to 1980.
Piggott’s original plan to knock the house for 54 apartments was rejected by the council and An Bord Pleanála. Although the developer succeeded in stopping the house being listed, the board said it was an intrinsic element of the site.
Meanwhile, another planning saga was simmering away this week. Developers Clondean Ltd – made up of Mark Sloan, Francis Rhatigan and Christopher Jones – were thwarted in their plans to add two more storeys to their proposed apartment scheme at the former OPW site at Lad Lane, D2. An Bord Pleanála ruled that the additional two storeys would be contrary to proper planning. Expect appeals and renewed applications!
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The Victorian property hit the headlines last year when the burned remains of a man were found after a fire in the house. In January Piggott got permission to convert the house into four apartments and build a five-storey 33-unit apartment block and nine townhouses on the site. In the wake of the fire Piggott submitted an alternative application seeking permission to knock the house and build a new house containing five apartments as well as a five-storey 54-unit apartment building.
The house on 1.65 acres has been at the centre of a planning dispute in recent years. While Piggott bought the house in 2004 for €7.5m, there are planning files for the house dating to 1980.
Piggott’s original plan to knock the house for 54 apartments was rejected by the council and An Bord Pleanála. Although the developer succeeded in stopping the house being listed, the board said it was an intrinsic element of the site.
Meanwhile, another planning saga was simmering away this week. Developers Clondean Ltd – made up of Mark Sloan, Francis Rhatigan and Christopher Jones – were thwarted in their plans to add two more storeys to their proposed apartment scheme at the former OPW site at Lad Lane, D2. An Bord Pleanála ruled that the additional two storeys would be contrary to proper planning. Expect appeals and renewed applications!
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Indoor ski resort given the cold shoulder
PLANNING: PLANS FOR a €100 million indoor ski resort and extreme sports centre in Tyrrelstown, Co Dublin have been given the cold shoulder by planners at Fingal County Council.
Dubbed “Snowtopia” by its promoters, the plans features two indoor ski slopes, Ireland’s first indoor ice-climbing area, a separate rock-climbing facility, as well as shops, paintball centre, cafés, restaurants and a cinema.
Refusing permission, planners at Fingal County Council said the ski resort would be “prejudicial” to the possible future expansion of a neighbouring pharmaceutical company.
The scheme’s cinema, according to planners, would also adversely impact on a cinema in the Blanchardstown centre.
Planners also stated that the scheme would lead to the creation of an unsustainable car-dependent development.
Expressing disappointment at the decision, developer Rick Larkin of Twinlite has vowed to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála.
Twinlite, responsible for the 2,000-unit Tyrrelstown scheme in north Dublin, had hoped to open the centre in the winter of 2010. They say the scheme will provide employment for over 1,000 people.
The main objectors to the scheme were the IDA, Bristol-Myers Squibb pharmaceutical company, and UCI Cinemas who operate a facility in Blanchardstown.
When the scheme was first unveiled last December Twinlite said it expected up to 1.5 million visitors a year to the development.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Dubbed “Snowtopia” by its promoters, the plans features two indoor ski slopes, Ireland’s first indoor ice-climbing area, a separate rock-climbing facility, as well as shops, paintball centre, cafés, restaurants and a cinema.
Refusing permission, planners at Fingal County Council said the ski resort would be “prejudicial” to the possible future expansion of a neighbouring pharmaceutical company.
The scheme’s cinema, according to planners, would also adversely impact on a cinema in the Blanchardstown centre.
Planners also stated that the scheme would lead to the creation of an unsustainable car-dependent development.
Expressing disappointment at the decision, developer Rick Larkin of Twinlite has vowed to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála.
Twinlite, responsible for the 2,000-unit Tyrrelstown scheme in north Dublin, had hoped to open the centre in the winter of 2010. They say the scheme will provide employment for over 1,000 people.
The main objectors to the scheme were the IDA, Bristol-Myers Squibb pharmaceutical company, and UCI Cinemas who operate a facility in Blanchardstown.
When the scheme was first unveiled last December Twinlite said it expected up to 1.5 million visitors a year to the development.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Judge says integrity of planning process a 'vital national interest'
A HIGH Court judge has said the courts should never lose sight of the fact that the integrity of the planning process is a “vital national interest”.
Bad planning decisions “sentence generations to live with the consequences” and, in interpreting the planning legislation, the courts should never lose sight of the overarching national interest in the integrity of the planning process, Mr Justice John Hedigan said.
He made the remarks in a judgment yesterday rejecting an application by two builders aimed at requiring Clare County Council to grant them default permission for a proposed development of two houses on a site at Dough, Liscannor Road, Lahinch.
Martin and Michael Ryan, developers based in Limerick city, had applied to the council in May 2007 for planning permission to demolish an existing house on the Dough site and construct two two-storey houses, plus car parking spaces.
In late June 2007, the brothers were advised in error that permission had been refused but the error was corrected within days and the judge said the brothers were aware by July 3rd, 2007, at the latest, that no formal decision had been made. A draft order refusing permission had in fact been made but, due to an oversight, was not signed by the relevant person within the required time period.
The brothers then sought default permission but the council in September 2007 refused to allow them avail of the default permission mechanism.
The council argued the proposed development contravened the Clare county development plan 2005 or was contrary to its general objectives, including conserving and enhancing the quality and character of the area and protecting residential amenity.
The council said the immediate surrounding area of the development was dominated by single-storey and dormer-style bungalows considerably more discreet than the houses proposed by the Ryans.
Rejecting those arguments, the judge said the proposed two-storey housing development would be similar to many in the surrounding area and not entirely out of character and he could not accept it contravened the development plan.
The council had placed considerable emphasis on the volume of objections to the proposed development but that was only relevant when considering the materiality of any contravention as opposed to deciding if one exists, he said.
However, the judge accepted the council’s argument on the need to have regard to the local area plan. He noted the proposed development would have a density of 32 units per hectare when the plan had adopted densities of 25 units. The development would also overlook a neighbouring property and there were other issues about vehicular access and adequate space between buildings.
He ruled the court did not have the power to make an order effectively requiring the council to grant default permission when regard to the local area plan was an essential prerequisite to any decision by the council. The court could not act as a planning body and, unless it could be shown a default permission would be fully in accordance with the plan, such permission could not be granted.
The court was also obliged to interpret the 2000 Planning and Development Act in accordance with rights, under the European Convention on Human Rights, of those who had objected to the development, he said. The court would fail in its obligations under the convention were it to grant the order without first considering if the rights of objectors had been infringed.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Bad planning decisions “sentence generations to live with the consequences” and, in interpreting the planning legislation, the courts should never lose sight of the overarching national interest in the integrity of the planning process, Mr Justice John Hedigan said.
He made the remarks in a judgment yesterday rejecting an application by two builders aimed at requiring Clare County Council to grant them default permission for a proposed development of two houses on a site at Dough, Liscannor Road, Lahinch.
Martin and Michael Ryan, developers based in Limerick city, had applied to the council in May 2007 for planning permission to demolish an existing house on the Dough site and construct two two-storey houses, plus car parking spaces.
In late June 2007, the brothers were advised in error that permission had been refused but the error was corrected within days and the judge said the brothers were aware by July 3rd, 2007, at the latest, that no formal decision had been made. A draft order refusing permission had in fact been made but, due to an oversight, was not signed by the relevant person within the required time period.
The brothers then sought default permission but the council in September 2007 refused to allow them avail of the default permission mechanism.
The council argued the proposed development contravened the Clare county development plan 2005 or was contrary to its general objectives, including conserving and enhancing the quality and character of the area and protecting residential amenity.
The council said the immediate surrounding area of the development was dominated by single-storey and dormer-style bungalows considerably more discreet than the houses proposed by the Ryans.
Rejecting those arguments, the judge said the proposed two-storey housing development would be similar to many in the surrounding area and not entirely out of character and he could not accept it contravened the development plan.
The council had placed considerable emphasis on the volume of objections to the proposed development but that was only relevant when considering the materiality of any contravention as opposed to deciding if one exists, he said.
However, the judge accepted the council’s argument on the need to have regard to the local area plan. He noted the proposed development would have a density of 32 units per hectare when the plan had adopted densities of 25 units. The development would also overlook a neighbouring property and there were other issues about vehicular access and adequate space between buildings.
He ruled the court did not have the power to make an order effectively requiring the council to grant default permission when regard to the local area plan was an essential prerequisite to any decision by the council. The court could not act as a planning body and, unless it could be shown a default permission would be fully in accordance with the plan, such permission could not be granted.
The court was also obliged to interpret the 2000 Planning and Development Act in accordance with rights, under the European Convention on Human Rights, of those who had objected to the development, he said. The court would fail in its obligations under the convention were it to grant the order without first considering if the rights of objectors had been infringed.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Patrick Shaffrey - Planning is 'vital national interest'
Madam, – I read with great pleasure – and indeed a renewed sense of hope – the report in your edition of March 12th of a Co Clare planning case which came before Mr Justice Hedigan in the High Court.
The judge’s remarks that the planning system is “a vital national interest”, and that today’s bad planning decisions “sentence generations to live with the consequences” will be a source of comfort to planners, architects and other concerned groups throughout the country.
They go to the heart of our current planning problems.
After the demise of the so-called “Celtic Tiger”, we have thousands of houses scattered across the country in inappropriate locations, many empty or half-built. They will present severe challenges for future generations.
For years I have been emphasising that a house is not a crop and once built it is there for ever. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK SHAFFREY
Irish Times Letter
www.buckplanning.ie
The judge’s remarks that the planning system is “a vital national interest”, and that today’s bad planning decisions “sentence generations to live with the consequences” will be a source of comfort to planners, architects and other concerned groups throughout the country.
They go to the heart of our current planning problems.
After the demise of the so-called “Celtic Tiger”, we have thousands of houses scattered across the country in inappropriate locations, many empty or half-built. They will present severe challenges for future generations.
For years I have been emphasising that a house is not a crop and once built it is there for ever. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK SHAFFREY
Irish Times Letter
www.buckplanning.ie
Agreement to give land to Kildare county council is void
McHugh -v- Kildare County Council.
Supreme Court
Judgment was given by Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman on February 24th, 2009, the Chief Justice, Mr Justice John Murray, Mrs Justice Susan Denham, Mr Justice Hugh Geoghegan and Mr Justice Nial Fennelly concurring.
Judgment
An agreement on the part of Kildare County Council and the plaintiff that he would transfer some land to the council in the event of other land being rezoned was not an agreement within the meaning of section 38 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act 1963, as amended by the Act of 1976, and was ultra vires the council. It was therefore void.
Background
In the late 1990s, Mr McHugh was the owner of 47 acres of land in Co Kildare, near an interchange on the main road. He considered it suitable for zoning for industrial use and he applied to Kildare County Council, the planning authority for the area, for such zoning. Discussions on the matter took place between him, his solicitor and engineer, and the council.
As a result, an agreement was entered into to the effect that he would cede to the council 20 per cent of the land if his land was rezoned for industrial use. The agreement also stated that this assertion was a matter incidental to the grant of rezoning.
It was common case that the form of the agreement came from the defendant (the county council) although the suggestion came from the plaintiff, who signed it. No one signed it on behalf of the defendant, though the council relies on it.
In the case in the High Court, the plaintiff said he had been required to sign the letter. However, in the Supreme Court appeal against the High Court order in favour of the council, the plaintiff did not suggest any coercion and instead argued that the agreement was not capable of being an agreement within the meaning of section 38 of the 1963 Act and was unenforceable, even though he had benefited from the rezoning.
The county council insisted that the agreement was enforceable under section 38 of the Act.
It had begun proceedings for the transfer of the lands in 2005, but had not progressed them and they formed no part of this case, even though minutes of council meetings showed that all the landowners who sought rezoning of their lands “coincidentally or otherwise” agreed to cede some of their lands in the event of rezoning being approved.
The issue in this case was therefore a very narrow technical issue – whether the agreement was enforceable under the Act or not.
“The court has not been invited to consider the validity in administrative law of an arrangement whereby a statutory decision maker will derive a benefit if he, she or it decides in one way rather than another and it may be important to stress that that issue simply does not arise in the present proceedings,” Mr Justice Hardiman said.
The trial judge in the High Court had found that a consideration moved from the council to the plaintiff and it appeared he considered this to have been the rezoning. However, in the appeal, the council strongly denied that this was a consideration which moved from it to the plaintiff.
Decision
Mr Justice Hardiman examined section 38 of the 1963 Act, as amended, which states that a planning authority may enter into an agreement with any person “for the purpose of restricting or regulating the development or use of the land either permanently or during such period as may be specified”.
The purported agreement with Mr McHugh stated that he “hereby irrevocably covenant(s) and agree(s) with the said council that in the event of the lands, the subject matter of my above application being rezoned . . . I will transfer to the council free of charge or expense the lands [as indicated on a plan]”.
This was clearly a covenant to transfer lands, he said.
“It seems to me that section 38 simply does not contemplate an agreement for the transfer of lands at all. Restricting or regulating the development or use of lands is something of a quite different nature to transferring their ownership.
“The recitation, in the purported agreement, of section 38 of the Act of 1963 cannot in and of itself make the purported agreement of 13th May 1999 an agreement of the sort envisaged by section 38.”
Counsel for the defendant had argued that because the whole transaction had taken place within the context of a proposed rezoning for industrial use and because the local authority could only use the land in accordance with the development plan to be amended by the rezoning, this was an agreement to “regulate or restrict development”.
Mr Justice Hardiman said that the purpose of an agreement under section 38 was to regulate the use of land while it remained in the ownership of the person who arrived at the agreement or anyone to whom he sold the land, not to allow the transfer of the land to the council itself.
If it was transferred to the council there would be no need for an agreement to restrict its use, which the council could do as owner.
If the agreement was not an agreement within the meaning of section 38 it appeared to be ultra vires the council, which had not been given a power to acquire land by the means envisaged in the purported agreement.
Counsel for the defendant had said this decision would allow Mr McHugh to refuse to “stick to his bargain”. Counsel however had great difficulty in articulating what this bargain was and had said that the transfer was not in consideration of rezoning, but of his proposal being placed before the councillors.
The councillors would have been obliged to consider the application anyway.
The judge in the High Court case had understood that the consideration for the land transfer was the rezoning, but the defendant had flatly denied this. Mr Justice Hardiman allowed the appeal and declared the agreement to be void.
The full judgment is on www.courts.ie
Gavin Ralston SC, Eamon Galligan SC and Mark Dunne BL, instructed by Coughlan, White O’Toole, Newbridge, for the appellant; Pat Butler SC and John Doherty BL, instructed by R A Osbourne, Athy, for the respondent.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Supreme Court
Judgment was given by Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman on February 24th, 2009, the Chief Justice, Mr Justice John Murray, Mrs Justice Susan Denham, Mr Justice Hugh Geoghegan and Mr Justice Nial Fennelly concurring.
Judgment
An agreement on the part of Kildare County Council and the plaintiff that he would transfer some land to the council in the event of other land being rezoned was not an agreement within the meaning of section 38 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act 1963, as amended by the Act of 1976, and was ultra vires the council. It was therefore void.
Background
In the late 1990s, Mr McHugh was the owner of 47 acres of land in Co Kildare, near an interchange on the main road. He considered it suitable for zoning for industrial use and he applied to Kildare County Council, the planning authority for the area, for such zoning. Discussions on the matter took place between him, his solicitor and engineer, and the council.
As a result, an agreement was entered into to the effect that he would cede to the council 20 per cent of the land if his land was rezoned for industrial use. The agreement also stated that this assertion was a matter incidental to the grant of rezoning.
It was common case that the form of the agreement came from the defendant (the county council) although the suggestion came from the plaintiff, who signed it. No one signed it on behalf of the defendant, though the council relies on it.
In the case in the High Court, the plaintiff said he had been required to sign the letter. However, in the Supreme Court appeal against the High Court order in favour of the council, the plaintiff did not suggest any coercion and instead argued that the agreement was not capable of being an agreement within the meaning of section 38 of the 1963 Act and was unenforceable, even though he had benefited from the rezoning.
The county council insisted that the agreement was enforceable under section 38 of the Act.
It had begun proceedings for the transfer of the lands in 2005, but had not progressed them and they formed no part of this case, even though minutes of council meetings showed that all the landowners who sought rezoning of their lands “coincidentally or otherwise” agreed to cede some of their lands in the event of rezoning being approved.
The issue in this case was therefore a very narrow technical issue – whether the agreement was enforceable under the Act or not.
“The court has not been invited to consider the validity in administrative law of an arrangement whereby a statutory decision maker will derive a benefit if he, she or it decides in one way rather than another and it may be important to stress that that issue simply does not arise in the present proceedings,” Mr Justice Hardiman said.
The trial judge in the High Court had found that a consideration moved from the council to the plaintiff and it appeared he considered this to have been the rezoning. However, in the appeal, the council strongly denied that this was a consideration which moved from it to the plaintiff.
Decision
Mr Justice Hardiman examined section 38 of the 1963 Act, as amended, which states that a planning authority may enter into an agreement with any person “for the purpose of restricting or regulating the development or use of the land either permanently or during such period as may be specified”.
The purported agreement with Mr McHugh stated that he “hereby irrevocably covenant(s) and agree(s) with the said council that in the event of the lands, the subject matter of my above application being rezoned . . . I will transfer to the council free of charge or expense the lands [as indicated on a plan]”.
This was clearly a covenant to transfer lands, he said.
“It seems to me that section 38 simply does not contemplate an agreement for the transfer of lands at all. Restricting or regulating the development or use of lands is something of a quite different nature to transferring their ownership.
“The recitation, in the purported agreement, of section 38 of the Act of 1963 cannot in and of itself make the purported agreement of 13th May 1999 an agreement of the sort envisaged by section 38.”
Counsel for the defendant had argued that because the whole transaction had taken place within the context of a proposed rezoning for industrial use and because the local authority could only use the land in accordance with the development plan to be amended by the rezoning, this was an agreement to “regulate or restrict development”.
Mr Justice Hardiman said that the purpose of an agreement under section 38 was to regulate the use of land while it remained in the ownership of the person who arrived at the agreement or anyone to whom he sold the land, not to allow the transfer of the land to the council itself.
If it was transferred to the council there would be no need for an agreement to restrict its use, which the council could do as owner.
If the agreement was not an agreement within the meaning of section 38 it appeared to be ultra vires the council, which had not been given a power to acquire land by the means envisaged in the purported agreement.
Counsel for the defendant had said this decision would allow Mr McHugh to refuse to “stick to his bargain”. Counsel however had great difficulty in articulating what this bargain was and had said that the transfer was not in consideration of rezoning, but of his proposal being placed before the councillors.
The councillors would have been obliged to consider the application anyway.
The judge in the High Court case had understood that the consideration for the land transfer was the rezoning, but the defendant had flatly denied this. Mr Justice Hardiman allowed the appeal and declared the agreement to be void.
The full judgment is on www.courts.ie
Gavin Ralston SC, Eamon Galligan SC and Mark Dunne BL, instructed by Coughlan, White O’Toole, Newbridge, for the appellant; Pat Butler SC and John Doherty BL, instructed by R A Osbourne, Athy, for the respondent.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Go-ahead given for cremations in Shannon
WORK IS to start “as soon as possible” on the first crematorium in the west, in Shannon. This follows An Bord Pleanála overriding the recommendation of its own inspector to give the go-ahead to Illaunamanagh Ltd for contentious plans to construct the crematorium.
The €1 million plan was vehemently opposed throughout the planning process by Shannon’s mayor, Gerry Flynn (Ind), and residents. However, in deciding not to accept the inspector’s recommendation to refuse planning, the board ruled that the crematorium would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or property in the vicinity.
Last year, the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael groups at Clare County Council combined 26 to one in a vote to contravene the South Clare Plan to back the proposal.
The two directors of the company are former members of Clare County Council, Seán Hillery and funeral director Tony McMahon. Mr Hillery remains a member of Shannon Town Council. Mr Hillery said yesterday he was very pleased with the decision, adding that work would get under way “in late-spring early summer”.
Mr Flynn and the Residents of Gleann an Oirr in Shannon had appealed the council’s decision along with two others. Mr Flynn said the inspector’s report recommending refusal “totally justified the concerns I had in opposing the plan”.
He added: “What we will have now is a commercial operation running beside a graveyard where peace and tranquillity are so important. However, I am happy with the stringent conditions attached to the permission.”
An Taisce’s heritage officer Ian Lumley criticised the board’s decision for the design and height of the crematorium’s stack to be left between the applicants and the council for agreement. “This lack of clarity is ill-advised and disenfranchises the local residents in not allowing them to have their input.”
In deciding not to accept the inspector’s recommendation, the appeals board said it had regard to the proximity of the crematorium to a graveyard and noted the applicant’s further submissions on flood risk and existing sea defences at Shannon.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The €1 million plan was vehemently opposed throughout the planning process by Shannon’s mayor, Gerry Flynn (Ind), and residents. However, in deciding not to accept the inspector’s recommendation to refuse planning, the board ruled that the crematorium would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or property in the vicinity.
Last year, the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael groups at Clare County Council combined 26 to one in a vote to contravene the South Clare Plan to back the proposal.
The two directors of the company are former members of Clare County Council, Seán Hillery and funeral director Tony McMahon. Mr Hillery remains a member of Shannon Town Council. Mr Hillery said yesterday he was very pleased with the decision, adding that work would get under way “in late-spring early summer”.
Mr Flynn and the Residents of Gleann an Oirr in Shannon had appealed the council’s decision along with two others. Mr Flynn said the inspector’s report recommending refusal “totally justified the concerns I had in opposing the plan”.
He added: “What we will have now is a commercial operation running beside a graveyard where peace and tranquillity are so important. However, I am happy with the stringent conditions attached to the permission.”
An Taisce’s heritage officer Ian Lumley criticised the board’s decision for the design and height of the crematorium’s stack to be left between the applicants and the council for agreement. “This lack of clarity is ill-advised and disenfranchises the local residents in not allowing them to have their input.”
In deciding not to accept the inspector’s recommendation, the appeals board said it had regard to the proximity of the crematorium to a graveyard and noted the applicant’s further submissions on flood risk and existing sea defences at Shannon.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Laws to prevent rushing through development plans before elections
TDs have agreed on recommendations for new laws for the Environment Minister in a bid to prevent councillors rushing through development plans ahead of elections.
Local authorities should be banned from commencing or renewing development plans within two years of local elections, under the proposals.
Fine Gael’s Padraic McCormack yesterday noted the turnover of councillors at election time, saying about a third of local authority members changed.
This affected the completion of development plans, with councillors either rushing through plans before elections or newly elected members being too inexperienced to deal with them, the Oireachtas Committee on Environment heard.
Under the proposals, which will be launched in a report today, it is recommended development plans are begun at least two years before councillors compete in local elections. The period is the full length of time available to local authorities to decide on development plans, therefore allowing for their completion before the turnover in councillors.
"There should be no start of a development plan before elections as they (councillors) have no time to complete the plan. The process can’t and should not be interrupted by elections," stressed deputy McCormack, the committee’s vice chairman.
The Green Party’s Ciarán Cuffe said the interruption of development plans was "a very real issue".
It is understood Green Party leader and Environment Minister John Gormley is preparing planning legislation which is expected to go before the Houses of the Oireachtas this year.
The proposals for the ban on rushed development plans are expected to be included in a report launched today. The Application of Ministerial Directions to City and County Development Plans will also feature proposals for councillors to get "impartial" legal advice on development plans and local authority proposals.
It is also expected that the Oireachtas Committee will recommend that where a minister intervenes in development plans, they must do so within a limited timeframe.
Between 2004 and 2008, the Environment Minister intervened in six development plans belonging to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Laois, Monaghan, Castlebar, Mayo and Waterford.
The report recommends reducing conflict between the minister and local authorities when city and county plans are being drawn up.
It follows complaints by Mayo County Council after Mr Gormley intervened in its plan.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Local authorities should be banned from commencing or renewing development plans within two years of local elections, under the proposals.
Fine Gael’s Padraic McCormack yesterday noted the turnover of councillors at election time, saying about a third of local authority members changed.
This affected the completion of development plans, with councillors either rushing through plans before elections or newly elected members being too inexperienced to deal with them, the Oireachtas Committee on Environment heard.
Under the proposals, which will be launched in a report today, it is recommended development plans are begun at least two years before councillors compete in local elections. The period is the full length of time available to local authorities to decide on development plans, therefore allowing for their completion before the turnover in councillors.
"There should be no start of a development plan before elections as they (councillors) have no time to complete the plan. The process can’t and should not be interrupted by elections," stressed deputy McCormack, the committee’s vice chairman.
The Green Party’s Ciarán Cuffe said the interruption of development plans was "a very real issue".
It is understood Green Party leader and Environment Minister John Gormley is preparing planning legislation which is expected to go before the Houses of the Oireachtas this year.
The proposals for the ban on rushed development plans are expected to be included in a report launched today. The Application of Ministerial Directions to City and County Development Plans will also feature proposals for councillors to get "impartial" legal advice on development plans and local authority proposals.
It is also expected that the Oireachtas Committee will recommend that where a minister intervenes in development plans, they must do so within a limited timeframe.
Between 2004 and 2008, the Environment Minister intervened in six development plans belonging to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Laois, Monaghan, Castlebar, Mayo and Waterford.
The report recommends reducing conflict between the minister and local authorities when city and county plans are being drawn up.
It follows complaints by Mayo County Council after Mr Gormley intervened in its plan.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Council takes action against TK Maxx store over planning contravention
WATERFORD County Council has commenced enforcement proceedings against a TK Maxx outlet in Waterford after An Bord Pleanála found it had contravened planning laws.
The board, in a ruling issued last week, found that TK Maxx at the Butlerstown Retail Park did not have permission to sell items such as clothes, toys and shoes because they do not meet a "bulky goods" classification.
Sixty jobs at the store are now under threat, it is feared.
An Bord Pleanála investigated the sale of items at TK Maxx, following a complaint by local developer Noel Frisby, a director of Noel Frisby Construction Ltd who has interests in the Lisduggan Shopping Centre.
The board ruled that TK Maxx, along with a Mothercare outlet that was due to open at the park, contravened planning laws, as outlets at the park can only sell items that are deemed to be "bulky".
A spokeswoman for TK Maxx yesterday said: "We are extremely disappointed by this ruling. It is a very complex situation and we are currently working to find a resolution that will be in the very best interests of our store associates and our customers in Waterford."
Director of services at Waterford County Council, Brian White, said that the council had deemed Mothercare to be within the bulky goods classification.
"We are certainly working out the options with them and are trying to reach some conclusion that will save [those] jobs."
Mr White said the options that are there for TK Maxx were to "defend the case against them in court, to apply for planning permission for retention, or to look for some alternative solution".
However, Waterford’s county councillors expressed anger at the monthly meeting of the local authority on Monday evening and passed a motion of no confidence in An Bord Pleanála.
Waterford county councillor Pat Daly said: "One job is a lot to lose at the moment, but if we can protect, in any way, sixty jobs, it is the duty of all of us here to do it."
The Mayor of Co Waterford Tom Higgins criticised Mr Frisby at the meeting. He asked Mr White: "It is a bit rich, a Kilkenny man coming in, telling us what to do, isn’t it?"
Mr White replied: "Mayor, with respect, any member of the public has a right to insist that the planning regulations are enforced."
Proposals to rezone the land were considered unlikely to succeed.
Cllr John Carey added: "I have the utmost respect for Waterford planning and I think it is high time now that we called for disbanding of An Bord Pleanála because they’re certainly not doing us any favours."
In response Cllr Damian Geoghan said: "If we go along with the proposals [for a vote of no confidence] today, what we are saying is that there should be no appeals process in this country in relation to planning."
A spokesman with An Bord Pleanála yesterday confirmed that it "ruled that TK Maxx does not have the correct planning permission for what it is proposing".
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The board, in a ruling issued last week, found that TK Maxx at the Butlerstown Retail Park did not have permission to sell items such as clothes, toys and shoes because they do not meet a "bulky goods" classification.
Sixty jobs at the store are now under threat, it is feared.
An Bord Pleanála investigated the sale of items at TK Maxx, following a complaint by local developer Noel Frisby, a director of Noel Frisby Construction Ltd who has interests in the Lisduggan Shopping Centre.
The board ruled that TK Maxx, along with a Mothercare outlet that was due to open at the park, contravened planning laws, as outlets at the park can only sell items that are deemed to be "bulky".
A spokeswoman for TK Maxx yesterday said: "We are extremely disappointed by this ruling. It is a very complex situation and we are currently working to find a resolution that will be in the very best interests of our store associates and our customers in Waterford."
Director of services at Waterford County Council, Brian White, said that the council had deemed Mothercare to be within the bulky goods classification.
"We are certainly working out the options with them and are trying to reach some conclusion that will save [those] jobs."
Mr White said the options that are there for TK Maxx were to "defend the case against them in court, to apply for planning permission for retention, or to look for some alternative solution".
However, Waterford’s county councillors expressed anger at the monthly meeting of the local authority on Monday evening and passed a motion of no confidence in An Bord Pleanála.
Waterford county councillor Pat Daly said: "One job is a lot to lose at the moment, but if we can protect, in any way, sixty jobs, it is the duty of all of us here to do it."
The Mayor of Co Waterford Tom Higgins criticised Mr Frisby at the meeting. He asked Mr White: "It is a bit rich, a Kilkenny man coming in, telling us what to do, isn’t it?"
Mr White replied: "Mayor, with respect, any member of the public has a right to insist that the planning regulations are enforced."
Proposals to rezone the land were considered unlikely to succeed.
Cllr John Carey added: "I have the utmost respect for Waterford planning and I think it is high time now that we called for disbanding of An Bord Pleanála because they’re certainly not doing us any favours."
In response Cllr Damian Geoghan said: "If we go along with the proposals [for a vote of no confidence] today, what we are saying is that there should be no appeals process in this country in relation to planning."
A spokesman with An Bord Pleanála yesterday confirmed that it "ruled that TK Maxx does not have the correct planning permission for what it is proposing".
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Mast rule to delay internet access
A RULE in Kerry that does not allow telecommunications masts within 1km of houses, schools and other residential buildings will delay the roll-out of broadband in rural areas of the county, county manager Tom Curran has warned.
The national plan is to have broadband in all rural areas by September 2010, but the 1km rule is likely to impede the installation of high-speed internet access in many parts of Kerry by Hutchinson 3G Ireland Ltd, known as 3.
A total of 28 high sites for masts have been identified in Kerry, 17 existing and 11 new. Planning permission will be needed for the new sites, but will be refused because of the rule, Mr Curran pointed out.
"It will be necessary for 3 to appeal our decision to An Bord Pleanála if they are to fulfil the terms of their contract," he told a council meeting in Tralee.
He said the long process "will mean Kerry will be one of the last counties to get broadband in rural areas, putting residences and businesses at a disadvantage".
Fine Gael councillor Johnny O’Connor felt it was time to get rid of the rule, as it put Kerry at the end of the queue for broadband.
Independent councillor Brendan Cronin said local communities "will appeal anyway, as they are opposed to masts".
Independent councillor Michael Healy-Rae did not feel the rule should be the reason for delays.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The national plan is to have broadband in all rural areas by September 2010, but the 1km rule is likely to impede the installation of high-speed internet access in many parts of Kerry by Hutchinson 3G Ireland Ltd, known as 3.
A total of 28 high sites for masts have been identified in Kerry, 17 existing and 11 new. Planning permission will be needed for the new sites, but will be refused because of the rule, Mr Curran pointed out.
"It will be necessary for 3 to appeal our decision to An Bord Pleanála if they are to fulfil the terms of their contract," he told a council meeting in Tralee.
He said the long process "will mean Kerry will be one of the last counties to get broadband in rural areas, putting residences and businesses at a disadvantage".
Fine Gael councillor Johnny O’Connor felt it was time to get rid of the rule, as it put Kerry at the end of the queue for broadband.
Independent councillor Brendan Cronin said local communities "will appeal anyway, as they are opposed to masts".
Independent councillor Michael Healy-Rae did not feel the rule should be the reason for delays.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Bord turns down fashion store in retail park
A surprise decision by An Bord Pleanála has left TK Maxx’s shop in a Waterford retail park in limbo and may have implications for other similar parks
THE CONTENTIOUS issue of whether fashion and catalogue multiples should be allowed operate stores in retail parks has been reopened following a decision by An Bord Pleanála blocking the cut-price operator TK Maxx from trading in Butlerstown Retail Park in Waterford.
The company has been operating in the park for about six months and now faces an uncertain future there.
The planning issue came before the board after local property development company, Noel Frisby Construction, objected to the type of goods (cut-price fashion and footwear) being sold by TK Maxx.
Stephanie Taheny, a former planner and a director of Noel Frisby Construction, said that if TK Maxx and other high street traders, such as Argos and Mothercare, were allowed to move to out-of-town locations it would greatly affect Waterford city centre by shrinking the retail market.
She said that planning permission had recently been granted for three retail parks in Waterford city and in all cases conditions were set down limiting their use to the sale of bulky goods and specifically restricting the sale of toys, footwear, sportswear or other clothing.
TK Maxx is understood to be paying a rent of almost €500,000 for 2,415sq m (26,000sq ft) in three adjoining buildings which were amalgamated. The appeals board said that the internal alterations to the units and their amalgamation was not an exempted development.
The board previously ruled that neither Mothercare nor Argos could comply with the current planning guidelines on Butlerstown Retail Park.
The park, which is owned by local businessman Jim Tracey, also has the DIY chain BQ, Halfords, Harvey Norman and Home Focus at Hickeys. Bogle Estate was the letting agent for the park which is located along the city bypass. Jason Millar of Colliers Jackson-Stops advised TK Maxx which already trades in retail parks in Drogheda, Carrickmines, Parkway in Limerick and Blanchardstown.
Ms Taheny, the wife of Noel Frisby, said that two years ago the board granted permission for the redevelopment of Lisduggan shopping centre close by which they own but set restrictive conditions on the sale of clothing, footwear and other comparison goods by one of the tenants, Tesco.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
THE CONTENTIOUS issue of whether fashion and catalogue multiples should be allowed operate stores in retail parks has been reopened following a decision by An Bord Pleanála blocking the cut-price operator TK Maxx from trading in Butlerstown Retail Park in Waterford.
The company has been operating in the park for about six months and now faces an uncertain future there.
The planning issue came before the board after local property development company, Noel Frisby Construction, objected to the type of goods (cut-price fashion and footwear) being sold by TK Maxx.
Stephanie Taheny, a former planner and a director of Noel Frisby Construction, said that if TK Maxx and other high street traders, such as Argos and Mothercare, were allowed to move to out-of-town locations it would greatly affect Waterford city centre by shrinking the retail market.
She said that planning permission had recently been granted for three retail parks in Waterford city and in all cases conditions were set down limiting their use to the sale of bulky goods and specifically restricting the sale of toys, footwear, sportswear or other clothing.
TK Maxx is understood to be paying a rent of almost €500,000 for 2,415sq m (26,000sq ft) in three adjoining buildings which were amalgamated. The appeals board said that the internal alterations to the units and their amalgamation was not an exempted development.
The board previously ruled that neither Mothercare nor Argos could comply with the current planning guidelines on Butlerstown Retail Park.
The park, which is owned by local businessman Jim Tracey, also has the DIY chain BQ, Halfords, Harvey Norman and Home Focus at Hickeys. Bogle Estate was the letting agent for the park which is located along the city bypass. Jason Millar of Colliers Jackson-Stops advised TK Maxx which already trades in retail parks in Drogheda, Carrickmines, Parkway in Limerick and Blanchardstown.
Ms Taheny, the wife of Noel Frisby, said that two years ago the board granted permission for the redevelopment of Lisduggan shopping centre close by which they own but set restrictive conditions on the sale of clothing, footwear and other comparison goods by one of the tenants, Tesco.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Updates for Planning Act in new report
A NEW report to be launched today will recommend ways in which the Planning and Development Act 2000 should be “improved and updated” following a number of recent planning controversies around the country.
The report, which was being finalised last night, is the result of an investigation by the Oireachtas environment committee following a request from Mayo County Council. The council objected strongly to Environment Minister John Gormley’s direction to vary elements of its development plan 2008-2014.
The draft version of the report, Application of ministerial directions to city and county development plans, recommends the Planning and Development Act 2000 should be amended to require two thirds of all elected members of a local authority to vote in favour of the making of a development plan.
Ways in which the act can be “improved and updated” were also outlined in the draft report.
It said the right of a Minister to issue a direction under section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 should continue, but it recommended a period of consultation involving the Department of the Environment, the council and the general public before a ministerial direction is finalised.
The draft report recommended a legal time limit after the adoption of a development plan by which time the Minister must issue a draft direction, if that is the intention.
The report said the Act must specify the process by which a development plan is varied following a ministerial direction, “especially where the elected members are not willing to make a variation to their development plan to include the ministerial direction”.
The report says conflict can exist between local and central government when city and county plans are being drawn up which can have an adverse influence on timely and effective planning.
The Oireachtas committee on the environment, heritage and local government hopes its recommendations will reduce conflict and facilitate greater co-operation between the Minister for Environment and local authorities.
The draft report said that members of local authorities should incorporate the views of the Minister in their development plans. “This should reduce the need for future ministerial directions,” it said, and would be “in the interests of achieving a sustainable and consistent framework for planning and development throughout the State”.
The report said the department and local authorities should arrange regional planning seminars for elected members. “This will help existing members refresh their knowledge and will be important for new members elected to local authorities” on June 5th, 2009.
The department and local authorities should ensure a mechanism is put in place whereby elected members of local authorities have access to independent legal and professional advice in their onerous and responsible duties. This could be achieved in relation to projects where both the manager and the elected members have a role. For instance, in drawing up development plans, the corporate policy group of the local authority should engage legal and professional advice required.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The report, which was being finalised last night, is the result of an investigation by the Oireachtas environment committee following a request from Mayo County Council. The council objected strongly to Environment Minister John Gormley’s direction to vary elements of its development plan 2008-2014.
The draft version of the report, Application of ministerial directions to city and county development plans, recommends the Planning and Development Act 2000 should be amended to require two thirds of all elected members of a local authority to vote in favour of the making of a development plan.
Ways in which the act can be “improved and updated” were also outlined in the draft report.
It said the right of a Minister to issue a direction under section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 should continue, but it recommended a period of consultation involving the Department of the Environment, the council and the general public before a ministerial direction is finalised.
The draft report recommended a legal time limit after the adoption of a development plan by which time the Minister must issue a draft direction, if that is the intention.
The report said the Act must specify the process by which a development plan is varied following a ministerial direction, “especially where the elected members are not willing to make a variation to their development plan to include the ministerial direction”.
The report says conflict can exist between local and central government when city and county plans are being drawn up which can have an adverse influence on timely and effective planning.
The Oireachtas committee on the environment, heritage and local government hopes its recommendations will reduce conflict and facilitate greater co-operation between the Minister for Environment and local authorities.
The draft report said that members of local authorities should incorporate the views of the Minister in their development plans. “This should reduce the need for future ministerial directions,” it said, and would be “in the interests of achieving a sustainable and consistent framework for planning and development throughout the State”.
The report said the department and local authorities should arrange regional planning seminars for elected members. “This will help existing members refresh their knowledge and will be important for new members elected to local authorities” on June 5th, 2009.
The department and local authorities should ensure a mechanism is put in place whereby elected members of local authorities have access to independent legal and professional advice in their onerous and responsible duties. This could be achieved in relation to projects where both the manager and the elected members have a role. For instance, in drawing up development plans, the corporate policy group of the local authority should engage legal and professional advice required.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sea could rise 1m by 2100, say scientists
CLIMATE CHANGE: SEA LEVELS are set to rise twice as much as previously expected – by as much as a metre or more before the end of this century, mainly due to accelerated melting of the polar ice caps, according to new scientific research.
Presented at a major international conference hosted by the University of Copenhagen, the projections are well higher than the 18cm-59cm rise envisaged by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007.
Research in the past two years shows the loss of ice in Greenland has been accelerating over the past decade. According to Dr Konrad Steffen, Greenland is losing up to 300sq km of ice a year – equivalent to two-thirds of all the glaciers in the Alps.
Dr Steffen, who heads the University of Colorado’s environmental science institute, said a 30 per cent increase in the area that melts along the Danish protectorate’s west coast has been observed since 1979. He attributed this to an average increase of 1.4 degrees Celsius in the summer months and a 3.5-degree rise in temperature during the spring.
“Climate change is enhancing warming in the Arctic region,” he told a press briefing yesterday. As a result, the ice is “melting much faster” and this, in turn, is contributing to a rise in sea levels.
“The upper range of sea level rise by 2100 might be above one metre or more on a global average, with large regional differences depending where the source of ice loss occurs,” he said.
The new research suggests it is increasingly unlikely that the rise in sea level will be much less than 50cm by 2100. Even this relatively optimistic projection – especially combined with surges – would hit low-lying coastal communities worldwide, including in Ireland.
Dr Eric Rignot, professor of earth system science at the University of California and senior research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said the reason the IPCC’s 2007 projections were lower was due to “a lot of uncertainty” then about polar ice sheets. “The numerical models used at the time did not have a complete representation of outlet glaciers and their interactions with the ocean. The results gathered in the last two to three years show that these are fundamental aspects that cannot be overlooked,” he said.
Dr John Church, of Australia’s Centre for Climate Research, said “unless we undertake urgent and significant mitigation actions , the climate could cross a threshold during the 21st century committing the world to a sea level rise of metres”. The impacts, he predicted, would be severe.
Approximately 10 per cent of the world’s population – 600 million people – live in low-lying coastal areas, and major flooding that used to happen only once in a hundred years “will be happening several times a year”, he warned.
Dr Jason Lowe, head of the British Met Office’s sea level projection group, said a one-metre increase would be serious enough, but the effects would be devastating if accompanied by storm surges such as the 4.5m surge on the Thames in 1953.
Although such a surge accompanied by a high tide had a “low probability”, it could not be ruled out. Neither could more pessimistic projections that the rise in sea levels by 2010 could be as high as two metres, rather than just one. This has obvious implications for plans to replace the Thames Barrier with a new flood control system to protect London.
A recent study of Dublin Bay that looked at how the city could be protected from rising sea levels proposed a system of “booms” to guard against storm surges.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Presented at a major international conference hosted by the University of Copenhagen, the projections are well higher than the 18cm-59cm rise envisaged by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007.
Research in the past two years shows the loss of ice in Greenland has been accelerating over the past decade. According to Dr Konrad Steffen, Greenland is losing up to 300sq km of ice a year – equivalent to two-thirds of all the glaciers in the Alps.
Dr Steffen, who heads the University of Colorado’s environmental science institute, said a 30 per cent increase in the area that melts along the Danish protectorate’s west coast has been observed since 1979. He attributed this to an average increase of 1.4 degrees Celsius in the summer months and a 3.5-degree rise in temperature during the spring.
“Climate change is enhancing warming in the Arctic region,” he told a press briefing yesterday. As a result, the ice is “melting much faster” and this, in turn, is contributing to a rise in sea levels.
“The upper range of sea level rise by 2100 might be above one metre or more on a global average, with large regional differences depending where the source of ice loss occurs,” he said.
The new research suggests it is increasingly unlikely that the rise in sea level will be much less than 50cm by 2100. Even this relatively optimistic projection – especially combined with surges – would hit low-lying coastal communities worldwide, including in Ireland.
Dr Eric Rignot, professor of earth system science at the University of California and senior research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said the reason the IPCC’s 2007 projections were lower was due to “a lot of uncertainty” then about polar ice sheets. “The numerical models used at the time did not have a complete representation of outlet glaciers and their interactions with the ocean. The results gathered in the last two to three years show that these are fundamental aspects that cannot be overlooked,” he said.
Dr John Church, of Australia’s Centre for Climate Research, said “unless we undertake urgent and significant mitigation actions , the climate could cross a threshold during the 21st century committing the world to a sea level rise of metres”. The impacts, he predicted, would be severe.
Approximately 10 per cent of the world’s population – 600 million people – live in low-lying coastal areas, and major flooding that used to happen only once in a hundred years “will be happening several times a year”, he warned.
Dr Jason Lowe, head of the British Met Office’s sea level projection group, said a one-metre increase would be serious enough, but the effects would be devastating if accompanied by storm surges such as the 4.5m surge on the Thames in 1953.
Although such a surge accompanied by a high tide had a “low probability”, it could not be ruled out. Neither could more pessimistic projections that the rise in sea levels by 2010 could be as high as two metres, rather than just one. This has obvious implications for plans to replace the Thames Barrier with a new flood control system to protect London.
A recent study of Dublin Bay that looked at how the city could be protected from rising sea levels proposed a system of “booms” to guard against storm surges.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Eirgrid takes action to overturn pylon ban
EIRGRID HAS initiated a court action to overturn a ban by Monaghan County Council on the location, as part of a €184 million cross-Border energy sharing project, of high-voltage overhead power lines close to schools, workplaces and homes.
Eirgrid is seeking leave to bring a judicial review challenge to the council’s decision of January 5th last to vary the Monaghan County Development Plan so as to prevent the location of high-density overhead power lines in excess of 220kv within 100m of any house, school, sports field or place of work.
The council said its reasons were to protect the Drumlin landscape of Co Monaghan and to ensure the lines did not impact negatively on people’s homes, workplaces or places of leisure.
Eirgrid claims the first reason cannot be achieved by the variation while the second is “unreasonably broad”.
It also alleges the council failed to have regard to advice from the county manager stating the variation was contrary to relevant national plans and and would frustrate Government policy.
Eirgrid also claims the council breached fair procedures and/or erred in law in not making available to either Eirgrid or the public submissions to the council from the North East Pylon Pressure (NEPP) group arguing that the power lines should be placed underground.
Eirgrid’s application was admitted to the Commercial Court yesterday by Mr Justice Peter Kelly and adjourned so certain parties, including the pylon pressure group, may be notified of the proceedings.
The case arises over two projects planned by Eirgrid.
The first involves erection of an 80km-long 400kv connection line between Cavan and Tyrone, 35km of which will pass through Co Monaghan, while the second involves erection of a 58km, 400kv connection between Woodland, Co Meath and Kingscourt, Co Cavan.
Eirgrid is seeking planning approval for both projects directly from An Bord Pleanála under the Planning and Development Act 2006.
Both the council and the NEPP have criticised as anti-democratic the provision of the 2006 Act allowing for such direct planning applications.
As the Cavan-Tyrone line project involves an overhead line of more than 222kv, that project will constitute a material contravention of the Monaghan Development Plan if the council’s ban is not overturned, Eirgrid claims.
That was likely to have a negative effect on the planning application, it said.
The Cavan-Tyrone interconnector project will cost some €184 million and about €2.7 million has been spent on it to date, Eirgrid added. If An Bord Pleanála refused permission based on the council’s decision, this would have “serious consequences” for the development of the electricity transmission system in Ireland.
The project would also facilitate government policy as it would contribute to the target of achieving 40 per cent of electricity to be generated from renewables, Eirgrid said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Eirgrid is seeking leave to bring a judicial review challenge to the council’s decision of January 5th last to vary the Monaghan County Development Plan so as to prevent the location of high-density overhead power lines in excess of 220kv within 100m of any house, school, sports field or place of work.
The council said its reasons were to protect the Drumlin landscape of Co Monaghan and to ensure the lines did not impact negatively on people’s homes, workplaces or places of leisure.
Eirgrid claims the first reason cannot be achieved by the variation while the second is “unreasonably broad”.
It also alleges the council failed to have regard to advice from the county manager stating the variation was contrary to relevant national plans and and would frustrate Government policy.
Eirgrid also claims the council breached fair procedures and/or erred in law in not making available to either Eirgrid or the public submissions to the council from the North East Pylon Pressure (NEPP) group arguing that the power lines should be placed underground.
Eirgrid’s application was admitted to the Commercial Court yesterday by Mr Justice Peter Kelly and adjourned so certain parties, including the pylon pressure group, may be notified of the proceedings.
The case arises over two projects planned by Eirgrid.
The first involves erection of an 80km-long 400kv connection line between Cavan and Tyrone, 35km of which will pass through Co Monaghan, while the second involves erection of a 58km, 400kv connection between Woodland, Co Meath and Kingscourt, Co Cavan.
Eirgrid is seeking planning approval for both projects directly from An Bord Pleanála under the Planning and Development Act 2006.
Both the council and the NEPP have criticised as anti-democratic the provision of the 2006 Act allowing for such direct planning applications.
As the Cavan-Tyrone line project involves an overhead line of more than 222kv, that project will constitute a material contravention of the Monaghan Development Plan if the council’s ban is not overturned, Eirgrid claims.
That was likely to have a negative effect on the planning application, it said.
The Cavan-Tyrone interconnector project will cost some €184 million and about €2.7 million has been spent on it to date, Eirgrid added. If An Bord Pleanála refused permission based on the council’s decision, this would have “serious consequences” for the development of the electricity transmission system in Ireland.
The project would also facilitate government policy as it would contribute to the target of achieving 40 per cent of electricity to be generated from renewables, Eirgrid said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Metro North runs late as transport plans delayed
PUBLIC transport in Dublin and secondary roads around the country will be hit as part of Government cutbacks on capital projects.
The projects likely to be postponed include the Metro North underground line to Dublin Airport, extra buses for Dublin Bus and regional and local roads.
There are also growing doubts about the three decentralised offices planned for Mullingar, Portlaoise and Carlow, which have not yet been given the go-ahead.
The Government is legally obliged to spend €5.9bn of its €8bn capital budget this year because contracts have already been signed for projects such as the major inter-urban motorways. But that leaves the remaining €2.1bn vulnerable to cutbacks.
A Department of Finance spokesman confirmed that this uncommitted capital spending would be reviewed in the run-up to next month's mini-budget. And Health Minister Mary Harney said yesterday that "aspects of the capital programme will have to be readjusted and re-examined".
"We may have to delay some capital projects to ensure we bring stability to the public finances," she said.
According to sources, the €481m capital budget for regional and local roads is likely to be a victim of the cutbacks. Dublin Bus was due to get extra buses to expand its fleet, but this has now been put on hold following a damning consultants report into its operations.
And the Metro North link between Dublin city, Dublin Airport and Swords is also under threat. Although €60m has been set aside for the project, this is dependent on An Bord Pleanala granting an enforceable railway order.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary yesterday launched an attack on the Metro North project, claiming that he and other taxpayers should not have to subside the people of Swords who could "drive to Dublin like anybody else".
Fine Gael finance spokesman Richard Bruton said that cuts in the capital budget were now "unfortunately" unavoidable.
"If we're to find €4.5bn in nine months, the room for manoeuvre is quite tight. Our financial viability as an independent nation is under threat," he said.
Mr Bruton said that every capital project had to be judged on how much it contributed to the economy, and how labour intensive it was. That included the Metro North, which may have to go "back to the drawing board", he said.
"You would have to reckon that a project that was built on the assumption of considerable growth in housing and activity along the corridor would now be looking quite shaky," he said.
It came as builders warned that further cuts in capital spending could lead to 55,000 job losses in the industry. The Construction Industry Federation has called an emergency meeting of its members in Dublin next Monday to respond to the Government's planned cutbacks.
But the Irish Independent has learned that the capital projects which are safe include all the major inter-urban motorway projects such as the Limerick-Nenagh upgrade, the Galway to Ballinasloe motorway and the Dublin to Waterford motorway. Two public-private partnerships, the Limerick to Cork motorway and the Galway to Tuam motorway, have also been approved in recent months.
The Department of Transport confirmed last night that the major rail projects will not be affected by any capital budget cutbacks. These include the construction of two extra rail tracks on the Kildare route, the Ennis to Athenry section of the Western Rail Corridor, the Middleton Rail Line in Cork, and the Dunboyne section of the Navan Rail link.
Labour finance spokeswoman Joan Burton said she would be seeking details of the Government's plans for its €8bn capital budget.
"We want to see what's committed to and what is pencilled in," she said.
The Government has already cut €300m from the capital budget last month in its revised estimates, although it claimed that falling construction prices would allow it to deliver the same for less.
Michael Brennan Political Correspondent
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The projects likely to be postponed include the Metro North underground line to Dublin Airport, extra buses for Dublin Bus and regional and local roads.
There are also growing doubts about the three decentralised offices planned for Mullingar, Portlaoise and Carlow, which have not yet been given the go-ahead.
The Government is legally obliged to spend €5.9bn of its €8bn capital budget this year because contracts have already been signed for projects such as the major inter-urban motorways. But that leaves the remaining €2.1bn vulnerable to cutbacks.
A Department of Finance spokesman confirmed that this uncommitted capital spending would be reviewed in the run-up to next month's mini-budget. And Health Minister Mary Harney said yesterday that "aspects of the capital programme will have to be readjusted and re-examined".
"We may have to delay some capital projects to ensure we bring stability to the public finances," she said.
According to sources, the €481m capital budget for regional and local roads is likely to be a victim of the cutbacks. Dublin Bus was due to get extra buses to expand its fleet, but this has now been put on hold following a damning consultants report into its operations.
And the Metro North link between Dublin city, Dublin Airport and Swords is also under threat. Although €60m has been set aside for the project, this is dependent on An Bord Pleanala granting an enforceable railway order.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary yesterday launched an attack on the Metro North project, claiming that he and other taxpayers should not have to subside the people of Swords who could "drive to Dublin like anybody else".
Fine Gael finance spokesman Richard Bruton said that cuts in the capital budget were now "unfortunately" unavoidable.
"If we're to find €4.5bn in nine months, the room for manoeuvre is quite tight. Our financial viability as an independent nation is under threat," he said.
Mr Bruton said that every capital project had to be judged on how much it contributed to the economy, and how labour intensive it was. That included the Metro North, which may have to go "back to the drawing board", he said.
"You would have to reckon that a project that was built on the assumption of considerable growth in housing and activity along the corridor would now be looking quite shaky," he said.
It came as builders warned that further cuts in capital spending could lead to 55,000 job losses in the industry. The Construction Industry Federation has called an emergency meeting of its members in Dublin next Monday to respond to the Government's planned cutbacks.
But the Irish Independent has learned that the capital projects which are safe include all the major inter-urban motorway projects such as the Limerick-Nenagh upgrade, the Galway to Ballinasloe motorway and the Dublin to Waterford motorway. Two public-private partnerships, the Limerick to Cork motorway and the Galway to Tuam motorway, have also been approved in recent months.
The Department of Transport confirmed last night that the major rail projects will not be affected by any capital budget cutbacks. These include the construction of two extra rail tracks on the Kildare route, the Ennis to Athenry section of the Western Rail Corridor, the Middleton Rail Line in Cork, and the Dunboyne section of the Navan Rail link.
Labour finance spokeswoman Joan Burton said she would be seeking details of the Government's plans for its €8bn capital budget.
"We want to see what's committed to and what is pencilled in," she said.
The Government has already cut €300m from the capital budget last month in its revised estimates, although it claimed that falling construction prices would allow it to deliver the same for less.
Michael Brennan Political Correspondent
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Man flouted planning laws
A man who unlawfully built a massive refrigerator repair centre alongside the Naas dual carriageway has had to demolish it and pay a €75,000 fine for contempt of court.
Liam Nevin’s “flouting of planning laws and intentional breach of court orders” has cost him hundreds of thousands of euros in costs for design, construction, demolition, fines and legal fees.
Judge Jacqueline Linnane told Damien Keaney, counsel for the planning authority, that Mr Nevin, Commons Road, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin, had brought the displeasure of the courts upon himself.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Liam Nevin’s “flouting of planning laws and intentional breach of court orders” has cost him hundreds of thousands of euros in costs for design, construction, demolition, fines and legal fees.
Judge Jacqueline Linnane told Damien Keaney, counsel for the planning authority, that Mr Nevin, Commons Road, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin, had brought the displeasure of the courts upon himself.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Council planners to deal with appeals
PLANNERS FROM local authorities are to be transferred to An Bord Pleanála to help deal with a backlog of appeals, an Oireachtas committee was told today.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley told the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government there were 2,5000 appeals before the planning appeals board at present.
He said it was his department’s intention to move planners from local authorities, where the numbers of planning applications had dropped, to An Bord Pleanála to help deal with the backlog.
He said the department would also reduce the quorum required within the board to decide on smaller applications from three to two to speed up the process.
He was responding to Fine Gael TD Phil Hogan, who said the board’s operations were “a disaster at the moment”. He said over 50 per cent of the applications were being dealt with outside the accepted timeline of eight weeks.
“It is scandalous the amount of time the cases are taking,” he said.
He suggested the department considers introducing a statutory time limit and examines resourcing in the board. Mr Gormley said the department would first check they had people qualified to move from the local authorities to the board and then they would be moved.
“Now we have an opportunity to deal with that backlog,” he said.
He also told the committee that the €300 million Gateway Innovation Fund, launched in June 2007, was being deferred. The fund was intended to stimulate capital development in gateway areas around the country.
The Minister said the fund had been talked about when the country was “doing very, very well. We had this free-for-all during the good times . . . now we have to plan,” he said.
The Minister also told the committee, which was discussing the Draft Regional Planning Regulations 2009, that the National Spatial Strategy was being updated to reflect current trends. It would be completed before the summer, he said, and would feed into regional planning.
Fianna Fáil TD Christy O’Sullivan asked the Minister how the guidelines could reverse the decline of the population in rural areas.
Mr Gormley said he was aware of the decline and was familiar with the increase in population on the eastern side of the country.
A lot of problems had been created by bad planning, he said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Minister for the Environment John Gormley told the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government there were 2,5000 appeals before the planning appeals board at present.
He said it was his department’s intention to move planners from local authorities, where the numbers of planning applications had dropped, to An Bord Pleanála to help deal with the backlog.
He said the department would also reduce the quorum required within the board to decide on smaller applications from three to two to speed up the process.
He was responding to Fine Gael TD Phil Hogan, who said the board’s operations were “a disaster at the moment”. He said over 50 per cent of the applications were being dealt with outside the accepted timeline of eight weeks.
“It is scandalous the amount of time the cases are taking,” he said.
He suggested the department considers introducing a statutory time limit and examines resourcing in the board. Mr Gormley said the department would first check they had people qualified to move from the local authorities to the board and then they would be moved.
“Now we have an opportunity to deal with that backlog,” he said.
He also told the committee that the €300 million Gateway Innovation Fund, launched in June 2007, was being deferred. The fund was intended to stimulate capital development in gateway areas around the country.
The Minister said the fund had been talked about when the country was “doing very, very well. We had this free-for-all during the good times . . . now we have to plan,” he said.
The Minister also told the committee, which was discussing the Draft Regional Planning Regulations 2009, that the National Spatial Strategy was being updated to reflect current trends. It would be completed before the summer, he said, and would feed into regional planning.
Fianna Fáil TD Christy O’Sullivan asked the Minister how the guidelines could reverse the decline of the population in rural areas.
Mr Gormley said he was aware of the decline and was familiar with the increase in population on the eastern side of the country.
A lot of problems had been created by bad planning, he said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tough year for man once lionised as a 'wizard'
BERNARD McNAMARA: Clare-born developer Bernard McNamara took the public ‘hit’ for the collapse of PPP schemes in Dublin
IT HAS been a tough year for Bernard McNamara – much of it in the public eye. Indeed, he ended up taking all the flak over the collapse of public-private partnership (PPP) schemes to regenerate five run-down social housing estates in Dublin, even though another developer – Castlethorn’s Joe O’Reilly – was also involved.
O’Reilly (Dundrum shopping centre, Swords Pavilions, big plans for O’Connell Street in Dublin) kept well under the radar, as he always does. But McNamara put himself in the spotlight and must have found the negative feedback quite traumatic – especially for a man more accustomed to being lionised as a “financial wizard”.
The PPPs, worth more than €900 million in total, fell apart last May amid a welter of recriminations. McNamara cited “adversely changed circumstances” in the housing market, new guidelines requiring developers to build larger apartments and energy regulations. But there was a lot of anger in the communities being left in the lurch.
To stave off legal action by Dublin City Council, which strongly denied any suggestion that it had “moved the goalposts”, McNamara agreed last September to pay the council €1.5 million in compensation – small beer, given the scale of the PPPs – as well as handing over all drawings and plans for the five regeneration projects.
Six months earlier, in what was interpreted as a sign that the once highly acquisitive developer was “drawing in his horns”, he sold his 14.5 per cent stake in the Superquinn chain for an undisclosed sum; in 2005, he had been a member of the consortium that acquired the supermarkets from Feargal Quinn and his family for €450 million.
It also emerged that McNamara was seeking to dispose of other assets, including the Richard Alan and Zerep shops in Dublin’s Grafton Street (valued at the time at €42 million) and the long-closed Ormond Hotel, which was said to be worth €15 million. In the event, these disposals did not proceed – mainly due to the onset of recession.
More damaging was a Sunday newspaper speculating that McNamara had €1.5 billion in borrowings from the banks, secured on his extensive property portfolio. Again, the Clare-born developer had to come out in public, making it clear that he had “sufficient assets” to cover debts and that his business was not in financial difficulties.
One of these assets is the 24-acre Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend, which a consortium led by McNamara acquired from Paul Coulson’s Ardagh group for €412 million at the height of the property boom in October 2006; to put this in perspective, Liam Carroll had snapped up a 12-acre site next door for just over €20 million seven years earlier.
McNamara sank €57.5 million into the Becbay consortium, most of it in the form of “mezzanine finance” from clients of Davy Stockbrokers. His partners are financier Derek Quinlan and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) – with Anglo Irish Bank providing €288 million for the acquisition, secured on the value of the site.
Seán FitzPatrick, former chairman of Anglo Irish, was on the DDDA’s board at the time, while its then chairman, Lar Bradshaw, was a non-executive director of the bank.
According to the authority’s chief executive, Paul Maloney, they absented themselves from the board meeting which decided to take a 26 per cent stake in Becbay.
Last month, Maloney revealed to an Oireachtas committee that the DDDA had stopped paying interest on its share of the debt – after its partners had already taken this course. As for the value of the Irish Glass Bottle site as an asset, he estimated that it had fallen by 20 to 30 per cent – a remarkably optimistic view in the current market.
According to a report commissioned by Davy Stockbrokers in January, the site is probably now worth just over €160 million – a 60 per cent drop from its acquisition cost. Based on this figure, the value of the DDDA’s stake – said to be worth €117 million at the end of 2007 – has fallen to just over €41 million, and it’s left nursing a €75 million debt.
Bernard McNamara, who controls 41 per cent of Becbay, and Derek Quinlan, who holds the remaining 33 per cent, are even more exposed.
McNamara’s buying spree included the Burlington Hotel, for which he agreed to pay €288 million in March 2007 and the Allianz site next door, which cost about €100 million. Along with Jerry O’Reilly, a frequent partner, he paid €46 million for the decrepit Carrisbrook House in Ballsbridge, with the intention of building something much better on the site.
Although the Burlington reopened last April, no provision for a replacement hotel was made in the redevelopment scheme, which would consist mainly of offices and apartments. This was approved by Dublin City Council last May, but then appealed by An Taisce and others. An Bord Pleanála is now seeking further details on the project.
At Elm Park on Merrion Road, despite winning plaudits for its high architectural quality, McNamara and his partners in Radora Developments (Jerry O’Reilly and David Courtney) have had to sell apartments at discounts of at least 20 per cent as well as offering interest-free loans for five years to entice prospective purchasers.
There have also been high-profile court cases. The Radora trio (along with businessmen Bernard Doyle and John Sweeney), having bought the Shelbourne Hotel in 2004 for €120 million and then spent €83 million refurbishing it, have sued the Marriott group claiming that it was being run in a “shambolic style” – a claim Marriott strongly denies.
Another High Court action by five former partners, including Paschal Taggart, seeking to compel McNamara to pay them €7.5 million for options on a number of properties off Grafton Street, was settled last December. Meanwhile, it is believed that his Grattan Property group is submitting monthly reviews of its property portfolio to the banks.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
IT HAS been a tough year for Bernard McNamara – much of it in the public eye. Indeed, he ended up taking all the flak over the collapse of public-private partnership (PPP) schemes to regenerate five run-down social housing estates in Dublin, even though another developer – Castlethorn’s Joe O’Reilly – was also involved.
O’Reilly (Dundrum shopping centre, Swords Pavilions, big plans for O’Connell Street in Dublin) kept well under the radar, as he always does. But McNamara put himself in the spotlight and must have found the negative feedback quite traumatic – especially for a man more accustomed to being lionised as a “financial wizard”.
The PPPs, worth more than €900 million in total, fell apart last May amid a welter of recriminations. McNamara cited “adversely changed circumstances” in the housing market, new guidelines requiring developers to build larger apartments and energy regulations. But there was a lot of anger in the communities being left in the lurch.
To stave off legal action by Dublin City Council, which strongly denied any suggestion that it had “moved the goalposts”, McNamara agreed last September to pay the council €1.5 million in compensation – small beer, given the scale of the PPPs – as well as handing over all drawings and plans for the five regeneration projects.
Six months earlier, in what was interpreted as a sign that the once highly acquisitive developer was “drawing in his horns”, he sold his 14.5 per cent stake in the Superquinn chain for an undisclosed sum; in 2005, he had been a member of the consortium that acquired the supermarkets from Feargal Quinn and his family for €450 million.
It also emerged that McNamara was seeking to dispose of other assets, including the Richard Alan and Zerep shops in Dublin’s Grafton Street (valued at the time at €42 million) and the long-closed Ormond Hotel, which was said to be worth €15 million. In the event, these disposals did not proceed – mainly due to the onset of recession.
More damaging was a Sunday newspaper speculating that McNamara had €1.5 billion in borrowings from the banks, secured on his extensive property portfolio. Again, the Clare-born developer had to come out in public, making it clear that he had “sufficient assets” to cover debts and that his business was not in financial difficulties.
One of these assets is the 24-acre Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend, which a consortium led by McNamara acquired from Paul Coulson’s Ardagh group for €412 million at the height of the property boom in October 2006; to put this in perspective, Liam Carroll had snapped up a 12-acre site next door for just over €20 million seven years earlier.
McNamara sank €57.5 million into the Becbay consortium, most of it in the form of “mezzanine finance” from clients of Davy Stockbrokers. His partners are financier Derek Quinlan and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) – with Anglo Irish Bank providing €288 million for the acquisition, secured on the value of the site.
Seán FitzPatrick, former chairman of Anglo Irish, was on the DDDA’s board at the time, while its then chairman, Lar Bradshaw, was a non-executive director of the bank.
According to the authority’s chief executive, Paul Maloney, they absented themselves from the board meeting which decided to take a 26 per cent stake in Becbay.
Last month, Maloney revealed to an Oireachtas committee that the DDDA had stopped paying interest on its share of the debt – after its partners had already taken this course. As for the value of the Irish Glass Bottle site as an asset, he estimated that it had fallen by 20 to 30 per cent – a remarkably optimistic view in the current market.
According to a report commissioned by Davy Stockbrokers in January, the site is probably now worth just over €160 million – a 60 per cent drop from its acquisition cost. Based on this figure, the value of the DDDA’s stake – said to be worth €117 million at the end of 2007 – has fallen to just over €41 million, and it’s left nursing a €75 million debt.
Bernard McNamara, who controls 41 per cent of Becbay, and Derek Quinlan, who holds the remaining 33 per cent, are even more exposed.
McNamara’s buying spree included the Burlington Hotel, for which he agreed to pay €288 million in March 2007 and the Allianz site next door, which cost about €100 million. Along with Jerry O’Reilly, a frequent partner, he paid €46 million for the decrepit Carrisbrook House in Ballsbridge, with the intention of building something much better on the site.
Although the Burlington reopened last April, no provision for a replacement hotel was made in the redevelopment scheme, which would consist mainly of offices and apartments. This was approved by Dublin City Council last May, but then appealed by An Taisce and others. An Bord Pleanála is now seeking further details on the project.
At Elm Park on Merrion Road, despite winning plaudits for its high architectural quality, McNamara and his partners in Radora Developments (Jerry O’Reilly and David Courtney) have had to sell apartments at discounts of at least 20 per cent as well as offering interest-free loans for five years to entice prospective purchasers.
There have also been high-profile court cases. The Radora trio (along with businessmen Bernard Doyle and John Sweeney), having bought the Shelbourne Hotel in 2004 for €120 million and then spent €83 million refurbishing it, have sued the Marriott group claiming that it was being run in a “shambolic style” – a claim Marriott strongly denies.
Another High Court action by five former partners, including Paschal Taggart, seeking to compel McNamara to pay them €7.5 million for options on a number of properties off Grafton Street, was settled last December. Meanwhile, it is believed that his Grattan Property group is submitting monthly reviews of its property portfolio to the banks.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Bailey plans six-storey scheme on D4 house site
DEVELOPER TOM BAILEY of Bovale Developments is having another go at developing the grounds of Dunluce, a property off Anglesea Road, in Ballsbridge that he paid a hefty price for in 2005.
Back then, in the feeding frenzy that was the Dublin 4 market, he had a battle at auction, paying €6.2 million for the modern detached house with grounds running down to the Dodder - a perfect spot for upscale apartments. He’s now looking to build 28 apartments in four blocks rising to six storeys on the 0.49-hectare site, which involves demolishing Dunluce.
The proposal is also for 32 car-parking spaces at surface level.
The access from Anglesea Road would be widened to a carriageway width of 4.6m.
In 2007 Bailey was refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála to build 36 homes on the prime Dublin 4 site in a five and six-storey apartment block. This overturned planning permission granted by Dublin City Council.
The site is accessed via a private laneway off Anglesea Road. It runs down to the River Dodder and backs onto Merrion Cricket Ground. Last time around 11 appeals were submitted to An Bord Pleanála and concerns included the risk of flooding.
The board pointed to the restricted nature of the entrance to the site, and said the apartments would result in overdevelopment of the site.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Back then, in the feeding frenzy that was the Dublin 4 market, he had a battle at auction, paying €6.2 million for the modern detached house with grounds running down to the Dodder - a perfect spot for upscale apartments. He’s now looking to build 28 apartments in four blocks rising to six storeys on the 0.49-hectare site, which involves demolishing Dunluce.
The proposal is also for 32 car-parking spaces at surface level.
The access from Anglesea Road would be widened to a carriageway width of 4.6m.
In 2007 Bailey was refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála to build 36 homes on the prime Dublin 4 site in a five and six-storey apartment block. This overturned planning permission granted by Dublin City Council.
The site is accessed via a private laneway off Anglesea Road. It runs down to the River Dodder and backs onto Merrion Cricket Ground. Last time around 11 appeals were submitted to An Bord Pleanála and concerns included the risk of flooding.
The board pointed to the restricted nature of the entrance to the site, and said the apartments would result in overdevelopment of the site.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Locals appeal Terenure convent site plan
A HOUSING development proposed for the grounds of the Presentation Convent site on Terenure Road West, Dublin 6W, has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Dublin City Council granted planning permission for the scheme of 32 houses and 15 apartments in January but Dublin developer Kimpton Vale hit the headlines in February when it was fined €1,000 in court for demolishing part of the 1860s former convent school on the site without planning permission. A few weeks before it was knocked, councillors had voted to put the convent on the list of recorded protected structures.
The 1.26-hectare site is on the northern side of Terenure Road West and is surrounded by private houses, including Mayfield Road and Eaton Square to the west and Corrib Road, Rathdown Court and Greenlea Place to the south.
In an appeal to An Bord Pleanála, John, Deirdre, Shane and Ciara Dunny, with an address at Mayfield Road, say their road will be the most affected by the development. They say a proposed pedestrian link into the development from their cul-de-sac, which is in a conservation area, will affect the amenity of the area.
Other concerns include a lack of public space, and private space for residents which they say is contrary to the Z12 zoning of the site “to ensure existing environmental amenities are protected in any future use of these lands”.
They also fear that visitors to the proposed development will park along their road and restricted access to and from Terenure Road West will pose a traffic hazard.
There was controversy when Dublin City Council failed to force Kimpton Vale to reinstate the Presentation Convent after the demolition.
After ignoring several orders to rebuild the 1860s building, the company, owned by Laurence Keegan, was prosecuted and fined. Kimpton Vale bought the convent and three acres on Terenure Road West for €15 million in April 2006.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Dublin City Council granted planning permission for the scheme of 32 houses and 15 apartments in January but Dublin developer Kimpton Vale hit the headlines in February when it was fined €1,000 in court for demolishing part of the 1860s former convent school on the site without planning permission. A few weeks before it was knocked, councillors had voted to put the convent on the list of recorded protected structures.
The 1.26-hectare site is on the northern side of Terenure Road West and is surrounded by private houses, including Mayfield Road and Eaton Square to the west and Corrib Road, Rathdown Court and Greenlea Place to the south.
In an appeal to An Bord Pleanála, John, Deirdre, Shane and Ciara Dunny, with an address at Mayfield Road, say their road will be the most affected by the development. They say a proposed pedestrian link into the development from their cul-de-sac, which is in a conservation area, will affect the amenity of the area.
Other concerns include a lack of public space, and private space for residents which they say is contrary to the Z12 zoning of the site “to ensure existing environmental amenities are protected in any future use of these lands”.
They also fear that visitors to the proposed development will park along their road and restricted access to and from Terenure Road West will pose a traffic hazard.
There was controversy when Dublin City Council failed to force Kimpton Vale to reinstate the Presentation Convent after the demolition.
After ignoring several orders to rebuild the 1860s building, the company, owned by Laurence Keegan, was prosecuted and fined. Kimpton Vale bought the convent and three acres on Terenure Road West for €15 million in April 2006.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
€600m plan to pump Shannon water to capital opposed
OPPONENTS OF Dublin City Council’ proposals to source hundreds of millions of litres of water per day from the Shannon vowed they would take their opposition to the project to the European Commission at a public meeting in Dromineer, Co Tipperary last night.
At the meeting which marked the end of initial public consultation on the water abstraction plan, RPS Consulting Engineers confirmed that seven of the 10 options to supply Dublin with water into the future, involve water abstraction from the Shannon and its lakes.
But members of the Shannon Protection Alliance, a group which claims support of more then 100,000 people who live, work and enjoy the Shannon region expressed concern for the continuance of navigation along the river, the maintenance of fish stocks and the impact on tourism. Also among the concerns raised were risks to the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric plant at Limerick, wildlife, lake recreation and local drinking water supplies.
Concern was also raised about issues of “water rights”, and the potential for legal conflict, as happened, the alliance has claimed, in the case of the Colorado river in the USA, during periods of drought.
Speakers opposed to the €600 million scheme, said they were seeking advice from the European Commission to ascertain if any water directives were being infringed and would, if the scheme went ahead, take a case to the European Court if necessary.
However, Gerry Geoghegan of RPS Consulting Engineers maintained the scheme can be compatible with the aims of different Shannon users, and he said that any proposal accepted by Dublin City Council and subsequently approved by the Minister for Environment, would also be subject to the planning laws and a water abstraction licence.
But Mr Geoghegan acknowledged that in the event of low flows following abstraction, the ESB may have to be compensated for the resultant lack of generation potential.
RPS has been retained to report on the options by Dublin City Council and Mr Geoghegan told The Irish Times he expected the report to be ready by this May.
He told last night’s meeting that an emerging option would be to take water from the Shannon in winter, when high levels were frequently a problem, and pump it to two new lakes to be created on cut-away bogs, one near Rochfortbridge, Co Westmeath, and the other near Portarlington, Co Laois, before piping it on to Dublin on a year-round basis.
Currently the Dublin region uses about 560 million litres per day which by 2016 will have risen to 630 million litres and by 2031 to 800 million litres.
However, in order to ensure continuity of supply the council said it needs an extra 300 million litres in addition to what is provided by its existing water sources.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
At the meeting which marked the end of initial public consultation on the water abstraction plan, RPS Consulting Engineers confirmed that seven of the 10 options to supply Dublin with water into the future, involve water abstraction from the Shannon and its lakes.
But members of the Shannon Protection Alliance, a group which claims support of more then 100,000 people who live, work and enjoy the Shannon region expressed concern for the continuance of navigation along the river, the maintenance of fish stocks and the impact on tourism. Also among the concerns raised were risks to the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric plant at Limerick, wildlife, lake recreation and local drinking water supplies.
Concern was also raised about issues of “water rights”, and the potential for legal conflict, as happened, the alliance has claimed, in the case of the Colorado river in the USA, during periods of drought.
Speakers opposed to the €600 million scheme, said they were seeking advice from the European Commission to ascertain if any water directives were being infringed and would, if the scheme went ahead, take a case to the European Court if necessary.
However, Gerry Geoghegan of RPS Consulting Engineers maintained the scheme can be compatible with the aims of different Shannon users, and he said that any proposal accepted by Dublin City Council and subsequently approved by the Minister for Environment, would also be subject to the planning laws and a water abstraction licence.
But Mr Geoghegan acknowledged that in the event of low flows following abstraction, the ESB may have to be compensated for the resultant lack of generation potential.
RPS has been retained to report on the options by Dublin City Council and Mr Geoghegan told The Irish Times he expected the report to be ready by this May.
He told last night’s meeting that an emerging option would be to take water from the Shannon in winter, when high levels were frequently a problem, and pump it to two new lakes to be created on cut-away bogs, one near Rochfortbridge, Co Westmeath, and the other near Portarlington, Co Laois, before piping it on to Dublin on a year-round basis.
Currently the Dublin region uses about 560 million litres per day which by 2016 will have risen to 630 million litres and by 2031 to 800 million litres.
However, in order to ensure continuity of supply the council said it needs an extra 300 million litres in addition to what is provided by its existing water sources.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Challenge to student residence 'unrealistic'
PLANNING LAWS are not intended to make life impossible for developers or local authorities, the Supreme Court has said as it dismissed a local man’s challenge to planning permission for TCD’s student residences in Dartry, Dublin.
The laws are not there to “encourage fine-tooth combing or nit-picking scrutiny” of works, Mr Justice Nial Fennelly said. He was giving the unanimous judgment of the three-judge court rejecting an appeal by James Kenny over the redevelopment of Trinity College Dublin’s student residences opposite Mr Kenny’s home in Dartry for which planning permission was sought and granted nearly 10 years ago.
The Trinity Hall residences building, between Palmerston Park and Temple Road, have since been completed at a cost of €95 million and contain 180 apartments with a 400-seat dining facility.
Dublin City Council’s planning approval was appealed by Mr Kenny and Dartry Residents Association, of which he is a member. In 2000 An Bord Pleanála upheld the decision, subject to 19 conditions.
Mr Kenny contested the validity of this alleging the college was not in compliance with the conditions but the council later ruled there was compliance.
Mr Kenny then brought judicial review proceedings which were rejected by the High Court and his appeal against that decision was dismissed by the Supreme Court yesterday.
Referring to a “multiplicity” of other proceedings which Mr Kenny had brought over this matter, Mr Justice Fennelly said this was not the first “and may not be the last” case in which Mr Kenny contested the planning permission for Trinity Hall.
The judge said he needed to mention some “simple matters of common sense” as Mr Kenny had asked the court to examine, in some respects, the fine details of the development.
The judge said there will inevitably be small departures from some or even many of the plans and drawings in every development. It seemed improbable any development is ever carried out in “literal compliance” with the plans.
Where there are material departures, there are enforcement procedures open to the local authorities to deal with them, he said.
“However, planning laws are not intended to make life impossible for developers, for those executing works such as architects, engineers and contractors, or for the planning authorities in supervising them,” the judge said.
Dismissing Mr Kenny’s claim there should have been a new planning application because of the omission of one floor from one of the buildings, Mr Justice Fennelly said this was “unrealistic and pointless”. He also rejected as without merit Mr Kenny’s claim the permission did not allow for boiler facilities and other plant to be placed in roof spaces of two buildings.
Another complaint about an increase of 16 in the number of bed spaces in one building was also without merit, the judge said. These were minor adjustments and a matter of detail dealt with by the council in accordance with normal procedure.
On another complaint about the proximity of underground works to existing trees, the judge said Mr Kenny had demonstrated “a very minor, not to say trivial” discrepancy. The court would not quash the entire decision based on “such an inconsequential discrepancy”.
The judge agreed with the High Court’s finding that TCD had been prejudiced by Mr Kenny’s delay in bringing his proceedings. Mr Kenny had failed promptly to apply for judicial review proceedings in 2002, when part of the development was 100 per cent complete, even though he had with “determination and tenacity” opposed it throughout the planning stages.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The laws are not there to “encourage fine-tooth combing or nit-picking scrutiny” of works, Mr Justice Nial Fennelly said. He was giving the unanimous judgment of the three-judge court rejecting an appeal by James Kenny over the redevelopment of Trinity College Dublin’s student residences opposite Mr Kenny’s home in Dartry for which planning permission was sought and granted nearly 10 years ago.
The Trinity Hall residences building, between Palmerston Park and Temple Road, have since been completed at a cost of €95 million and contain 180 apartments with a 400-seat dining facility.
Dublin City Council’s planning approval was appealed by Mr Kenny and Dartry Residents Association, of which he is a member. In 2000 An Bord Pleanála upheld the decision, subject to 19 conditions.
Mr Kenny contested the validity of this alleging the college was not in compliance with the conditions but the council later ruled there was compliance.
Mr Kenny then brought judicial review proceedings which were rejected by the High Court and his appeal against that decision was dismissed by the Supreme Court yesterday.
Referring to a “multiplicity” of other proceedings which Mr Kenny had brought over this matter, Mr Justice Fennelly said this was not the first “and may not be the last” case in which Mr Kenny contested the planning permission for Trinity Hall.
The judge said he needed to mention some “simple matters of common sense” as Mr Kenny had asked the court to examine, in some respects, the fine details of the development.
The judge said there will inevitably be small departures from some or even many of the plans and drawings in every development. It seemed improbable any development is ever carried out in “literal compliance” with the plans.
Where there are material departures, there are enforcement procedures open to the local authorities to deal with them, he said.
“However, planning laws are not intended to make life impossible for developers, for those executing works such as architects, engineers and contractors, or for the planning authorities in supervising them,” the judge said.
Dismissing Mr Kenny’s claim there should have been a new planning application because of the omission of one floor from one of the buildings, Mr Justice Fennelly said this was “unrealistic and pointless”. He also rejected as without merit Mr Kenny’s claim the permission did not allow for boiler facilities and other plant to be placed in roof spaces of two buildings.
Another complaint about an increase of 16 in the number of bed spaces in one building was also without merit, the judge said. These were minor adjustments and a matter of detail dealt with by the council in accordance with normal procedure.
On another complaint about the proximity of underground works to existing trees, the judge said Mr Kenny had demonstrated “a very minor, not to say trivial” discrepancy. The court would not quash the entire decision based on “such an inconsequential discrepancy”.
The judge agreed with the High Court’s finding that TCD had been prejudiced by Mr Kenny’s delay in bringing his proceedings. Mr Kenny had failed promptly to apply for judicial review proceedings in 2002, when part of the development was 100 per cent complete, even though he had with “determination and tenacity” opposed it throughout the planning stages.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Brakes are on and plans are on hold, but Treasury says it's in it for long haul
TREASURY HOLDINGS: Even in a recession and with the commercial property market in the doldrums, Treasury Holdings is building two major office schemes in Dublin – with not a single tenant yet lined up
TWENTY YEARS after it was conceived as a project and following three competitions for the tender to build it, the National Conference Centre (NCC) is well under way at Spencer Dock, on a pivotal Liffeyside site controlled by developers Treasury Holdings – and it looks as if the massive building will be completed on schedule by September 2010.
Richard Barrett and Johnny Ronan, who own Treasury and its multiplicity of subsidiaries and who control two publicly quoted companies – Real Estate Opportunities (REO) and China Real Estate Opportunities (CREO) – are old hands at the property game and show no signs of cashing in their chips at this stage; they’re in it for the long haul.
Even at a time of recession and with the commercial property market in the doldrums, they are building two major office schemes – one called Montevetro in the Grand Canal Dock, funded by a 50 per cent pre-sale to a Quinlan Private syndicate, and the other at Central Park, Leopardstown, in partnership with David Arnold and Derek Quinlan. This bullish behaviour is remarkable when
not a single tenant has yet been lined up for either scheme, which will deliver 18,600sq m and 16,700sq m of office space respectively.
As a result, it is likely that No 1 Central Park will be built only to “shell and core” until tenants are found, by offering rental levels 50 per cent lower than in the city.
However, plans for two major golf resorts in the Dublin area are “on hold” – at Milverton, Skerries, where there is full planning permission for a 300-bedroom “green” hotel, 50 houses and two Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses, and Roundwood Park, Co Wicklow (bought for €17 million in 2005) where a similar scheme is being planned.
“We’re bullish by nature but, in this market, we would be absolutely mad to press the button [on either scheme] unless we had pre-takers committed,” said John Bruder, Treasury’s managing director for Ireland. Its experience with the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Enniskerry, which cut rates since it opened in October 2007, has been salutary.
Other major plans are being delayed for one reason or another.
The huge Ballymun town centre, with 60,000 sq metres of retail space at its core, is under appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
One of the appellants is N1 Property Holdings, owner of Northside shopping centre; it is controlled by Brian O’Farrell, who ironically is a partner in the Milverton scheme.
O’Farrell, who is planning to replace Northside with a much larger shopping centre, fell out with Barrett and Ronan over his acquisition of the property, in which REO had a 21 per cent stake. After a case came before the High Court, O’Farrell paid a total of €100 million to buy out AIB Investment Managers and REO, which received nearly €30 million.
Last month, Treasury initiated a High Court action against docklands entrepreneur and impresario Harry Crosbie, seeking to compel him to pay his alleged €3 million share of a €19 million bill relating to the development of Spencer Dock, in which he has a stake. Crosbie counterclaims that Treasury owes him €70 million.
Meanwhile, progress on Ballymun has been slow.
Nine years ago, Treasury paid Sisk Properties €8 million for its 500–year lease on the eight-acre town centre site. It then claimed that it was entitled to acquire Dublin City Council’s freehold title and a further six acres for €25 million. The council held out though and was paid nearly €60 million.
Treasury’s much-revised scheme for Stillorgan shopping centre, which Barrett and Ronan bought in 1996, will not proceed for at least two years, although a local area plan was adopted in late 2007. This plan also covers two other Treasury properties (Blake’s and Stillorgan Leisureplex), which brought its holding in the area to more than 13 acres.
In Sligo, full planning permission for another long- delayed shopping centre was granted last December, but construction cannot get under way until the borough council completes a compulsory purchase order for parts of the site.
“We have sufficient tenant interest that it could start very quick, by the end of this year,” according to John Bruder.
He also said that a planning application for the proposed container port at Bremore in north Co Dublin, would probably be made in the first quarter of 2010. An environmental impact statement is currently being prepared, including reference to the sensitive archaeology of the area, although he believes that this could be “worked around”.
The new deepwater port, a joint venture between REO and Drogheda Port with Hong Kong maritime conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa lined up to develop the master plan, could ultimately replace Dublin Port if the Government was to decide that it should be relocated; one of Bremore’s selling points is its close proximity to the M1 motorway.
It was Treasury’s Chinese connections that led to the acquisition of Battersea power station in London.
Based in Shanghai since 2003, Richard Barrett heard at a dinner party that Hong Kong property tycoons George and Victor Hwang were willing to sell the 38-acre site – and the deal was finally done in November 2006 for £400 million. This equated to almost €600 million at the time – an enormous sum, reflecting the fact that it was close to the peak of the property boom. REO was the vehicle used to acquire the old power station with its iconic table-leg chimneys, availing of a £185 million “debt facility” from HBOS; the bank later lent £110 million to buy adjoining properties.
Uruguay-born “starchitect” Rafael Violy was commissioned to draw up the master plan, unveiled last June, which included a transparent tower 300 metres high. This element of the huge ecologically branded scheme generated strong opposition, even from London mayor Boris Johnson, mainly because of its impact on views of Westminster.
The controversial tower has now been dropped and Violy is recasting his master plan with a view to REO making a planning application later this year.
However, Battersea power station has been the subject of
so many unrealised plans by different developers over the past 20 years that it seems as if some sort of jinx hangs over it.
In the meantime, REO has been revaluing its property portfolio, which was reportedly worth €2.4 billion at the end of 2007. Six months later, net asset values had fallen by 7 per cent and they are bound to have taken another tumble since then.
As company chairman Ray Horney said, REO could not have “remained immune” to the downturn. Neither, it seems, will CREO.
The prospect that China would have immunity to a global economic recession has evaporated, with up to 40 million workers in danger of losing their jobs as the country’s extraordinary export-led boom fizzles out and hundreds of factories close down due to the worldwide drop in demand for their products.
Series concluded.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
TWENTY YEARS after it was conceived as a project and following three competitions for the tender to build it, the National Conference Centre (NCC) is well under way at Spencer Dock, on a pivotal Liffeyside site controlled by developers Treasury Holdings – and it looks as if the massive building will be completed on schedule by September 2010.
Richard Barrett and Johnny Ronan, who own Treasury and its multiplicity of subsidiaries and who control two publicly quoted companies – Real Estate Opportunities (REO) and China Real Estate Opportunities (CREO) – are old hands at the property game and show no signs of cashing in their chips at this stage; they’re in it for the long haul.
Even at a time of recession and with the commercial property market in the doldrums, they are building two major office schemes – one called Montevetro in the Grand Canal Dock, funded by a 50 per cent pre-sale to a Quinlan Private syndicate, and the other at Central Park, Leopardstown, in partnership with David Arnold and Derek Quinlan. This bullish behaviour is remarkable when
not a single tenant has yet been lined up for either scheme, which will deliver 18,600sq m and 16,700sq m of office space respectively.
As a result, it is likely that No 1 Central Park will be built only to “shell and core” until tenants are found, by offering rental levels 50 per cent lower than in the city.
However, plans for two major golf resorts in the Dublin area are “on hold” – at Milverton, Skerries, where there is full planning permission for a 300-bedroom “green” hotel, 50 houses and two Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses, and Roundwood Park, Co Wicklow (bought for €17 million in 2005) where a similar scheme is being planned.
“We’re bullish by nature but, in this market, we would be absolutely mad to press the button [on either scheme] unless we had pre-takers committed,” said John Bruder, Treasury’s managing director for Ireland. Its experience with the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Enniskerry, which cut rates since it opened in October 2007, has been salutary.
Other major plans are being delayed for one reason or another.
The huge Ballymun town centre, with 60,000 sq metres of retail space at its core, is under appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
One of the appellants is N1 Property Holdings, owner of Northside shopping centre; it is controlled by Brian O’Farrell, who ironically is a partner in the Milverton scheme.
O’Farrell, who is planning to replace Northside with a much larger shopping centre, fell out with Barrett and Ronan over his acquisition of the property, in which REO had a 21 per cent stake. After a case came before the High Court, O’Farrell paid a total of €100 million to buy out AIB Investment Managers and REO, which received nearly €30 million.
Last month, Treasury initiated a High Court action against docklands entrepreneur and impresario Harry Crosbie, seeking to compel him to pay his alleged €3 million share of a €19 million bill relating to the development of Spencer Dock, in which he has a stake. Crosbie counterclaims that Treasury owes him €70 million.
Meanwhile, progress on Ballymun has been slow.
Nine years ago, Treasury paid Sisk Properties €8 million for its 500–year lease on the eight-acre town centre site. It then claimed that it was entitled to acquire Dublin City Council’s freehold title and a further six acres for €25 million. The council held out though and was paid nearly €60 million.
Treasury’s much-revised scheme for Stillorgan shopping centre, which Barrett and Ronan bought in 1996, will not proceed for at least two years, although a local area plan was adopted in late 2007. This plan also covers two other Treasury properties (Blake’s and Stillorgan Leisureplex), which brought its holding in the area to more than 13 acres.
In Sligo, full planning permission for another long- delayed shopping centre was granted last December, but construction cannot get under way until the borough council completes a compulsory purchase order for parts of the site.
“We have sufficient tenant interest that it could start very quick, by the end of this year,” according to John Bruder.
He also said that a planning application for the proposed container port at Bremore in north Co Dublin, would probably be made in the first quarter of 2010. An environmental impact statement is currently being prepared, including reference to the sensitive archaeology of the area, although he believes that this could be “worked around”.
The new deepwater port, a joint venture between REO and Drogheda Port with Hong Kong maritime conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa lined up to develop the master plan, could ultimately replace Dublin Port if the Government was to decide that it should be relocated; one of Bremore’s selling points is its close proximity to the M1 motorway.
It was Treasury’s Chinese connections that led to the acquisition of Battersea power station in London.
Based in Shanghai since 2003, Richard Barrett heard at a dinner party that Hong Kong property tycoons George and Victor Hwang were willing to sell the 38-acre site – and the deal was finally done in November 2006 for £400 million. This equated to almost €600 million at the time – an enormous sum, reflecting the fact that it was close to the peak of the property boom. REO was the vehicle used to acquire the old power station with its iconic table-leg chimneys, availing of a £185 million “debt facility” from HBOS; the bank later lent £110 million to buy adjoining properties.
Uruguay-born “starchitect” Rafael Violy was commissioned to draw up the master plan, unveiled last June, which included a transparent tower 300 metres high. This element of the huge ecologically branded scheme generated strong opposition, even from London mayor Boris Johnson, mainly because of its impact on views of Westminster.
The controversial tower has now been dropped and Violy is recasting his master plan with a view to REO making a planning application later this year.
However, Battersea power station has been the subject of
so many unrealised plans by different developers over the past 20 years that it seems as if some sort of jinx hangs over it.
In the meantime, REO has been revaluing its property portfolio, which was reportedly worth €2.4 billion at the end of 2007. Six months later, net asset values had fallen by 7 per cent and they are bound to have taken another tumble since then.
As company chairman Ray Horney said, REO could not have “remained immune” to the downturn. Neither, it seems, will CREO.
The prospect that China would have immunity to a global economic recession has evaporated, with up to 40 million workers in danger of losing their jobs as the country’s extraordinary export-led boom fizzles out and hundreds of factories close down due to the worldwide drop in demand for their products.
Series concluded.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Quinn factory consent at issue in court
QUINN GLASS built Europe’s largest glass-making and bottling factory without planning permission and was well aware of the risk it was taking, a British judge was told yesterday.
Robert McCracken QC said the Irish firm put up the factory near Chester in 2005, although it knew full well that its entire investment was “at risk”.
Almost four years after completion of the factory, on the site of a former power station at Elton, there is still no planning permission in place, and Quinn’s trade rival, Ardagh Glass, is arguing at London’s High Court that the factory should be levelled.
Ardagh, Irish-controlled and Jersey-based, argues that local planning authorities have no power to grant retrospective planning permission, because no Environmental Impact Assessment – required by EU law – was carried out at the outset.
Mr McCracken, representing Ardagh, says the councils are legally obliged to immediately stop the factory from operating and issue an enforcement notice requiring its demolition.
Ardagh’s challenge is being resisted by the councils with the backing of Quinn Glass, which says such draconian steps would be “disproportionate” and cause unnecessary suffering among a workforce of hundreds who would all lose their jobs.
Mr McCracken claimed yesterday that Quinn Glass had in the past said that, if it did not receive planning consent for the factory, it would strip the plant of all its massively costly equipment and move the operation to northern France.
Earlier, the judge was told that Ardagh is concerned that the four-year time limit for the councils to take enforcement action against the plant is due to expire this year and then the factory will become “immune” to planning control.
Vincent Fraser QC, putting the councils’ case, said the land on which the factory stands had been left contaminated by its former use for a power station and “at no stretch of the imagination could be called a greenfield site”.
Planning consent had been granted for a smaller glass manufacturing plant on the site in 2003 after full consideration of environmental issues. When Quinn Glass, in 2004, asked for permission to build a bigger factory, the council mistakenly took the view that this could be dealt with by “amendment” to the 2003 permission.
“It was a mistake made in good faith and there was no question of the local planning authority ignoring the impact,” Mr Fraser said.
The councils had considered taking enforcement action at an early stage after it became clear that the factory was being built without “express planning permission”. “Dealing perfectly properly with a difficult situation”, he said the councils decided that any impact on local people was not serious enough to make it “expedient” to order an end to the development.
The factory construction, “substantially completed” in 2005, went ahead in line with the conditions attached to the original 2003 planning permission – although on a larger scale – and minimal numbers of complaints were received from local residents, the QC said.
Mr Fraser says the councils are under no legal obligation to take enforcement action to remove the factory and are empowered to “retrospectively regularise” the position by granting Quinn Glass’s latest applications, subject to the secretary of state’s authorisation.
Quinn Glass, which says it has acted with full sensitivity to the environment, put in its latest planning applications in February last year and the councils say their ruling on them is “imminent”.
The case continues.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Robert McCracken QC said the Irish firm put up the factory near Chester in 2005, although it knew full well that its entire investment was “at risk”.
Almost four years after completion of the factory, on the site of a former power station at Elton, there is still no planning permission in place, and Quinn’s trade rival, Ardagh Glass, is arguing at London’s High Court that the factory should be levelled.
Ardagh, Irish-controlled and Jersey-based, argues that local planning authorities have no power to grant retrospective planning permission, because no Environmental Impact Assessment – required by EU law – was carried out at the outset.
Mr McCracken, representing Ardagh, says the councils are legally obliged to immediately stop the factory from operating and issue an enforcement notice requiring its demolition.
Ardagh’s challenge is being resisted by the councils with the backing of Quinn Glass, which says such draconian steps would be “disproportionate” and cause unnecessary suffering among a workforce of hundreds who would all lose their jobs.
Mr McCracken claimed yesterday that Quinn Glass had in the past said that, if it did not receive planning consent for the factory, it would strip the plant of all its massively costly equipment and move the operation to northern France.
Earlier, the judge was told that Ardagh is concerned that the four-year time limit for the councils to take enforcement action against the plant is due to expire this year and then the factory will become “immune” to planning control.
Vincent Fraser QC, putting the councils’ case, said the land on which the factory stands had been left contaminated by its former use for a power station and “at no stretch of the imagination could be called a greenfield site”.
Planning consent had been granted for a smaller glass manufacturing plant on the site in 2003 after full consideration of environmental issues. When Quinn Glass, in 2004, asked for permission to build a bigger factory, the council mistakenly took the view that this could be dealt with by “amendment” to the 2003 permission.
“It was a mistake made in good faith and there was no question of the local planning authority ignoring the impact,” Mr Fraser said.
The councils had considered taking enforcement action at an early stage after it became clear that the factory was being built without “express planning permission”. “Dealing perfectly properly with a difficult situation”, he said the councils decided that any impact on local people was not serious enough to make it “expedient” to order an end to the development.
The factory construction, “substantially completed” in 2005, went ahead in line with the conditions attached to the original 2003 planning permission – although on a larger scale – and minimal numbers of complaints were received from local residents, the QC said.
Mr Fraser says the councils are under no legal obligation to take enforcement action to remove the factory and are empowered to “retrospectively regularise” the position by granting Quinn Glass’s latest applications, subject to the secretary of state’s authorisation.
Quinn Glass, which says it has acted with full sensitivity to the environment, put in its latest planning applications in February last year and the councils say their ruling on them is “imminent”.
The case continues.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
OECD to offer mediation in Corrib gas dispute
THE ORGANISATION for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is to offer to mediate between Shell and the north Mayo community over residents’ health and safety concerns about the Corrib gas project.
OECD representatives in the Netherlands and Ireland have made contact with both parties, following confirmation that a complaint lodged by community group Pobal Chill Chomáin is admissible.
The complaint, lodged last year by the north Mayo community group, claims that Corrib gas developers Royal Dutch Shell, Statoil Hydro and Marathon Oil have violated OECD guidelines for multinational companies.
The OECD guidelines comprise voluntary principles and standards for “responsible business conduct” by multinational companies. They are non-binding, but have considerable moral authority in the 30 OECD member states.
The guidelines relate to employment and industrial relations, human rights, environmental issues, information disclosure, combating bribery, consumer interests, science and technology, competition and taxation.
The complaint was lodged with OECD national contact points in both the Netherlands and Ireland, as Royal Dutch Shell has its headquarters in The Hague.
It is the first time that the Irish national contact point of the OECD has handled a complaint at this level. OECD contact points in Norway and Britain have also been notified by the Dutch and Irish representatives.
The OECD intervention has been welcomed as “very significant” by Pobal Chill Chomáin while Shell EP Ireland made no comment. Pobal Chill Chomáin spokesman Vincent McGrath said that such mediation promised to be far more extensive than that offered late last year under “confined” terms of reference by the Government.
“The key issue with this project is that it has to be examined in its totality in relation to its environmental impact, which the Government has failed to do so far,” he said.
To date, the key community groups have not participated directly in the forum established late last year by Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan and Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív, due to concerns over the terms of reference. It is understood that direct talks with the Ministers may take place later this month.
The Pobal Chill Chomáin complaint, supported by the peace and justice organisation Afri, specifies chapter five of the OECD guidelines and says the Corrib gas developers failed to “operate in consideration of relevant international agreements, principles, objectives and standards” and to provide the public with “adequate and timely information” on potential impacts.
It says the three companies breached chapter two of the guidelines in failing to comply with human rights, failing to “encourage the local capacity building” and failing to “act in partnership with the local community”.
The community group has also lodged a complaint on the project with the European Commission.
The Corrib gas developers have recently submitted a revised application for an onshore pipeline route to An Bord Pleanála and are also seeking planning permission for a beach valve station at Glengad, along with relevant ministerial consents.
Earlier this week, Shell EP Ireland also applied to Mayo County Council for a further amendment to original planning permission for the gas refinery at Bellanaboy.
The company plans to lay its offshore pipeline linking the well-head to the landfall at Glengad this summer. It had secured agreement with the Erris Inshore Fishermen’s Association last year in relation to discharges into Broadhaven Bay.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
OECD representatives in the Netherlands and Ireland have made contact with both parties, following confirmation that a complaint lodged by community group Pobal Chill Chomáin is admissible.
The complaint, lodged last year by the north Mayo community group, claims that Corrib gas developers Royal Dutch Shell, Statoil Hydro and Marathon Oil have violated OECD guidelines for multinational companies.
The OECD guidelines comprise voluntary principles and standards for “responsible business conduct” by multinational companies. They are non-binding, but have considerable moral authority in the 30 OECD member states.
The guidelines relate to employment and industrial relations, human rights, environmental issues, information disclosure, combating bribery, consumer interests, science and technology, competition and taxation.
The complaint was lodged with OECD national contact points in both the Netherlands and Ireland, as Royal Dutch Shell has its headquarters in The Hague.
It is the first time that the Irish national contact point of the OECD has handled a complaint at this level. OECD contact points in Norway and Britain have also been notified by the Dutch and Irish representatives.
The OECD intervention has been welcomed as “very significant” by Pobal Chill Chomáin while Shell EP Ireland made no comment. Pobal Chill Chomáin spokesman Vincent McGrath said that such mediation promised to be far more extensive than that offered late last year under “confined” terms of reference by the Government.
“The key issue with this project is that it has to be examined in its totality in relation to its environmental impact, which the Government has failed to do so far,” he said.
To date, the key community groups have not participated directly in the forum established late last year by Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan and Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív, due to concerns over the terms of reference. It is understood that direct talks with the Ministers may take place later this month.
The Pobal Chill Chomáin complaint, supported by the peace and justice organisation Afri, specifies chapter five of the OECD guidelines and says the Corrib gas developers failed to “operate in consideration of relevant international agreements, principles, objectives and standards” and to provide the public with “adequate and timely information” on potential impacts.
It says the three companies breached chapter two of the guidelines in failing to comply with human rights, failing to “encourage the local capacity building” and failing to “act in partnership with the local community”.
The community group has also lodged a complaint on the project with the European Commission.
The Corrib gas developers have recently submitted a revised application for an onshore pipeline route to An Bord Pleanála and are also seeking planning permission for a beach valve station at Glengad, along with relevant ministerial consents.
Earlier this week, Shell EP Ireland also applied to Mayo County Council for a further amendment to original planning permission for the gas refinery at Bellanaboy.
The company plans to lay its offshore pipeline linking the well-head to the landfall at Glengad this summer. It had secured agreement with the Erris Inshore Fishermen’s Association last year in relation to discharges into Broadhaven Bay.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 2 March 2009
New 'cycle to work' scheme gets just one query
THE Department of Finance has received only one query regarding its cycle-to-work scheme announced in the Budget last year.
The bike scheme, which was heralded as an important green initiative in the emergency October budget, encourages employers to cover the cost of a bicycle up to €1,000. Employers can then claim the cost as a tax-exempt benefit-in-kind, while employees who buy the bike themselves can save tax, PRSI and levies.
With the Department of Finance still finalising the scheme, only one query from a company has been received, and that was from a bicycle supplier.
However, the Green Party's Ciaran Cuffe insisted that there was "huge interest" in the scheme and that hundreds of enquiries had been submitted via the Green Party's 'Bike Scheme' website.
"I think it shows that government and the Department of Finance, in particular, need to be more proactive in promoting this scheme. Maybe, we're dragging interested parties to our own website," he said.
A spokesman for the Department of Finance also stressed that the Government Supplies Agency is currently drafting a tender document with the intention of setting up a countrywide framework of suppliers of bicycles and safety equipment to service this scheme.
When this framework is in place they will then issue a circular setting out how the framework is to be operated. It is envisaged that this framework should be in place before the end of April.
Tokenistic
The Labour Party's Joanna Tuffy labelled the scheme as "tokenistic" and a "cosmetic exercise" by the Greens.
"Really, where the Greens should have put their foot down was over Dublin Bus if they're determined to get people out of their cars and onto public transport. Things like the bike scheme are tokenistic and the fact that there's only been one query shows there's no race to it," she said.
"If the Greens were to concentrate on anywhere, it should be the buses ... they really should have put their foot down on the proposals to cut down on buses. That bike grant is cosmetic in itself. The more you can do to encourage people to cycle, the better, but you really have to put in place other conditions to get more cars off the road first and put people in buses."
More bicycles are stolen in a month than will be provided for in an entire year under the bicycle scheme, said Labour.
AINE KERR
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The bike scheme, which was heralded as an important green initiative in the emergency October budget, encourages employers to cover the cost of a bicycle up to €1,000. Employers can then claim the cost as a tax-exempt benefit-in-kind, while employees who buy the bike themselves can save tax, PRSI and levies.
With the Department of Finance still finalising the scheme, only one query from a company has been received, and that was from a bicycle supplier.
However, the Green Party's Ciaran Cuffe insisted that there was "huge interest" in the scheme and that hundreds of enquiries had been submitted via the Green Party's 'Bike Scheme' website.
"I think it shows that government and the Department of Finance, in particular, need to be more proactive in promoting this scheme. Maybe, we're dragging interested parties to our own website," he said.
A spokesman for the Department of Finance also stressed that the Government Supplies Agency is currently drafting a tender document with the intention of setting up a countrywide framework of suppliers of bicycles and safety equipment to service this scheme.
When this framework is in place they will then issue a circular setting out how the framework is to be operated. It is envisaged that this framework should be in place before the end of April.
Tokenistic
The Labour Party's Joanna Tuffy labelled the scheme as "tokenistic" and a "cosmetic exercise" by the Greens.
"Really, where the Greens should have put their foot down was over Dublin Bus if they're determined to get people out of their cars and onto public transport. Things like the bike scheme are tokenistic and the fact that there's only been one query shows there's no race to it," she said.
"If the Greens were to concentrate on anywhere, it should be the buses ... they really should have put their foot down on the proposals to cut down on buses. That bike grant is cosmetic in itself. The more you can do to encourage people to cycle, the better, but you really have to put in place other conditions to get more cars off the road first and put people in buses."
More bicycles are stolen in a month than will be provided for in an entire year under the bicycle scheme, said Labour.
AINE KERR
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Bord Pleanála to hire experts to assess Metro North plan
Bord Pleanála is to hire its own experts in the areas of noise, traffic, vibration and ground settlement in assessing the Railway Procurement Agency's plans for Metro north, the preliminary inquiry into the metro was told this morning.
Opening what he said was a "housekeeping" session to decide on the running order for the inquiry in Dublin's Croke Park today, Bord Pleanála senior planning inspector Kevin Moore said there had been almost 200 formal observations on plans for the 18 kilometre route from St Stephen's Green to north of Swords, eight kilometres of which is to be underground.
James Connolly SC for the Railway Procurement Agency told the hearing he expected the case in favour of Dublin's first metro route would take about six days to outline.
Others who are seeking time at the hearing include the Mater Hospital, schools, An Taisce, Iarnród Éireann, Fingal and Dublin City councils, Dublin Airport Authority, traders associations and individual residents associations.
The inquiry will also provide a period for cross-examination of witnesses which is expected to be considerable.
Colm Costello for the CIE group said negotiations between the procurement agency and the CIE group were ongoing and their success would impact on how much time the group would need to make its observations.
Mr Moore told the inquiry that once the running order and likely timescale for the inquiry proper was established, each of the parties would be advised in writing of the probable length and venue of the inquiry.
An environmental impact statement (EIS) on the project last September predicted the effects expected from the construction of the Metro line could include serious impacts on sensitive equipment at the Rotunda and Mater hospitals, and the possibility that the Mater may have to make alternative arrangements for operations.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Opening what he said was a "housekeeping" session to decide on the running order for the inquiry in Dublin's Croke Park today, Bord Pleanála senior planning inspector Kevin Moore said there had been almost 200 formal observations on plans for the 18 kilometre route from St Stephen's Green to north of Swords, eight kilometres of which is to be underground.
James Connolly SC for the Railway Procurement Agency told the hearing he expected the case in favour of Dublin's first metro route would take about six days to outline.
Others who are seeking time at the hearing include the Mater Hospital, schools, An Taisce, Iarnród Éireann, Fingal and Dublin City councils, Dublin Airport Authority, traders associations and individual residents associations.
The inquiry will also provide a period for cross-examination of witnesses which is expected to be considerable.
Colm Costello for the CIE group said negotiations between the procurement agency and the CIE group were ongoing and their success would impact on how much time the group would need to make its observations.
Mr Moore told the inquiry that once the running order and likely timescale for the inquiry proper was established, each of the parties would be advised in writing of the probable length and venue of the inquiry.
An environmental impact statement (EIS) on the project last September predicted the effects expected from the construction of the Metro line could include serious impacts on sensitive equipment at the Rotunda and Mater hospitals, and the possibility that the Mater may have to make alternative arrangements for operations.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Developer who gambled big - and lost
SEAN DUNNE: The Carlow man’s €379 million Ballsbridge vision depended on a highly speculative deal, writes FRANK McDONALD
SEÁN DUNNE was disarmingly frank in a New Year interview he gave to the New York Times , admitting that he “could be considered insolvent” if the banking crisis continued. Since then, the crisis in Ireland’s banks has become an international scandal – and Dunne’s own problems have deepened considerably.
The once-swaggering property developer – whose past excesses included a honeymoon with his second wife, former journalist Gayle Killilea, aboard Aristotle Onassis’s yacht Christina O in 2004 – had gambled on getting permission for a high-rise cluster in Ballsbridge, and lost the bet just three weeks after the interview was published.
In the autumn of 2005, when Dunne agreed to pay nearly € 54 million per acre for the site of Jurys Hotel and more than € 57 million per acre for the site of the Berkeley Court Hotel next door just a couple of months later, seasoned observers in the property world thought it was “mad money” – even though it was soon trumped by others.
Dunne had agreed to pay a total of € 379 million for the two hotel sites, with Ulster Bank advancing almost € 250 million towards the purchase. For both the developer and his bankers, it was a highly speculative deal that crucially depended on the planning authorities sharing his vision of creating “the new Knightsbridge”.
Yet there was never any basis in planning policy for the high-rise buildings proposed, not least the 37-storey “diamond-cut” tower that would have loomed up at the end of Pembroke Road. And though Dublin City Council planners decided to approve the project, minus the controversial tower, it would have to get through An Bord Pleanála.
Dunne had made it clear that it was “all or nothing” for the seven-acre site of the hotels, which re-opened for business in November 2007. He even suggested the macro-economic impact of what he was proposing would be so significant that it would be a blow to Dublin – and to Ireland – if the entire scheme did not proceed as planned.
Despite rounding up an impressive number of appeals in favour of the proposed development, which accounted for an unprecedented 87 out of the 127 lodged with An Bord Pleanála, and expressing confidence that he would get his way, the board refused permission on five counts, including “gross overdevelopment” in such a sensitive area.
Although a statement from Mountbrook, Dunne’s property company, said it would be making a fresh planning application for a purely residential scheme on the hotel sites, it seems probable that permission would only be granted for a much more modest development that would barely repay its extravagant investment.
According to property experts, the seven-acre site is likely to be worth no more than € 100 million in today’s depressed market – or just over a quarter of what Dunne paid for it in 2005 – and that the hotels he planned to demolish – now successfully trading as D4 Hotels – could be the most valuable part of what he called a “superprime” site.
Even if he had managed to get permission for the grandiose, overblown € 1 billion scheme shot down by An Bord Pleanála, what bank or banks would have lent him the money to develop it – and, in any case, where would he find an army of well-heeled purchasers to buy the 600-plus luxury apartments that were being planned?
Just one year ago, with property values in Dublin already falling, he was expecting to fetch € 1,500 per square foot for these apartments, or more than € 16,000 per sq metre. Thus, the asking price for a family-sized three-bedroom flat of 120 sq metres would have cost close to € 2 million – which would also be seen as “mad money” in today’s market.
The reversal in Ballsbridge was not the only setback Seán Dunne suffered in the past four months. Just two weeks before delivering its Ballsbridge verdict, the board overturned Wicklow County Council’s decision to approve a large-scale shopping centre at Charlesland, on the outskirts of Greystones, on the basis that it could undermine Bray.
The development proposed by Zapi Properties – jointly controlled by Dunne and Ballymore’s Seán Mulryan – was to have included 20,000 sq metres of shops, 16,000 sq metres of retail warehousing, 11,500 sq metres of car showrooms and 26,000 sq metres of office space. But where’s the market for all that?
Last November, the appeals board reversed a decision by Kildare County Council to approve plans for a retail, residential and office development on the Zed Candy site in Kilcock, saying it would have a detrimental impact on the viability of the town centre. But here again, who would be queuing up to take the 29 shops and 180 apartments?
Neither were the Ballsbridge hotel sites Dunne’s only investment in Dublin’s most exclusive inner suburb. At the height of the boom, he bought a half-share in AIB Bankcentre for € 200 million and engaged in a land swap valued at € 130 million to acquire Hume House – next door to Jurys – in exchange for an office block in Docklands.
Mountbrook’s balance sheet for the year ending July 2007 showed debts of € 624 million against assets of € 765.5 million. But the value of these assets has fallen sharply since then, leaving Dunne’s bankers still “standing by their man” while wondering if they’ll ever see the debts repaid. In the meantime, there is no question of a “fire sale”.
Others have more pressing concerns. On February 18th, for example, it emerged that estate agents CB Richard Ellis had initiated legal action against Dunne over the alleged non-payment of € 1.52 million in fees for handling the land swap deal that gave him ownership of Hume House; he pledged to lodge € 1 million in court pending the outcome.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
SEÁN DUNNE was disarmingly frank in a New Year interview he gave to the New York Times , admitting that he “could be considered insolvent” if the banking crisis continued. Since then, the crisis in Ireland’s banks has become an international scandal – and Dunne’s own problems have deepened considerably.
The once-swaggering property developer – whose past excesses included a honeymoon with his second wife, former journalist Gayle Killilea, aboard Aristotle Onassis’s yacht Christina O in 2004 – had gambled on getting permission for a high-rise cluster in Ballsbridge, and lost the bet just three weeks after the interview was published.
In the autumn of 2005, when Dunne agreed to pay nearly € 54 million per acre for the site of Jurys Hotel and more than € 57 million per acre for the site of the Berkeley Court Hotel next door just a couple of months later, seasoned observers in the property world thought it was “mad money” – even though it was soon trumped by others.
Dunne had agreed to pay a total of € 379 million for the two hotel sites, with Ulster Bank advancing almost € 250 million towards the purchase. For both the developer and his bankers, it was a highly speculative deal that crucially depended on the planning authorities sharing his vision of creating “the new Knightsbridge”.
Yet there was never any basis in planning policy for the high-rise buildings proposed, not least the 37-storey “diamond-cut” tower that would have loomed up at the end of Pembroke Road. And though Dublin City Council planners decided to approve the project, minus the controversial tower, it would have to get through An Bord Pleanála.
Dunne had made it clear that it was “all or nothing” for the seven-acre site of the hotels, which re-opened for business in November 2007. He even suggested the macro-economic impact of what he was proposing would be so significant that it would be a blow to Dublin – and to Ireland – if the entire scheme did not proceed as planned.
Despite rounding up an impressive number of appeals in favour of the proposed development, which accounted for an unprecedented 87 out of the 127 lodged with An Bord Pleanála, and expressing confidence that he would get his way, the board refused permission on five counts, including “gross overdevelopment” in such a sensitive area.
Although a statement from Mountbrook, Dunne’s property company, said it would be making a fresh planning application for a purely residential scheme on the hotel sites, it seems probable that permission would only be granted for a much more modest development that would barely repay its extravagant investment.
According to property experts, the seven-acre site is likely to be worth no more than € 100 million in today’s depressed market – or just over a quarter of what Dunne paid for it in 2005 – and that the hotels he planned to demolish – now successfully trading as D4 Hotels – could be the most valuable part of what he called a “superprime” site.
Even if he had managed to get permission for the grandiose, overblown € 1 billion scheme shot down by An Bord Pleanála, what bank or banks would have lent him the money to develop it – and, in any case, where would he find an army of well-heeled purchasers to buy the 600-plus luxury apartments that were being planned?
Just one year ago, with property values in Dublin already falling, he was expecting to fetch € 1,500 per square foot for these apartments, or more than € 16,000 per sq metre. Thus, the asking price for a family-sized three-bedroom flat of 120 sq metres would have cost close to € 2 million – which would also be seen as “mad money” in today’s market.
The reversal in Ballsbridge was not the only setback Seán Dunne suffered in the past four months. Just two weeks before delivering its Ballsbridge verdict, the board overturned Wicklow County Council’s decision to approve a large-scale shopping centre at Charlesland, on the outskirts of Greystones, on the basis that it could undermine Bray.
The development proposed by Zapi Properties – jointly controlled by Dunne and Ballymore’s Seán Mulryan – was to have included 20,000 sq metres of shops, 16,000 sq metres of retail warehousing, 11,500 sq metres of car showrooms and 26,000 sq metres of office space. But where’s the market for all that?
Last November, the appeals board reversed a decision by Kildare County Council to approve plans for a retail, residential and office development on the Zed Candy site in Kilcock, saying it would have a detrimental impact on the viability of the town centre. But here again, who would be queuing up to take the 29 shops and 180 apartments?
Neither were the Ballsbridge hotel sites Dunne’s only investment in Dublin’s most exclusive inner suburb. At the height of the boom, he bought a half-share in AIB Bankcentre for € 200 million and engaged in a land swap valued at € 130 million to acquire Hume House – next door to Jurys – in exchange for an office block in Docklands.
Mountbrook’s balance sheet for the year ending July 2007 showed debts of € 624 million against assets of € 765.5 million. But the value of these assets has fallen sharply since then, leaving Dunne’s bankers still “standing by their man” while wondering if they’ll ever see the debts repaid. In the meantime, there is no question of a “fire sale”.
Others have more pressing concerns. On February 18th, for example, it emerged that estate agents CB Richard Ellis had initiated legal action against Dunne over the alleged non-payment of € 1.52 million in fees for handling the land swap deal that gave him ownership of Hume House; he pledged to lodge € 1 million in court pending the outcome.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tenders for Metro North to be lower due to falling costs
FOUR TENDERS for Metro North received by the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) last Friday are likely to be substantially lower than anticipated because of an estimated 20 per cent fall in construction costs.
The project, known to have been costed at €4.58 billion in 2004, would directly create between 5,000 and 7,000 jobs and would represent “the type of economic stimulus that Ireland needs at the moment”, said RPA chief executive Frank Allen.
A preliminary oral hearing on the agency’s draft Railway Order for Metro North, an 18km mainly underground line linking Swords with St Stephen’s Green, opens today in Croke Park before Kevin Moore, senior planning inspector with Bord Pleanála.
More than 300 submissions have been made, mostly in support of the project, after the draft Railway Order was submitted to the appeals board last September, Mr Allen said. “It’s at an advanced stage of the planning process so now is the time to move ahead.”
Procurement of Metro North was also “at a critical stage”, with some 600 boxes of tender submissions from the four “preferred bidders” – Irish and international consortiums with experience of tunnelling projects. These are to be evaluated in the coming months.
“Value for money is far greater now than it was even a year ago,” Mr Allen said, adding that an index compiled by the Society of Chartered Surveyors showed that there had been a 20 per cent drop in construction tender prices.
After the four tenders are evaluated, he said the RPA would invite two of the consortiums to submit “best and final offers” in July, with a view to choosing one of them for submission to the Government by the end of this year.
Mr Allen explained that under the public-private partnership deal being contemplated by the RPA, Metro North would be paid for over a 25-year period.
He said each bidder would have spent €10 million on their tenders. “It would send an important message internationally if the Government decided to proceed without delay on the project. But it would be very damaging if it didn’t.”
There is concern that with the Government facing an €11 billion shortfall in the public finances, Metro North could be a casualty.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The project, known to have been costed at €4.58 billion in 2004, would directly create between 5,000 and 7,000 jobs and would represent “the type of economic stimulus that Ireland needs at the moment”, said RPA chief executive Frank Allen.
A preliminary oral hearing on the agency’s draft Railway Order for Metro North, an 18km mainly underground line linking Swords with St Stephen’s Green, opens today in Croke Park before Kevin Moore, senior planning inspector with Bord Pleanála.
More than 300 submissions have been made, mostly in support of the project, after the draft Railway Order was submitted to the appeals board last September, Mr Allen said. “It’s at an advanced stage of the planning process so now is the time to move ahead.”
Procurement of Metro North was also “at a critical stage”, with some 600 boxes of tender submissions from the four “preferred bidders” – Irish and international consortiums with experience of tunnelling projects. These are to be evaluated in the coming months.
“Value for money is far greater now than it was even a year ago,” Mr Allen said, adding that an index compiled by the Society of Chartered Surveyors showed that there had been a 20 per cent drop in construction tender prices.
After the four tenders are evaluated, he said the RPA would invite two of the consortiums to submit “best and final offers” in July, with a view to choosing one of them for submission to the Government by the end of this year.
Mr Allen explained that under the public-private partnership deal being contemplated by the RPA, Metro North would be paid for over a 25-year period.
He said each bidder would have spent €10 million on their tenders. “It would send an important message internationally if the Government decided to proceed without delay on the project. But it would be very damaging if it didn’t.”
There is concern that with the Government facing an €11 billion shortfall in the public finances, Metro North could be a casualty.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 1 March 2009
Tunnelling underneath Dublin: local businesses voice their concerns
In order for the Metro north to proceed, the book of reference for the RPA's draft railway order identifies hundreds of properties which it will have to tunnel underneath.
This will be achieved by acquiring "substratum" land from private homes, schools, churches, and public parks in areas along the proposed route such as Griffith Avenue and Botanic Avenue in Drumcondra, St Ignatius Road in Phibsborough, Parnell Square and parts of Dublin 7.
It will also include the acquisition of land underneath some of the city centre's best known businesses.
Among the retailers which are identified for potential acquisition of "substratum lands" are Arnotts, Clerys and Easons, and a range of other businesses on O'Connell Street, Grafton Street and elsewhere.
Meanwhile, underground lands owned by Trinity College, Dublin City University, St Patrick's College in Drumcondra as well as lands at Dublin Airport are also identified for potential acquisition.
The RPA has set up a Property Owners' Protection Scheme for residents whose property lies within 30 metres of the edge of the tunnels or 50 metres of the underground stations. It says this aims to provide a "simple and prompt way of rectifying any damage caused under the project up to the ceiling of €30,000."
However, in written submissions to An Bord Pleanála, a number of private residents who would be affected by any tunnelling works, express their unease.
A submission by the Iona and District Residents' Association, which expresses support for the project, also outlines a number of potential concerns.
This includes the impact of construction traffic and construction vibration around Drumcondra station.
Quinn's of Drumcondra, a well known local pub, goes far further, expressing "enormous concerns" about the future "value and viability" of its business premises due to the "short term and possible long term loss of land and substratum" and the disruption during construction works.
Others, such as the five star Westbury Hotel and Mall, also express disquiet about the potential "unacceptable noise and vibration levels" and their effect on their guests.
However, at least one major city centre retailer, Arnotts, says it is "very supportive" of the project as it believes it will "greatly enhance the transport system" in the city, although it does ask that the programme of construction be kept to an "absolute minimum."
By comparison, a number of others, including the Dublin City Business Association, which represents city centre businesses, are critical of the proposals.
Clerys says it believes that "the building of Metro North presents a great threat to the retail life of the city" and seeks more information on a number of issues.
"We are concerned that this project may well prove unnecessarily damaging to the existing economy as well as prove to be the least cost efficient means of achieving what we all agree is a necessary project," the DCBA submission concludes.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
This will be achieved by acquiring "substratum" land from private homes, schools, churches, and public parks in areas along the proposed route such as Griffith Avenue and Botanic Avenue in Drumcondra, St Ignatius Road in Phibsborough, Parnell Square and parts of Dublin 7.
It will also include the acquisition of land underneath some of the city centre's best known businesses.
Among the retailers which are identified for potential acquisition of "substratum lands" are Arnotts, Clerys and Easons, and a range of other businesses on O'Connell Street, Grafton Street and elsewhere.
Meanwhile, underground lands owned by Trinity College, Dublin City University, St Patrick's College in Drumcondra as well as lands at Dublin Airport are also identified for potential acquisition.
The RPA has set up a Property Owners' Protection Scheme for residents whose property lies within 30 metres of the edge of the tunnels or 50 metres of the underground stations. It says this aims to provide a "simple and prompt way of rectifying any damage caused under the project up to the ceiling of €30,000."
However, in written submissions to An Bord Pleanála, a number of private residents who would be affected by any tunnelling works, express their unease.
A submission by the Iona and District Residents' Association, which expresses support for the project, also outlines a number of potential concerns.
This includes the impact of construction traffic and construction vibration around Drumcondra station.
Quinn's of Drumcondra, a well known local pub, goes far further, expressing "enormous concerns" about the future "value and viability" of its business premises due to the "short term and possible long term loss of land and substratum" and the disruption during construction works.
Others, such as the five star Westbury Hotel and Mall, also express disquiet about the potential "unacceptable noise and vibration levels" and their effect on their guests.
However, at least one major city centre retailer, Arnotts, says it is "very supportive" of the project as it believes it will "greatly enhance the transport system" in the city, although it does ask that the programme of construction be kept to an "absolute minimum."
By comparison, a number of others, including the Dublin City Business Association, which represents city centre businesses, are critical of the proposals.
Clerys says it believes that "the building of Metro North presents a great threat to the retail life of the city" and seeks more information on a number of issues.
"We are concerned that this project may well prove unnecessarily damaging to the existing economy as well as prove to be the least cost efficient means of achieving what we all agree is a necessary project," the DCBA submission concludes.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
For the birds: Dun Laoghaire council scraps harbour water sports project
A PROPOSAL for the construction of a marine lake in Dún Laoghaire harbour has been abandoned after the Department of the Environment ruled the development would conflict with a special protection area for birds.
The scheme was mooted as a recreational facility at the West Pier in the harbour – the newer pier – and would have provided a range of activities to the public including rowing, canoeing and sailing.
But management at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have decided to scrap the project, which was an objective of the local authority's county development plan.
In a report to councillors, county manager Owen Keegan noted that the Department of the Environment had decided to designate Dublin Bay as a special protection area under the EU Birds Directive.
In addition, he noted the location earmarked for the marine lake fell within the SPA.
He then revealed that he had asked the department to exclude the area selected for the marine lake from the SPA, so that the project could proceed, as planned.
However, he said this request had been rejected.
"In these circumstances and given the position of the department in this matter, I regret to advise members that I see no merit in pursuing the marine lake proposals any further, notwithstanding its undoubted merits," Keegan said.
A report by consultants Biosphere Environmental Services (BES) concluded that as the project would generate "adverse impacts" for feeding and roosting water birds in the area, it would be inconsistent with the SPA.
However, while a pre-feasibility study by consultants Royal Haskoning found the lake would conflict with the SPA, it also pointed out there were several factors in favour of the construction of the lake outside of the West Pier in Dún Laoghaire harbour.
The study said the water depth throughout most of the surrounding area was of "sufficient depth" to facilitate the lake.
Green party councillor Gene Feighery criticised the council for scrapping the proposal and claimed the local authority should not have cited the SPA as the main impediment to the scheme.
She said the Royal Haskoning report outlined a number of other issues that would act as constraints to the development of the lake at the West Pier.
"In my opinion it is unhelpful to cite the SPA designation, which will benefit the community and environment as a whole, as an impediment to development," she said.
The council originally said the lake would have had the potential to increase participation in water sports given that space within the harbour is increasingly being used to accommodate commercial marina developments.
This is the second time in recent months that the local authority has made a controversial decision linked to a special protection area for birds.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
The scheme was mooted as a recreational facility at the West Pier in the harbour – the newer pier – and would have provided a range of activities to the public including rowing, canoeing and sailing.
But management at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have decided to scrap the project, which was an objective of the local authority's county development plan.
In a report to councillors, county manager Owen Keegan noted that the Department of the Environment had decided to designate Dublin Bay as a special protection area under the EU Birds Directive.
In addition, he noted the location earmarked for the marine lake fell within the SPA.
He then revealed that he had asked the department to exclude the area selected for the marine lake from the SPA, so that the project could proceed, as planned.
However, he said this request had been rejected.
"In these circumstances and given the position of the department in this matter, I regret to advise members that I see no merit in pursuing the marine lake proposals any further, notwithstanding its undoubted merits," Keegan said.
A report by consultants Biosphere Environmental Services (BES) concluded that as the project would generate "adverse impacts" for feeding and roosting water birds in the area, it would be inconsistent with the SPA.
However, while a pre-feasibility study by consultants Royal Haskoning found the lake would conflict with the SPA, it also pointed out there were several factors in favour of the construction of the lake outside of the West Pier in Dún Laoghaire harbour.
The study said the water depth throughout most of the surrounding area was of "sufficient depth" to facilitate the lake.
Green party councillor Gene Feighery criticised the council for scrapping the proposal and claimed the local authority should not have cited the SPA as the main impediment to the scheme.
She said the Royal Haskoning report outlined a number of other issues that would act as constraints to the development of the lake at the West Pier.
"In my opinion it is unhelpful to cite the SPA designation, which will benefit the community and environment as a whole, as an impediment to development," she said.
The council originally said the lake would have had the potential to increase participation in water sports given that space within the harbour is increasingly being used to accommodate commercial marina developments.
This is the second time in recent months that the local authority has made a controversial decision linked to a special protection area for birds.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Can the builders survive the hit?
From a life of high-octane property wheeling and dealing to days filled with increasingly frantic attempts to keep the wolf from the door, the nightmare is getting worse on Planet Developer, write FRANK MCDONALD and KATHY SHERIDAN in the first of a six-part series
‘IT WAS LIKE a 10-year dream,” says the disconsolate developer, turning his mobile to silent, in a futile effort to shut out the clamorous world. “Now it’s like a tsunami that just keeps coming.” And meanwhile, as one architect wryly put it, the politicians, bankers and regulators are “still playing volleyball on the beach”.
The once bullish, man-about-town property developer seemed in a state of shock. “It’s the suddenness of it – the high to the low,” he says thoughtfully, as if seeing a catastrophe clearly for the first time. “It’s certainly brought everyone back to earth with a thump.”
In less than a year, the world he bestrode has turned on its axis. His sumptuous suburban home has gone on the market. The aircraft has been returned. The rarely-used villa on the Mediterranean is now the family’s principal residence. “It’s warmer there and it’s 40 per cent cheaper to live,” he says. A text message pings from his wife back at the villa. He swallows hard. “Good luck with the meeting,” she writes. “Whatever happens today I want to say thank you for making such a nice life for us.”
His days are now filled by an endless succession of tortuous meetings. Such encounters once carried the addictive thrill of a high-stakes poker game, with the delusional gambler’s faith that investments would always soar in value to counter any losses and a pet banker would always be on hand to up the ante – no matter how high it went.
That’s what kept the boom going for so long – the almost infantile notion that there was only one way the property market could go, and that was up. Which is why the banks kept throwing money at their developer clients even though these men with the Midas touch were leveraged up to their eyeballs, with multi- million-euro loans “secured” on the asset value of their sites.
The disconsolate developer’s housing estates and landbanks still encircle Dublin, but he is merely a project manager now, on a salary from the bank. “A lot of people will be working for the banks like this for the rest of our lives. The banks would lose their shirts if they tried to sell the sites now. They know that most developers are good at what they do, so they’ll keep them afloat to work the sites as best they can for five to seven years and they’ll pay their overheads and salaries”.
This is what banks mean by “supporting” developers. “It means that developers with credible skills and who are controllable will have a role. Just that – a role,” says a leading property expert. The transition from organ-grinder to monkey will be more bearable for some than others.
For those with mansions and thoroughbreds in the stables, offspring at expensive private schools, wives accustomed to a lavish lifestyle, K Club membership and private boxes in Lansdowne Road, all wrapped in a public image built on machismo, self-aggrandisement and reckless largesse, the process will be more challenging.
Only a year ago, a major concern among some of these men was how to educate the next generation about the value of money, how to steer their young towards sensible management of the family wealth in a champagne-soaked hinterland. Now the heirs of the boom are learning lessons undreamt-of by their buccaneering fathers.
The landbanks they expected to inherit are now worth half of what they had been bought for at the height of the boom. And even if more money could be squeezed out of a bank to develop these sites, what would be the point in today’s market? Who would buy the new houses or apartments or retail units in these depressed times, when almost nobody believes that the market has “bottomed out” yet?
There was a time when tower cranes on the Dublin skyline were so rare that Bertie Ahern, as minister for finance in the early 1990s, used to count them from the top floor of the Central Bank in Dame Street. Then, as the Celtic Tiger got into full roar, there were so many cranes all over the city that few bothered to count them. Now when you see tower cranes, you wonder what on earth they’re doing.
The property expert we spoke to suggested that developers “didn’t have a firm grasp that these things are cyclical. Yes, I’m sure some remember the painful recession of the 1980s but most of them were builders then, not developers, and developers have a different skill set. Most of them came from small farm backgrounds, so they’re first generation businessmen with no culture of putting money away. They spent the money and were generous to a fault. You can argue that it stemmed from insecurity and they needed to be the Big Men – but they did throw it around in every quarter.” And so, indeed, did the banks.
But the tables have been turned with a vengeance. Garrett Kelleher, progenitor of the 150-storey Chicago Spire from which he was set to make a profit of €850 million, admitted this month that this mega-project was at a standstill for lack of finance. The Architectural Record dubbed it the “Lien-ing Tower of Chicago”, because “while construction has stopped, the liens keep coming,” including one for $11.3 million (€88.2 million) from its illustrious designer, Santiago Calatrava. “If I’d known in July of 2006 that the world would be where it is today, I would have done things differently,” said Kelleher. These “things” probably included the €140 million that he himself had lobbed into the pot.
MEANWHILE, BACK HOME in Ireland, unemployment is rising rapidly, the Government’s massive debt grows by the day and consumer confidence has been undermined by fears about the future. The sudden economic downturn from the heady days of the boom has led to a steep drop in the value of commercial/ industrial property and development land – the “assets” that supposedly underwrite a mountain of debt.
Last November, media news desks were bracing themselves for an announcement – expected on a Friday around 6pm – that the banks had foreclosed on one of the major developers. When this didn’t happen, one of us received a text message the following day containing two rumours about the developer in question – that he was either in St John of God’s being treated for depression or “holed up in Spanish villa with phones off waiting for the end”.
According to reliable sources, another developer was visited at his salubrious home by some rough-looking eastern Europeans, who claimed they had bought a large debt he owed to a sub-contractor and demanded that he pay the money – some €7 million. When he declined to do so, he was allegedly beaten up, and he has since had to engage a security firm for personal protection.
At first glance, the developers with well-located assets may seem the most fortunate in weathering the recession. A leading property expert suggested, however, that “good assets are the worst thing they can have – because they’re saleable. What bank is going to lend hundreds of millions to develop such sites now? They’re riddled with risk. If sites are any way saleable, there’s every chance the banks will just sell them on.”
Those developers who survived the 1980s and had the luck to see their long-acquired landbanks blossom into fields of gold may cherish hopes that the same will happen again. “It won’t. Not for those who bought between 2004 and 2007, because the land value is wiped out,” one developer admitted. “The land value is between 30 and 40 per cent of a sale; values are already down by that much so that’s gone. Gone. You think you can sit on a site for three, five, 10 years? Not while you’re clocking up interest of €15 million to €20 million a year and the land value is dropping . . . ”
This month, developer Mick Wallace – known for his left-wing views – popped up on RTÉ’s Prime Time and said he wasn’t paying interest on his bank loans and neither were any of his competitors. Even the Dublin Docklands Development Authority has stopped paying interest on its share of a €288 million loan, advanced by Anglo Irish Bank to enable the Bernard McNamara-led Becbay consortium to acquire the Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend.
As property values plummeted to unimaginable depths, the banks began to “re-evaluate” their exposure to big loans that might never be repaid. Bank of Ireland raised its forecast from €3.8 billion to €4.5 billion over the next three years, with a “downside risk” that it might have to write off €6 billion if the economy continues to deteriorate.
AIB followed with a revised forecast that its bad debts, mainly from property investment, would almost double to €1.8 million for this year alone. And as for the rogue bank, Anglo Irish, it emerged through the PricewaterhouseCooopers report that 15 of its once valued clients have outstanding loans of more than €500 million each. Meanwhile, local authorities are facing a financial nightmare because of the costly task of completing roads, lighting and basic amenities in housing estates abandoned by developers. Dublin City Council alone is owed €142 million in unpaid development levies – mainly due to developers mothballing schemes after the first phase failed to sell. Developers desperate to sell housing stock were reduced to coming up with increasingly creative inducements.
These included interest-free mortgages, free cars with houses, and even the offer of a free apartment in Cape Verde to takers of a five-bed in Clonakilty, Co Cork. With anything from 35,000 (the Construction Industry Federation’s low estimate) to 100,000 new homes lying vacant, why build any more? As the crisis deepens, there has been a marked rise in litigation in the High Court. Erstwhile partners are suing each other over who should pick up debts, builders and developers are facing claims for unpaid bills involving piddling sums of money, in some cases, and landowners are taking cases against developers for specific performance of contracts to purchase sites, entered into during the golden days.
Entangled in the mess are countless buy-to-let “landlords” – ordinary people seduced by the buying frenzy and promise of easy money, who were often urged by mortgage lenders to buy two apartments (one to live in and one to rent out) on the delusionary assumption that hundreds of thousands of migrant workers would keep coming and rents would keep going up.
But far from rising, the number of Polish migrants registering to work in Ireland fell by 53 per cent in the second half of 2008, and it was estimated that some 100,000 migrants actually left Ireland during last year. By the end of December, the number of unemployed non-Irish nationals had trebled, from 8,000 to 25,000 in 12 months.
The CIF predicted that building jobs could plummet by almost 150,000 from the 2007 peak of 282,000, nearly halving employment in the sector that sustained the property bubble for so long. Some 750 solicitors joined the dole queues in December; the bog-standard but lucrative conveyancing work involved in shifting thousands of identical new houses on large estates had virtually ceased.
At an overseas property auction at Dublin’s Citywest Hotel last month, offering 60 properties in Antigua, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Dubai, Spain and Turkey, some at half price, only one was sold – a Marbella house originally bought for €300,000 and sold for €180,000. “A lot just want to get rid of them,” said the auctioneer. “They may have lost their jobs and can’t pay for a second mortgage as well.”
House auctions in Ireland last year fell to just 9 per cent of what they were at the peak in 2006 peak; one quarter of estate agents countrywide had been made redundant by last Christmas with plenty more expected to go in 2009. And a survey commissioned by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) in January projected that 41 per cent of architects would lose their jobs within a couple of months. Most architectural practices have already laid off some of the best and the brightest of their younger staff; in some cases, dozens lost their jobs in a single day. In the past, there was the vent of emigration for both professional and manual workers. But this time, there is almost nowhere to go; even Britain’s most famous architect of recent times, Lord Foster, announced 350 layoffs as his global design empire felt the economic bite.
The “generational loss” of younger architects, as RIAI president Seán O Laoire put it, might be avoided if the Government was maintaining public capital expenditure on much-needed schools, social housing schemes and conservation projects. Instead, the shutters have come down, with all departments reluctant to sign any building contracts now that they are back under the cosh of the Department of Finance.
WHO’S TO BLAME? “Bankers were the most at fault,” one developer insisted. “If they had put a brake on credit, it would have come to a natural end before real damage was done.” When the Irish Mail on Sunday caught up with Michael Lynn, the “missing” solicitor who owes €80 million to Irish banks, he called himself “a product of the system”. It was just so easy to get the money, he said.
“It was the way things were in Ireland . . . The banks were . . . very excited . . . by the amount of money that could be made and we were all – including myself – following the trend. I was the Celtic Cub out of control in hindsight. And I was greedy and over-ambitious. But yes there were other parties involved. They didn’t conspire; we were all part of a mythical illusion . . . ”
And there was no-one to rein them in. The Financial Regulator appears to have been “out to lunch” and the Government that employed him had no wish to puncture the property bubble. Only a small number of courageous economists raised warning flags against a bullying, short-termist establishment. The Economic and Social Research Institute had long been warning that the government’s housing policy was highly dangerous and urged that it raise taxes as a brake on demand.
But it was addressing itself to a government whose revenues had come to depend disastrously on Lynn’s “mythical illusion”, a State where “light-touch” regulation (or what the Guardian called Liechtenstein-on-the-Liffey and others called the Wild West) reigned, proudly headed by Bertie Ahern who – in the words of a major property figure – “sat at the back of the boat, told the lads to put the spinnaker up and said ‘let her off’. Then just before the wind changed, he scrambled off the boat . . . ”
What Ahern left behind was a cast of characters – including the likes of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive Seán Fitzpatrick – who could credibly populate a remake of The Bonfire of the Vanities . Not to mention leaving the rest of us not only now owning, but facing the daunting task of cleaning out the Augean stables.
The financial event was Dunne’s €379 million purchase of the Jurys and Berkeley Court hotels in Ballsbridge, and his plan to tear them down for a billion euro scheme that would feature, in Thomas’s words, “a soaring Dubai-like office tower cut in the shape of a diamond that anchored a futuristic community of expensive houses and glamorous shops”.
The cultural event was the celebration of Dunne’s second marriage, to gossip columnist Gayle Killilea, with 44 friends – including Irish Nationwide’s Michael Fingleton – on a two-week Mediterranean wedding cruise on the former Onassis yacht, the Christina O, which “came to be seen . . . as a conspicuous and garish expression of the man and his business”.
The idea that an entire city quarter should be bulldozed and rebuilt to on a massive scale because property developers had over-extended themselves – while claiming that what they were planning was “in the national interest” – was not lost on ordinary people; such reasoning, in microcosm, had driven planning in Ireland for years.
Asked where he would find the €600 million he would need to demolish the two hotels, dig a massive hole in the ground and erect his vision of a new Dublin, Dunne told Thomas ruefully: “It is fair to say that there is not a queue of bankers lining up to lend to me right now.”
Following An Bord Pleanála’s comprenensive rejection of his overblown scheme on January 30th, he told Newstalk radio that “Seán Dunne, as an individual, is 100 per cent solvent”, although he couldn’t vouch for his company, Mountbrook. As for the 5,400 jobs that he claimed would be created by his project, he said that if an American multinational was offering them there would be a “a queue of Mercedes” from Ballsbridge “all the way to Government buildings”.
A leading estate agent estimated that Dunne’s seven-acre site is probably worth no more than €100 million now – or just over a quarter of what he paid for it.
Values will climb again, he suggested, but ironically, the hotels (Jurys and the Berkeley Court) – once written off as little more than useless – will be the most valuable part of the asset.
Frank McDonald and Kathy Sheridan are joint authors of the bestselling book, The Builders . A smaller format paperback edition, with a new preface, is due to be published in May by Penguin Ireland.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
‘IT WAS LIKE a 10-year dream,” says the disconsolate developer, turning his mobile to silent, in a futile effort to shut out the clamorous world. “Now it’s like a tsunami that just keeps coming.” And meanwhile, as one architect wryly put it, the politicians, bankers and regulators are “still playing volleyball on the beach”.
The once bullish, man-about-town property developer seemed in a state of shock. “It’s the suddenness of it – the high to the low,” he says thoughtfully, as if seeing a catastrophe clearly for the first time. “It’s certainly brought everyone back to earth with a thump.”
In less than a year, the world he bestrode has turned on its axis. His sumptuous suburban home has gone on the market. The aircraft has been returned. The rarely-used villa on the Mediterranean is now the family’s principal residence. “It’s warmer there and it’s 40 per cent cheaper to live,” he says. A text message pings from his wife back at the villa. He swallows hard. “Good luck with the meeting,” she writes. “Whatever happens today I want to say thank you for making such a nice life for us.”
His days are now filled by an endless succession of tortuous meetings. Such encounters once carried the addictive thrill of a high-stakes poker game, with the delusional gambler’s faith that investments would always soar in value to counter any losses and a pet banker would always be on hand to up the ante – no matter how high it went.
That’s what kept the boom going for so long – the almost infantile notion that there was only one way the property market could go, and that was up. Which is why the banks kept throwing money at their developer clients even though these men with the Midas touch were leveraged up to their eyeballs, with multi- million-euro loans “secured” on the asset value of their sites.
The disconsolate developer’s housing estates and landbanks still encircle Dublin, but he is merely a project manager now, on a salary from the bank. “A lot of people will be working for the banks like this for the rest of our lives. The banks would lose their shirts if they tried to sell the sites now. They know that most developers are good at what they do, so they’ll keep them afloat to work the sites as best they can for five to seven years and they’ll pay their overheads and salaries”.
This is what banks mean by “supporting” developers. “It means that developers with credible skills and who are controllable will have a role. Just that – a role,” says a leading property expert. The transition from organ-grinder to monkey will be more bearable for some than others.
For those with mansions and thoroughbreds in the stables, offspring at expensive private schools, wives accustomed to a lavish lifestyle, K Club membership and private boxes in Lansdowne Road, all wrapped in a public image built on machismo, self-aggrandisement and reckless largesse, the process will be more challenging.
Only a year ago, a major concern among some of these men was how to educate the next generation about the value of money, how to steer their young towards sensible management of the family wealth in a champagne-soaked hinterland. Now the heirs of the boom are learning lessons undreamt-of by their buccaneering fathers.
The landbanks they expected to inherit are now worth half of what they had been bought for at the height of the boom. And even if more money could be squeezed out of a bank to develop these sites, what would be the point in today’s market? Who would buy the new houses or apartments or retail units in these depressed times, when almost nobody believes that the market has “bottomed out” yet?
There was a time when tower cranes on the Dublin skyline were so rare that Bertie Ahern, as minister for finance in the early 1990s, used to count them from the top floor of the Central Bank in Dame Street. Then, as the Celtic Tiger got into full roar, there were so many cranes all over the city that few bothered to count them. Now when you see tower cranes, you wonder what on earth they’re doing.
The property expert we spoke to suggested that developers “didn’t have a firm grasp that these things are cyclical. Yes, I’m sure some remember the painful recession of the 1980s but most of them were builders then, not developers, and developers have a different skill set. Most of them came from small farm backgrounds, so they’re first generation businessmen with no culture of putting money away. They spent the money and were generous to a fault. You can argue that it stemmed from insecurity and they needed to be the Big Men – but they did throw it around in every quarter.” And so, indeed, did the banks.
But the tables have been turned with a vengeance. Garrett Kelleher, progenitor of the 150-storey Chicago Spire from which he was set to make a profit of €850 million, admitted this month that this mega-project was at a standstill for lack of finance. The Architectural Record dubbed it the “Lien-ing Tower of Chicago”, because “while construction has stopped, the liens keep coming,” including one for $11.3 million (€88.2 million) from its illustrious designer, Santiago Calatrava. “If I’d known in July of 2006 that the world would be where it is today, I would have done things differently,” said Kelleher. These “things” probably included the €140 million that he himself had lobbed into the pot.
MEANWHILE, BACK HOME in Ireland, unemployment is rising rapidly, the Government’s massive debt grows by the day and consumer confidence has been undermined by fears about the future. The sudden economic downturn from the heady days of the boom has led to a steep drop in the value of commercial/ industrial property and development land – the “assets” that supposedly underwrite a mountain of debt.
Last November, media news desks were bracing themselves for an announcement – expected on a Friday around 6pm – that the banks had foreclosed on one of the major developers. When this didn’t happen, one of us received a text message the following day containing two rumours about the developer in question – that he was either in St John of God’s being treated for depression or “holed up in Spanish villa with phones off waiting for the end”.
According to reliable sources, another developer was visited at his salubrious home by some rough-looking eastern Europeans, who claimed they had bought a large debt he owed to a sub-contractor and demanded that he pay the money – some €7 million. When he declined to do so, he was allegedly beaten up, and he has since had to engage a security firm for personal protection.
At first glance, the developers with well-located assets may seem the most fortunate in weathering the recession. A leading property expert suggested, however, that “good assets are the worst thing they can have – because they’re saleable. What bank is going to lend hundreds of millions to develop such sites now? They’re riddled with risk. If sites are any way saleable, there’s every chance the banks will just sell them on.”
Those developers who survived the 1980s and had the luck to see their long-acquired landbanks blossom into fields of gold may cherish hopes that the same will happen again. “It won’t. Not for those who bought between 2004 and 2007, because the land value is wiped out,” one developer admitted. “The land value is between 30 and 40 per cent of a sale; values are already down by that much so that’s gone. Gone. You think you can sit on a site for three, five, 10 years? Not while you’re clocking up interest of €15 million to €20 million a year and the land value is dropping . . . ”
This month, developer Mick Wallace – known for his left-wing views – popped up on RTÉ’s Prime Time and said he wasn’t paying interest on his bank loans and neither were any of his competitors. Even the Dublin Docklands Development Authority has stopped paying interest on its share of a €288 million loan, advanced by Anglo Irish Bank to enable the Bernard McNamara-led Becbay consortium to acquire the Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend.
As property values plummeted to unimaginable depths, the banks began to “re-evaluate” their exposure to big loans that might never be repaid. Bank of Ireland raised its forecast from €3.8 billion to €4.5 billion over the next three years, with a “downside risk” that it might have to write off €6 billion if the economy continues to deteriorate.
AIB followed with a revised forecast that its bad debts, mainly from property investment, would almost double to €1.8 million for this year alone. And as for the rogue bank, Anglo Irish, it emerged through the PricewaterhouseCooopers report that 15 of its once valued clients have outstanding loans of more than €500 million each. Meanwhile, local authorities are facing a financial nightmare because of the costly task of completing roads, lighting and basic amenities in housing estates abandoned by developers. Dublin City Council alone is owed €142 million in unpaid development levies – mainly due to developers mothballing schemes after the first phase failed to sell. Developers desperate to sell housing stock were reduced to coming up with increasingly creative inducements.
These included interest-free mortgages, free cars with houses, and even the offer of a free apartment in Cape Verde to takers of a five-bed in Clonakilty, Co Cork. With anything from 35,000 (the Construction Industry Federation’s low estimate) to 100,000 new homes lying vacant, why build any more? As the crisis deepens, there has been a marked rise in litigation in the High Court. Erstwhile partners are suing each other over who should pick up debts, builders and developers are facing claims for unpaid bills involving piddling sums of money, in some cases, and landowners are taking cases against developers for specific performance of contracts to purchase sites, entered into during the golden days.
Entangled in the mess are countless buy-to-let “landlords” – ordinary people seduced by the buying frenzy and promise of easy money, who were often urged by mortgage lenders to buy two apartments (one to live in and one to rent out) on the delusionary assumption that hundreds of thousands of migrant workers would keep coming and rents would keep going up.
But far from rising, the number of Polish migrants registering to work in Ireland fell by 53 per cent in the second half of 2008, and it was estimated that some 100,000 migrants actually left Ireland during last year. By the end of December, the number of unemployed non-Irish nationals had trebled, from 8,000 to 25,000 in 12 months.
The CIF predicted that building jobs could plummet by almost 150,000 from the 2007 peak of 282,000, nearly halving employment in the sector that sustained the property bubble for so long. Some 750 solicitors joined the dole queues in December; the bog-standard but lucrative conveyancing work involved in shifting thousands of identical new houses on large estates had virtually ceased.
At an overseas property auction at Dublin’s Citywest Hotel last month, offering 60 properties in Antigua, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Dubai, Spain and Turkey, some at half price, only one was sold – a Marbella house originally bought for €300,000 and sold for €180,000. “A lot just want to get rid of them,” said the auctioneer. “They may have lost their jobs and can’t pay for a second mortgage as well.”
House auctions in Ireland last year fell to just 9 per cent of what they were at the peak in 2006 peak; one quarter of estate agents countrywide had been made redundant by last Christmas with plenty more expected to go in 2009. And a survey commissioned by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) in January projected that 41 per cent of architects would lose their jobs within a couple of months. Most architectural practices have already laid off some of the best and the brightest of their younger staff; in some cases, dozens lost their jobs in a single day. In the past, there was the vent of emigration for both professional and manual workers. But this time, there is almost nowhere to go; even Britain’s most famous architect of recent times, Lord Foster, announced 350 layoffs as his global design empire felt the economic bite.
The “generational loss” of younger architects, as RIAI president Seán O Laoire put it, might be avoided if the Government was maintaining public capital expenditure on much-needed schools, social housing schemes and conservation projects. Instead, the shutters have come down, with all departments reluctant to sign any building contracts now that they are back under the cosh of the Department of Finance.
WHO’S TO BLAME? “Bankers were the most at fault,” one developer insisted. “If they had put a brake on credit, it would have come to a natural end before real damage was done.” When the Irish Mail on Sunday caught up with Michael Lynn, the “missing” solicitor who owes €80 million to Irish banks, he called himself “a product of the system”. It was just so easy to get the money, he said.
“It was the way things were in Ireland . . . The banks were . . . very excited . . . by the amount of money that could be made and we were all – including myself – following the trend. I was the Celtic Cub out of control in hindsight. And I was greedy and over-ambitious. But yes there were other parties involved. They didn’t conspire; we were all part of a mythical illusion . . . ”
And there was no-one to rein them in. The Financial Regulator appears to have been “out to lunch” and the Government that employed him had no wish to puncture the property bubble. Only a small number of courageous economists raised warning flags against a bullying, short-termist establishment. The Economic and Social Research Institute had long been warning that the government’s housing policy was highly dangerous and urged that it raise taxes as a brake on demand.
But it was addressing itself to a government whose revenues had come to depend disastrously on Lynn’s “mythical illusion”, a State where “light-touch” regulation (or what the Guardian called Liechtenstein-on-the-Liffey and others called the Wild West) reigned, proudly headed by Bertie Ahern who – in the words of a major property figure – “sat at the back of the boat, told the lads to put the spinnaker up and said ‘let her off’. Then just before the wind changed, he scrambled off the boat . . . ”
What Ahern left behind was a cast of characters – including the likes of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive Seán Fitzpatrick – who could credibly populate a remake of The Bonfire of the Vanities . Not to mention leaving the rest of us not only now owning, but facing the daunting task of cleaning out the Augean stables.
The financial event was Dunne’s €379 million purchase of the Jurys and Berkeley Court hotels in Ballsbridge, and his plan to tear them down for a billion euro scheme that would feature, in Thomas’s words, “a soaring Dubai-like office tower cut in the shape of a diamond that anchored a futuristic community of expensive houses and glamorous shops”.
The cultural event was the celebration of Dunne’s second marriage, to gossip columnist Gayle Killilea, with 44 friends – including Irish Nationwide’s Michael Fingleton – on a two-week Mediterranean wedding cruise on the former Onassis yacht, the Christina O, which “came to be seen . . . as a conspicuous and garish expression of the man and his business”.
The idea that an entire city quarter should be bulldozed and rebuilt to on a massive scale because property developers had over-extended themselves – while claiming that what they were planning was “in the national interest” – was not lost on ordinary people; such reasoning, in microcosm, had driven planning in Ireland for years.
Asked where he would find the €600 million he would need to demolish the two hotels, dig a massive hole in the ground and erect his vision of a new Dublin, Dunne told Thomas ruefully: “It is fair to say that there is not a queue of bankers lining up to lend to me right now.”
Following An Bord Pleanála’s comprenensive rejection of his overblown scheme on January 30th, he told Newstalk radio that “Seán Dunne, as an individual, is 100 per cent solvent”, although he couldn’t vouch for his company, Mountbrook. As for the 5,400 jobs that he claimed would be created by his project, he said that if an American multinational was offering them there would be a “a queue of Mercedes” from Ballsbridge “all the way to Government buildings”.
A leading estate agent estimated that Dunne’s seven-acre site is probably worth no more than €100 million now – or just over a quarter of what he paid for it.
Values will climb again, he suggested, but ironically, the hotels (Jurys and the Berkeley Court) – once written off as little more than useless – will be the most valuable part of the asset.
Frank McDonald and Kathy Sheridan are joint authors of the bestselling book, The Builders . A smaller format paperback edition, with a new preface, is due to be published in May by Penguin Ireland.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tara endangered, says Smithsonian
ONE OF the most respected educational and research institutes in the United States has listed the Hill of Tara among the 15 must-see endangered cultural treasures in the world.
The Tara complex in Co Meath, the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland, has been the subject of controversy because of the nearby construction of the M3 motorway.
The March edition of the magazine published by Washington’s Smithsonian Institution says “the clang of construction equipment can be heard at the Co Meath site nowadays. The Smithsonian features 14 other “precious historic and artistic sites” around the world which, it says, “can be visited today, but might be gone tomorrow”.
“Each testifies to our urge to build and create; each reminds us of how much we stand to lose,” says the Smithsonian.
Other sites listed include the reputed birthplace of Jesus Christ, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem; Chan Chan in Peru, the largest city in the Americas about 600 years ago; and the crumbling Route 66 across the US.
Campaigners say the M3 will cut through one of Ireland’s most important historical sites, but the National Roads Authority says the new motorway will be farther away from the hill than the existing route. The motorway is scheduled to be finished in the middle of next year.
Last month the Hill of Tara was listed among a number of locations which have been nominated for inclusion on a list of possible Unesco world heritage sites.
Vincent Salafia of TaraWatch, who is quoted in the Smithsonian article, said it “should send a clear message to both the Irish Government, and Unesco, that they cannot proceed with inscribing the Hill of Tara as a world heritage site, unless the M3 is rerouted.”
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum complex and research organisation.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The Tara complex in Co Meath, the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland, has been the subject of controversy because of the nearby construction of the M3 motorway.
The March edition of the magazine published by Washington’s Smithsonian Institution says “the clang of construction equipment can be heard at the Co Meath site nowadays. The Smithsonian features 14 other “precious historic and artistic sites” around the world which, it says, “can be visited today, but might be gone tomorrow”.
“Each testifies to our urge to build and create; each reminds us of how much we stand to lose,” says the Smithsonian.
Other sites listed include the reputed birthplace of Jesus Christ, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem; Chan Chan in Peru, the largest city in the Americas about 600 years ago; and the crumbling Route 66 across the US.
Campaigners say the M3 will cut through one of Ireland’s most important historical sites, but the National Roads Authority says the new motorway will be farther away from the hill than the existing route. The motorway is scheduled to be finished in the middle of next year.
Last month the Hill of Tara was listed among a number of locations which have been nominated for inclusion on a list of possible Unesco world heritage sites.
Vincent Salafia of TaraWatch, who is quoted in the Smithsonian article, said it “should send a clear message to both the Irish Government, and Unesco, that they cannot proceed with inscribing the Hill of Tara as a world heritage site, unless the M3 is rerouted.”
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum complex and research organisation.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
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