AN TAISCE has called on Louth County Council to “dezone” large areas of land outside the village of Dunleer designated for residential or commercial development in a 2003 plan.
Quoting from the recent “A Haunted Landscape” report by the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis at NUI Maynooth, An Taisce endorsed its finding that local plans had been “driven by the demands of local people, developers and speculators”.
The submission compiled by Gerry Crilly, a Dunleer-based member of the conservation body’s national council, described the mid-Louth village as “a microcosm of the national crisis that Ireland now finds itself in” following the property crash.
According to the county council, Dunleer’s 29 hectares (74 acres) of undeveloped residential and commercial zoned lands “greatly exceeds” what is required. If all of it was developed, it would more than double the population to at least 4,000.
The current population is estimated at between 1,600 and 1,800, and An Taisce said future population growth “may not occur within the next six years due to the rise in emigration, increasing unemployment and no net immigration into Ireland”.
It pointed to a large area of land zoned commercial at Woodlands, southwest of Dunleer, saying it was distant from the village centre and had already been the subject of three refusals for large-scale commercial developments.
Its submission said that all zoned land outside the the “natural boundaries” of Dunleer, which it identified as the M1 motorway to the west and the railway line to the east, should now be dezoned in order to promote more sustainable development.
It also noted that An Taisce had successfully appealed three decisions by the council to grant planning permission for proposed developments adjacent to the disused railway station on the basis that these schemes would “prejudice” its reopening.
Upholding these appeals, An Bord Pleanála said it was “not satisfied that the development of the site, in the manner that has been proposed, would allow for the station to be reopened or for the land, to be developed in a comprehensive manner”.
Although the Louth County Development Plan adopted in 2003 had a policy “to seek the reopening of Dunleer railway station”, An Taisce complained that this was not explicit in the latest plan and said it should be stated in “clear and unambiguous” terms.
It is also seeking a “clear policy” by the council not to zone “low-lying lands” in the floodplain of White River as part of a “proactive flood prevention policy”. Instead, it wants to see these lands designated as an “amenity buffer zone” for the village.
Calling for a strategic environmental assessment of the draft local plan, An Taisce said all previous development zonings along the river should be reconsidered due to “future vulnerability to increased flood risk”, particularly during the winter.
It also wants to see a “regional heritage park” developed in Dunleer, centred on a surviving Norman motte south of the village.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label dunleer planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dunleer planning. Show all posts
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Thursday, 9 July 2009
An Bord Pleanála rejects Dunleer schemes
AN TAISCE has won its third successive appeal against decisions by Louth County Council to grant permission for residential-led developments in Dunleer, with An Bord Pleanála overturning all three of the proposed schemes.
The latest decision by the appeals board relates to a revised plan by Tony Mallon, of A1 Design Services, for 12 townhouses, five apartments and three shops, car parking and a service road on a site adjoining the former railway station.
Refusing permission, the board said it was “not satisfied that the development of the site in the manner proposed would facilitate the reopening of Dunleer railway station”, which it noted is an objective of the county development plan. This was because of “the absence of a coherent proposal for the lands in this overall area providing for access for cars, buses, pedestrians and car-parking” associated with the station.
Accordingly, it would be “contrary to proper planning and sustainable development”.
Another reason cited by the board was that the proposed layout “would deliver a scheme with poor residential amenity for future occupants by reason of the poor quality of open space, both private and public, and poor disposition of [car] parking”.
In December 2007, also on foot of an appeal lodged by Gerry Crilly, a local member of An Taisce’s national council, An Bord Pleanála overturned an earlier, significantly larger scheme for the site by the same developer, for similar reasons.
In that case, the board said it would “result in the over-development of this land at a higher density than is found in the environs of the site and would result in a form of development which would be incongruous in this part of the town”. A much larger scheme of 167 apartments and 12 retail units in 11 buildings rising to five storeys in height, which had also been approved by the county council for a site off Main Street, Dunleer, was also appealed successfully by An Taisce in 2007.
In this case, An Bord Pleanála said the proposed development would “constitute a significant, high density and intensive expansion relative to the existing town and, by reason of its design, would fail to integrate with the existing settlement of Dunleer”.
The board was also “not satisfied that development of this site in the manner proposed would not prejudice the comprehensive redevelopment of the station and its environs”. As a result, it would be contrary to proper planning and sustainable development.
Commenting on the board’s latest decision, Mr Crilly said Dunleer had “won a very important battle” and now had an opportunity to develop community and local amenities “with the needs of the local people at the core of all plans that will be developed in the near future”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The latest decision by the appeals board relates to a revised plan by Tony Mallon, of A1 Design Services, for 12 townhouses, five apartments and three shops, car parking and a service road on a site adjoining the former railway station.
Refusing permission, the board said it was “not satisfied that the development of the site in the manner proposed would facilitate the reopening of Dunleer railway station”, which it noted is an objective of the county development plan. This was because of “the absence of a coherent proposal for the lands in this overall area providing for access for cars, buses, pedestrians and car-parking” associated with the station.
Accordingly, it would be “contrary to proper planning and sustainable development”.
Another reason cited by the board was that the proposed layout “would deliver a scheme with poor residential amenity for future occupants by reason of the poor quality of open space, both private and public, and poor disposition of [car] parking”.
In December 2007, also on foot of an appeal lodged by Gerry Crilly, a local member of An Taisce’s national council, An Bord Pleanála overturned an earlier, significantly larger scheme for the site by the same developer, for similar reasons.
In that case, the board said it would “result in the over-development of this land at a higher density than is found in the environs of the site and would result in a form of development which would be incongruous in this part of the town”. A much larger scheme of 167 apartments and 12 retail units in 11 buildings rising to five storeys in height, which had also been approved by the county council for a site off Main Street, Dunleer, was also appealed successfully by An Taisce in 2007.
In this case, An Bord Pleanála said the proposed development would “constitute a significant, high density and intensive expansion relative to the existing town and, by reason of its design, would fail to integrate with the existing settlement of Dunleer”.
The board was also “not satisfied that development of this site in the manner proposed would not prejudice the comprehensive redevelopment of the station and its environs”. As a result, it would be contrary to proper planning and sustainable development.
Commenting on the board’s latest decision, Mr Crilly said Dunleer had “won a very important battle” and now had an opportunity to develop community and local amenities “with the needs of the local people at the core of all plans that will be developed in the near future”.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 16 May 2008
Dunleer pressure to get Greens behind station pian
DUNLEER Community Development Board have been putting pressure on the Green Party to get behind the campaign to reopen the town's rail station.
When the coalalition party held its annual conference in Dundalk, members of the board met party leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley and pressed on him the importance of the station to mid-Louth.
The board has written to lan Lumley, Heritage Officer with An Taisce requesting a meeting to discuss the station and the Dunleer town development.
After the rejection by An Bord Planeala of the plan to re-open the rail station, Mr Dave Murray, the Financial Director of Peachglen Development, the company behind the proposed Dunleer Development Plan, said an amended plan will be resubmitted.
An Bord Pleanala rejected the 60 million plan which included the 4.5 million needed to reopen the rail station.
"We're in the process of drawing up a new plan and hope to submit it by the end of May," Mr Murray said.
"We are absolutely committed to resubmitting this plan. We have been very encouraged by the overwhelming support of the public."
There were three areas of land involved in the proposed development: one owned by Peachglen; one by Dunleer co-Ownership; and one by larnrod Eireann.
Peaschglen and Dunleer co-Ownership then amalgamated and after two years of talks with Louth County Council, planning permission was granted.
An appeal was lodged with An Bord Pleanala by An Taisce and upheld.
"From day one, we wanted to re-open the station," Mr Murray said.
"The re-opening of Dunleex station is not included in Transport 2021 so we decided to dig deep into our pockets. The station would help our development and the town."
It was proposed to have a bus link between the centre of Dunleer, the development, and the rail station.
The 60 million development would create 150 jobs during construction and 170 permanent jobs.
It would include a main store, fitness centre, creche, 11 shops, offices, houses, restaurant, bookmakers and 316 underground car parking spaces.
Michael King and Gene Yore
Dundalk Democrat
www.buckplanning.ie
When the coalalition party held its annual conference in Dundalk, members of the board met party leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley and pressed on him the importance of the station to mid-Louth.
The board has written to lan Lumley, Heritage Officer with An Taisce requesting a meeting to discuss the station and the Dunleer town development.
After the rejection by An Bord Planeala of the plan to re-open the rail station, Mr Dave Murray, the Financial Director of Peachglen Development, the company behind the proposed Dunleer Development Plan, said an amended plan will be resubmitted.
An Bord Pleanala rejected the 60 million plan which included the 4.5 million needed to reopen the rail station.
"We're in the process of drawing up a new plan and hope to submit it by the end of May," Mr Murray said.
"We are absolutely committed to resubmitting this plan. We have been very encouraged by the overwhelming support of the public."
There were three areas of land involved in the proposed development: one owned by Peachglen; one by Dunleer co-Ownership; and one by larnrod Eireann.
Peaschglen and Dunleer co-Ownership then amalgamated and after two years of talks with Louth County Council, planning permission was granted.
An appeal was lodged with An Bord Pleanala by An Taisce and upheld.
"From day one, we wanted to re-open the station," Mr Murray said.
"The re-opening of Dunleex station is not included in Transport 2021 so we decided to dig deep into our pockets. The station would help our development and the town."
It was proposed to have a bus link between the centre of Dunleer, the development, and the rail station.
The 60 million development would create 150 jobs during construction and 170 permanent jobs.
It would include a main store, fitness centre, creche, 11 shops, offices, houses, restaurant, bookmakers and 316 underground car parking spaces.
Michael King and Gene Yore
Dundalk Democrat
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
Dunleer plan 'will help open station'
Louth County Council has told An Bord Pleanála that plans to build 26 apartments and retail units on land close to Dunleer train station would encourage the re-opening of the train station.
In a submission to the planning board, the council denied claims by An Taisce that the development by landowner Tony Mallon would mitigate against the station re-opening.
As part of the development Mr Mallon has agreed to build a new access road to the station. The council's executive planner, Emer O'Callaghan, said this through road is a vital piece of infrastructure that would be necessary should the railway station re-open.
An Taisce has also appealed a second planning permission granted by the council for Dunleer Co-Ownership to build a new town centre with 162 residential units on a landbank adjoining the train station lands, owned by CIÉ, and Mr Mallon's site. An Taisce wants a masterplan drawn up for the area around the station before any development takes place but Ms O'Callaghan told the board that this is not an objective of the local area plan adopted by the council.
Mr Mallon said that even if An Bord Pleanála should overturn permission for the Dunleer Co-Ownership development, the new access road to the station will go ahead.
"It will avoid the sort of bottleneck being experienced at Drogheda train station at the moment and will, I feel, give Dunleer an advantage over the proposed new Drogheda North station."
The population of Dunleer rose by 43 per cent between 2002 and 2006 due to its location beside the M1 motorway and higher house prices in Drogheda, forcing buyers further up the motorway.
Elaine Keogh
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
In a submission to the planning board, the council denied claims by An Taisce that the development by landowner Tony Mallon would mitigate against the station re-opening.
As part of the development Mr Mallon has agreed to build a new access road to the station. The council's executive planner, Emer O'Callaghan, said this through road is a vital piece of infrastructure that would be necessary should the railway station re-open.
An Taisce has also appealed a second planning permission granted by the council for Dunleer Co-Ownership to build a new town centre with 162 residential units on a landbank adjoining the train station lands, owned by CIÉ, and Mr Mallon's site. An Taisce wants a masterplan drawn up for the area around the station before any development takes place but Ms O'Callaghan told the board that this is not an objective of the local area plan adopted by the council.
Mr Mallon said that even if An Bord Pleanála should overturn permission for the Dunleer Co-Ownership development, the new access road to the station will go ahead.
"It will avoid the sort of bottleneck being experienced at Drogheda train station at the moment and will, I feel, give Dunleer an advantage over the proposed new Drogheda North station."
The population of Dunleer rose by 43 per cent between 2002 and 2006 due to its location beside the M1 motorway and higher house prices in Drogheda, forcing buyers further up the motorway.
Elaine Keogh
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
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