Why foundations of our building regulations are as weak as ever

In August 2016, customers of the Liffey Valley Gym in west Dublin found out that it had closed down … The gym had been open since 2004, in a building known as Larkfield House. Larkfield House is owned by a company called Cavvies Ltd, controlled by local businessman, Vincent Cosgrave, and his daughter Jackie. The family also owns three hotels in west Dublin, as well as other business interests. Almost immediately after the closure of the gym, a planning application was lodged with South Dublin County Council to convert the building into apartments. What happened thereafter, in terms of building control, was shocking. The law was not so much broken, as completely trampled on. Regulations that were supposed to be watertight were exposed as little better than useless. And despite what has now emerged, there is, as of yet, no sign that any prosecution will take place.

Read Michael Clifford's full article @ www.irishexaminer.com

Judicial review into Cork €6.5m Docklands road network scheme

A JUDICIAL review is to be carried out into a proposed €6.5m plan to transform the city Docklands road network in anticipation of future development of offices and homes. The plans were recently granted planning permission by Cork City Council but an application to the High Court by the Save Cork City association has resulted in a judicial review of the ‘Cork Docklands to City Centre Road Network Improvement Scheme’. The scheme will seek to improve flows between the city centre, Docklands, and the N27, through a raft of measures which will include works on Victoria Road, Albert Road, Centre Park Road, Monahan Road, and as far as City Hall.

Read the full article @ www.echolive.ie

Application for 245 build-to-rent apartments in Cookstown

A PROPERTY developer has submitted a new planning application for the development of 245 build-to-rent apartments on Fourth Avenue in Cookstown Industrial Estate, after their previous planning application for the same site was deemed invalid last May. Steelworks Property Developments Limited lodged an application for a pre-planning consultation with An Bord Pleanála (ABP) about plans for a 336-unit residential development on Fourth Avenue through the ABP fast-track system, however ABP deemed the plans invalid. On October 18, Steelworks lodged a planning application with ABP, where they downsized their plans for 336 apartments on Fourth Avenue to 245. It is proposed in their planning application that existing industrial buildings will be demolished to make way for the development, and provision for associated site works is included in the plans. A decision on the application is due from ABP by February 17 next year.

Read the full article @ www.echo.ie

Planning appeal could force demolition of €22m Dublin airport facility

A residents’ group living near Dublin Airport has lodged a planning appeal which, if successful, could result in the demolition of a €22 million passenger boarding facility, which opened only two years ago. The St Margaret’s/the Ward Residents’ Group is challenging a recent decision of Fingal County Council to omit a condition contained in the original grant of planning permission for the building. The condition stipulated that the permission was only for a seven-year period after which the building would be removed in its entirety and reinstated to its former position. The single-storey building, which was completed in October 2017, provides waiting and boarding areas for passengers.

Read the full article @ The Irish Times

Planning application for €7m Cork project will be watched closely in Donegal and along Wild Atlantic Way

The success or otherwise of a planning application for a €7m project along the Wild Atlantic Way in Cork will be watched closely by those planning or thinking about similar major tourism projects elsewhere along the route, and in particular in Donegal. The €7m Dursey Island project in Cork has been described by objectors as "undermining" the quality and experience of Ireland’s wild coastal landscape. An Taisce, Birdwatch Ireland, and Friends of the Irish Environment have all submitted extensive objections to the application by Cork County Council in partnership with Fáilte Ireland to An Bord Pleanala for a €7m development on Dursey Island off the west Cork coast.

Read the full article @ www.donegaldemocrat.ie

Nuns avoid vacant site levy, saying field used for prayer

A community of nuns in Dublin has avoided having to pay a vacant site levy by claiming a meadow was used as a location for exercise and prayer. The Carmelite order has successfully challenged a decision of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to place an overgrown field they own near Stillorgan on the vacant site register in December 2018. The nuns claimed a circular path surrounding the site at the Carmelite Monastery of St Joseph on Kilmacud Road Upper was in regular use for exercise and prayer. The local authority believed the 1.64 hectare site should be registered as vacant as it was not in use and situated in an area where there was a need for housing as well as being zoned for residential development.

Read the full article @ The Irish Times

An Bord Pleanála uphold planning refusal for Cork Educate Together Secondary School

An Bord Pleanála (ABP) has upheld the decision to refuse planning for a permanent building for Cork Educate Together Secondary School, mainly due to concerns about traffic. The proposed 600-student development in Douglas would “give rise to traffic hazard”, and could obstruct road users and endanger pedestrians, the national planning authority agreed. "Having regard to the internal road layout of the proposed development, the Board considered that it would give rise to serious pedestrian and vehicular conflict," ABP said in its decision.

Read the full article @ The Irish Examiner