IMAGES OF the Clontarf flood defence scheme’s likely impact on the seafront promenade have been produced for the first time since the controversial scheme was proposed by Dublin City Council four years ago.
“I think they give a very chilling and real indication of the loss of the promenade,” said Antoinette O’Neill, who collaborated with Davey + Smith Architects and 3RRR Architects in producing the series of photomontages.
The images have been produced to “redress the deficit of any visual representation by Dublin City Council and to afford people an opportunity to get some sense as to the alteration to the environment that may be expected”, the architects said.
They stressed the images of the council’s proposals “are an accurate representation based on the available technical data from DCC and its consultants”, culled from the 325-page environmental impact statement on the €10 million scheme.
The impact statement contained no photomontages.
The “before and after” images show the impact of the proposed embankment – which would be up to 2.75m (9ft) high – on the promenade between Oulton Road and Vernon Avenue.
Due to be uploaded today to the website clontarfresidents.com, the images include a photograph of the flood defences in Waterford, which involved erecting a steel-framed toughened glass wall along the quay to guard against flooding from the river Suir.
“An important objective for Waterford City Council was to maintain the view of the river Suir from the quay and the concept of the transparent flood barrier was developed,” according to engineer John Nolan, of the council’s environmental services section.
In the case of Clontarf, however, the proposed flood defences were combined with plans for a new arterial water main. Dublin City Council’s engineers are planning to lay this main on the existing surface and cover it with an embankment to protect against flooding.
Ms O’Neill said what was being proposed by the council – and approved by An Bord Pleanála – was “the cheapest method possible of laying a water main pipe by lying it along a promenade and hiding it under the ugliest flood relief works imaginable”.
She said it was ironic that Dublin had been shortlisted with Bilbao and Cape Town for the title World Design Capital 2014. “Bilbao has the spectacular Guggenheim . . . and Cape Town is a city renowned for its spectacular relationship with the sea.
“Dublin . . . is short on spectacle. But what it does have is its unique relationship with the water.
“From Howth to Dalkey, the land visually embraces the bay; it is one of the defining qualities of our capital city,” Ms O’Neill said.
Frank McDonald
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label clontarf planning and development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clontarf planning and development. Show all posts
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Council says it will review flood plan
DUBLIN CITY Council is to review its flood defence plan for Clontarf promenade, following a meeting last week of the council’s north central area committee, attended by local residents and business people.
Council officials accepted that the public consultation process surrounding the controversial plan, which was approved by An Bord Pleanála in July 2008, was “minimal” and “didn’t work”.
Tenders for a contract estimated to be worth €9.7 million for the flood defences, with walls and embankments up to 2.75m high, together with a new arterial water main are being examined.
Assistant city manager Seamus Lyons pledged that no contract for the project would be signed over the next three weeks while officials “re-engage” with Clontarf residents and business associations.
However, he made it clear that the council could not go back to “square one”. He also stressed that if the council did not draw down funding for the project, it was “probable” that this would be lost.
Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and his party colleague Councillor Jane Horgan-Jones submitted a document to Minister of State for Planning Willie Penrose “outlining the deficiencies we see in the process”.
In a joint statement, both associations said there was no guarantee that the current plan would not go ahead, and there was now an onus on them to come up with an alternative in a “very short timeframe”.
They acknowledged offers of professional help already received and appealed to anyone with particular expertise in flood defence systems to get in touch by e-mail at info@clontarfresidents.com
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Council officials accepted that the public consultation process surrounding the controversial plan, which was approved by An Bord Pleanála in July 2008, was “minimal” and “didn’t work”.
Tenders for a contract estimated to be worth €9.7 million for the flood defences, with walls and embankments up to 2.75m high, together with a new arterial water main are being examined.
Assistant city manager Seamus Lyons pledged that no contract for the project would be signed over the next three weeks while officials “re-engage” with Clontarf residents and business associations.
However, he made it clear that the council could not go back to “square one”. He also stressed that if the council did not draw down funding for the project, it was “probable” that this would be lost.
Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and his party colleague Councillor Jane Horgan-Jones submitted a document to Minister of State for Planning Willie Penrose “outlining the deficiencies we see in the process”.
In a joint statement, both associations said there was no guarantee that the current plan would not go ahead, and there was now an onus on them to come up with an alternative in a “very short timeframe”.
They acknowledged offers of professional help already received and appealed to anyone with particular expertise in flood defence systems to get in touch by e-mail at info@clontarfresidents.com
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 20 November 2008
59 apartments for Redcourt House site in Clontarf
DEVELOPER MARK Piggott is looking to demolish the fire damaged Redcourt House in Clontarf, Dublin 3 to make way for apartments, despite a previous planning permission to convert it into apartments.
The Victorian property hit the headlines last year when the burned remains of a man were found after a fire.
In January this year An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission to convert the 19th century house on Seafield Road East into four apartments as part of a new homes development.
A five-storey apartment block with 33 apartments and nine townhouses were also part of his proposal.
However, he is now looking to knock what is referred to in the planning application as a "fire gutted and derelict" house and build a new house containing five apartments. He is also proposing another five-storey building which would contain 54 apartments and basement parking for 89 cars. The property was the home of the Hardy family for several generations and was sold to developer Mark Piggott in 2004 for €7.5 million, €3.3 million over the guide price.
Redcourt House hit the headlines in August when a 38-year-old man (believed to have been in the house before the fire broke out) presented himself at Raheny Garda station as the fire was still raging.
The fire was brought under control by five units of the fire brigade and the remains of a man were found.
The house on 1.65 acres has been at the centre of a protracted planning dispute in recent years.
An original proposal to demolish the house and build 54 apartments was rejected by both Dublin City Council and An Bord Pleanála.
Although the developer succeeded in stopping the house being listed as a protected structure, An Bord Pleanála said it was an "intrinsic element" of the site.
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 January this year An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission to convert the 19th century house on Seafield Road East into four apartments as part of a new homes development.
A five-storey apartment block with 33 apartments and nine townhouses were also part of his proposal.
However, he is now looking to knock what is referred to in the planning application as a "fire gutted and derelict" house and build a new house containing five apartments. He is also proposing another five-storey building which would contain 54 apartments and basement parking for 89 cars. The property was the home of the Hardy family for several generations and was sold to developer Mark Piggott in 2004 for €7.5 million, €3.3 million over the guide price.
Redcourt House hit the headlines in August when a 38-year-old man (believed to have been in the house before the fire broke out) presented himself at Raheny Garda station as the fire was still raging.
The fire was brought under control by five units of the fire brigade and the remains of a man were found.
The house on 1.65 acres has been at the centre of a protracted planning dispute in recent years.
An original proposal to demolish the house and build 54 apartments was rejected by both Dublin City Council and An Bord Pleanála.
Although the developer succeeded in stopping the house being listed as a protected structure, An Bord Pleanála said it was an "intrinsic element" of the site.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 29 September 2008
Leisure centre nightclub and Dracula site face demolition
THE OWNERS of a leisure centre on Clontarf Road, Dublin, may have to demolish extensive portions of the premises on foot of a decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for their retention.
Westwood Leisure Centre had sought retrospective approval to retain numerous alterations and extensions to the premises, including a licensed nightclub known as Bar Code, which local residents maintain is a constant source of noise and nuisance.
The appeals board upheld Dublin City Council's decision to grant permission for the retention of elements of the complex, including a health clinic, entrance lobby, offices and storage on the basis that these were ancillary to its use as a leisure centre.
But the board upheld the council's decision to refuse permission for other extensions which were all built without planning approval.
The board specified in its ruling that the elements being retained "shall not be used at any time for the sale or consumption of intoxicating liquor".
The board also refused permission to Templeville Developments Ltd, owners of the Westwood complex, which boasts that it provided Ireland's first 50-metre swimming pool, to retain a Bram Stoker museum called the "Dracula Experience".
The leisure centre is located near Marino Crescent, where Dracula author Bram Stoker was born.
Templeville Developments, which is controlled by businessman Phillip Smyth, also operates leisure centres in Leopardstown and Sandymount.
Local residents have opposed Bar Code's licence and monthly special exemptions in the District Court. The Garda also opposed these exemptions on two recent occasions and Dublin City Council opposed the yearly licence renewal last year, all without success.
Residents of Clontarf Road, lower Howth Road and Marino Crescent told the board they can clearly hear the "thud, thud, bang, bang beat of amplified disco/rave/techno music four nights a week, waking our children and disrupting family life, resulting in severe sleep deprivation".
They also complained of "chaos" when the nightclub finally closes its doors after 2.30am, disgorging up to 1,300 young people, most of whom have been drinking for several hours, onto the junction of Clontarf Road and Howth Road in search of taxis.
One local resident, Stephen Moran, told An Bord Pleanála that this "causes incredible traffic noise and congestion with a cacophony of cars horns screeching, cat calling, doors banging, screaming and singing as patrons weave their way across the road.
"Sometimes, there can be a shortage of taxis or people linger during summertime or else set off on foot up the Howth Road or along the Crescent, urinating, vomiting, overturning bins, fighting, breaking wing mirrors, singing and shouting as they go," said Mr Moran.
"The waste of Garda time, manpower and scarce resources in policing this unauthorised development is also worth noting as Clontarf Garda station confirm that it requires five uniformed gardaí and a Garda sergeant and a wagon to police Bar Code four nights a week," he said.
An Bord Pleanála planning inspector Fiona Fair recommended that all of the unauthorised elements of the Westwood Leisure Centre which Templeville Developments was seeking to retain should be refused on the basis of its planning history and local objections.
"It appears that the proposed development relates to a site, the use of which is unauthorised, for the carrying on of 'Bar Code', a licensed premises for the sale and consumption of alcoholic liquor," she said, adding that any retention would consolidate this use.
Although the board decided to grant retrospective permission for uses ancillary to the leisure centre as well as one of a total of 15 shipping containers on the site - used to house a combined heat and power plant - it rejected other elements, including Bar Code.
"When taken in conjunction with existing permitted development, [this would] constitute over-development of the site and would be contrary to zoning objective Z9 'to protect, provide and improve recreation amenity and open space'," the board said.
Efforts to contact Templeville Developments for comment on An Bord Pleanála's decision were unsuccessful.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Westwood Leisure Centre had sought retrospective approval to retain numerous alterations and extensions to the premises, including a licensed nightclub known as Bar Code, which local residents maintain is a constant source of noise and nuisance.
The appeals board upheld Dublin City Council's decision to grant permission for the retention of elements of the complex, including a health clinic, entrance lobby, offices and storage on the basis that these were ancillary to its use as a leisure centre.
But the board upheld the council's decision to refuse permission for other extensions which were all built without planning approval.
The board specified in its ruling that the elements being retained "shall not be used at any time for the sale or consumption of intoxicating liquor".
The board also refused permission to Templeville Developments Ltd, owners of the Westwood complex, which boasts that it provided Ireland's first 50-metre swimming pool, to retain a Bram Stoker museum called the "Dracula Experience".
The leisure centre is located near Marino Crescent, where Dracula author Bram Stoker was born.
Templeville Developments, which is controlled by businessman Phillip Smyth, also operates leisure centres in Leopardstown and Sandymount.
Local residents have opposed Bar Code's licence and monthly special exemptions in the District Court. The Garda also opposed these exemptions on two recent occasions and Dublin City Council opposed the yearly licence renewal last year, all without success.
Residents of Clontarf Road, lower Howth Road and Marino Crescent told the board they can clearly hear the "thud, thud, bang, bang beat of amplified disco/rave/techno music four nights a week, waking our children and disrupting family life, resulting in severe sleep deprivation".
They also complained of "chaos" when the nightclub finally closes its doors after 2.30am, disgorging up to 1,300 young people, most of whom have been drinking for several hours, onto the junction of Clontarf Road and Howth Road in search of taxis.
One local resident, Stephen Moran, told An Bord Pleanála that this "causes incredible traffic noise and congestion with a cacophony of cars horns screeching, cat calling, doors banging, screaming and singing as patrons weave their way across the road.
"Sometimes, there can be a shortage of taxis or people linger during summertime or else set off on foot up the Howth Road or along the Crescent, urinating, vomiting, overturning bins, fighting, breaking wing mirrors, singing and shouting as they go," said Mr Moran.
"The waste of Garda time, manpower and scarce resources in policing this unauthorised development is also worth noting as Clontarf Garda station confirm that it requires five uniformed gardaí and a Garda sergeant and a wagon to police Bar Code four nights a week," he said.
An Bord Pleanála planning inspector Fiona Fair recommended that all of the unauthorised elements of the Westwood Leisure Centre which Templeville Developments was seeking to retain should be refused on the basis of its planning history and local objections.
"It appears that the proposed development relates to a site, the use of which is unauthorised, for the carrying on of 'Bar Code', a licensed premises for the sale and consumption of alcoholic liquor," she said, adding that any retention would consolidate this use.
Although the board decided to grant retrospective permission for uses ancillary to the leisure centre as well as one of a total of 15 shipping containers on the site - used to house a combined heat and power plant - it rejected other elements, including Bar Code.
"When taken in conjunction with existing permitted development, [this would] constitute over-development of the site and would be contrary to zoning objective Z9 'to protect, provide and improve recreation amenity and open space'," the board said.
Efforts to contact Templeville Developments for comment on An Bord Pleanála's decision were unsuccessful.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
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