Rugby tourism attraction kicked to touch; An Taisce objects to demolition of Georgian buildings in Limerick

An Taisce has called on the planning appeals authority to overturn the decision of Limerick City and County Council to approve planning permission for the proposed International Rugby Experience in Limerick’s city centre. The development requires the demolition of several Georgian buildings on O’Connell Street and Cecil Street, to make way for a 30,000 sq ft multi-media visitor centre celebrating the history of rugby. A corner shop within the buildings due to be demolished, Fine’s Jewellers, is being retained. The seven-storey building, with a two-storey portico, will also house exhibition and education space as well as a shop and café at ground floor level. The proposed 32-metre high visitor centre is located in an Architectural Conservation Area.

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Architectural Conservation Area proposal for Wicklow Town is rejected

PROPOSALS TO turn from Abbey Street to Market Square into an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) were rejected by four votes to three at Monday's Town Council meeting despite the Town Manager's insistence that it would be good for Wicklow.

The ACA was meant to maintain Wicklow's build heritage along the Main Street and ensure that any developments not in keeping with the town's character wouldn't be allowed to go ahead.

The proposal before the Council called for a variation of the Wicklow Town Development Plan 2007 to include the ACA.

Cllr. Conal Kavanagh said he was happy to vote in favour of the proposed ACA. 'It's not specifically targeting certain buildings. It's just to maintain Wicklow's build heritage and as someone who was born and raised in Wicklow I regard this as the right move. I think it's a complete red herring to say the current economic climate is a reason not to accept. It's not because of an ACA that things are going wrong in Wicklow Town.'

He also pointed out that if an ACA had already been in place beyond the tennis courts then the Xtra-Vision development would not have been allowed to go ahead.

'Instead we turned it down and An Bord Pleanála over-ruled us. Now it remains one of the biggest scars in Wicklow Town.'

Town Manager Michael Nicholson said he was disappointed when an ACA wasn't included in the original Town Development Plan and it could be used as a tool be developers.

'If someone comes in now and wants to develop something outrageous with plastic and flashing coloured lights, and we turn it down, they can just go to Bord Pleanála. The Bord don't live in Wicklow Town and know nothing about the history of the town.'

As an example he mentioned if McDonalds wanted to open up on the main street with the big golden arch neon sign placed in a very prominent position.

However, he had a difficult time convincing all the elected members that an ACA was a positive step for Wicklow.

'There are about eight or more shops vacant in the town now. Personally I would love McDonalds to open up here.

'That would mean more employment.'

Cllr. Bob Kearns said they were just covering old ground.

'We have been here before. An ACA restricts one person and then allows their neighbour to go ahead.'

Cllr. Denis Teevan felt, 'I have been against an ACA since day one. In the present climate I don't see it attracting anyone to the town at this stage.'

Voting in favour of the variation were Cllr. Kavanagh, Cllr. Irene Winters and Mayor John O'Brien. Cllr. Eamonn Long and Cllr. Fachtna Whittle weren't present, and the other four members present voted against the proposal.

Myles BUCHANAN
Wicklow People

www.buckplanning.ie

Dalkey conservation order urged as site faces demolition

An Taisce has called on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to make Dalkey an architectural conservation area, following a decision by An Bord Pleanála to approve the demolition of a historic building on its main street.
The Dalkey tram yard, in the centre of Dalkey village on Castle Street, will be replaced with a three-storey structure containing 20 apartments and a retail unit.
The yard and its four tram sheds date back to the late 19th century and housed Dublin's first electric tram, which began running in May 1896. It is the last remaining tram yard in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area and is next to the 18th century Queen's pub, a protected structure, and close to Dalkey Castle. Dalkey village is the county's only heritage town and is designated by Dúchas, the Irish heritage service, as a "zone of archaeological potential".
An Bord Pleanála approved the development, from J & P Monaghan and R Shiels, despite a recommendation from its inspector that it be rejected. Boundary walls are also to be retained as part of the permission and a photographic record is to be taken of the tram sheds before they are demolished. The original wrought-iron gates are also to be retained, but will be welded in an open position as they will not fit the widened entrance.
An Bord Pleanála attached 24 conditions to its planning approval, including the reduction of the number of apartments from 23 to 20, and the retention of the cobblestones and tramline within the yard, which are protected structures.
Maireád Mehigan, chairwoman of the Dún Laoghaire An Taisce Association, said the planning board's decision was a major disappointment.
"An Bord Pleanála did not address any of its planning concerns," she said.
If the village was designated an Architectural Conservation Area, it would have extra protection under planning laws and this would not have been approved."
Fiona Gartland
© 2007 The Irish Times

Architectural Conservation Areas

I had a call this morning asking what an Architectural Conservation Area is - they have found their house to be located in one after a recent plan review. The answer is simply

Architectural Conservation Areas aim to protect the special character of places, areas, groups of structures or townscapes that:

a. have special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest or value, or

b. that contributes to the appreciation of protected structures, by the introduction of Architectural Conservation Areas.

The purpose of an Architectural Conservation Area designation is to protect and enhance the special character of the A.C.A and to ensure that all proposed developments are carried out in a manner sympathetic to the special character of the area.

The basis for ACAs is set out in the Planning and Development Act 2000 and most recent Development Plans now contain one or more ACAs.

A Special Planning Control Scheme has been prepared for the Grafton Street and Environs Architectural Conservation Area

a Special Planning Control Scheme has been prepared for the Grafton Street and Environs Architectural Conservation Area in accordance with Section 84 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The physical area covered by the Special Planning Control Scheme is defined as follows: The whole of Grafton Street, from its junction with College Green to the north, extending southwards to the junction with St. Stephens Green. The area extends to the east along St Stephens Green North as far as Dawson Street and to the west along South King Street as far as the Gaiety Theatre. The exact boundaries of the Area of Special Planning Control are delineated on the map accompanying the public display.

The statutory display of the Special Planning Control Scheme will be on view to the public from Wednesday 10th January, 2007 to Wednesday 7th March, 2007 both dates inclusive (excluding public holidays) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. at the offices of Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Ground Floor, Block 4, Wood Quay, Dublin 8.

Gunpowder and conservation in Cork Harbour

n early 19th century gunpowder magazine on Rocky Island in Cork harbour has become Ireland's first crematorium outside Dublin. The unique building, derelict and in ruin when the tiny island was bought four years ago by Clonmel businessman Louis Ronan, has been transformed into an architectural gem. The island originally had two adjoining magazine buildings, which were entered through an archway cut through the surrounding bedrock. It took 10 years to build them and when they were completed in 1818, they were used to store gunpowder manufactured in Ballincollig mills. The British Navy remained on the island until the early 1920s, when it handed it over to the new Irish state. The island later lay deserted for almost 40 years during which the magazines were vandalised and stripped of most of their fittings including the original oak wood blocks which covered the floors.

Parks & Designations: Ireland criticised on conservation

Ireland is falling behind the rest of Europe in implementing key nature conservation measures, according to a new report on global conservation from the World Wildlife Fund.

It said that while Ireland had taken important steps to implement European nature conservation legislation, the Government had failed to allocate sufficient resources for implementation.

In a statement last night An Taisce said the small increase announced for the Budget recently would do little to rectify "the huge shortfalls facing this area in the past decade and the quantity of catch-up to be done".

Areas of Special Planning Control in Irish planning

Areas of Special Planning Control in Irish planning

“A planning authority may, if it considers that all or part of an architectural conservation area is of special importance to, or as respects, the civic life or the architectural, historical, cultural or social character of a city or town in which it is situated, prepare a scheme setting out development objectives for the preservation and enhancement of that area, or part of that area, and providing for matters connected therewith” (section 84).

Such a scheme must include objectives which achieve this – these are detailed in the Act. Such a scheme must be consistent with any development plan, local plan or IAP. It must indicate for how long it will be in force. Prioritization of objectives is encouraged in the Act. There is a very detailed procedure laid out in Section 85 of the Act for the preparation and adoption of a special planning control scheme. Such a scheme must be reviewed every 6 years. Exempted development rights do not apply in these areas. Planners must take it into consideration when assessing development applications.

For more information contact brendan@buckplanning.ie