THERE IS a real sense of déjà vu about the latest master plan for Dún Laoghaire harbour. Ten years ago, the idea of building an Irish diaspora museum on Carlisle Pier was first proposed by developer Terry Devey and Daniel Libeskind, the international “starchitect”. Redevelopment of the pier was subsequently adopted by the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company with a design competition in 2003 won by Heneghan Peng Architects; Libeskind’s scheme, a vast ship’s prow construction, was the runner-up, though it had won hands-down in a public poll. In the end, however, the development proposal by Urban Capital and builders John Sisk selected by the jury fell through.
Nothing happened until September 2009, when the harbour company demolished the derelict ferry terminal on Carlisle Pier – including the pier’s original railway station, dating from 1859 – without bothering to obtain planning permission in advance; this was rightly described as “scandalous” by local architect Adam Hall. The company then had to go through the planning process, seeking approval to retain the illegal demolition, and recently won a retrospective permission from An Bord Pleanála. This coincided with its unveiling of the latest master plan, which not only revives the diaspora museum proposal for Carlisle Pier, but also envisages an even larger residential element than was envisaged in 2003 and a new terminal for cruise liners.
The plan aims to develop Dún Laoghaire harbour as a “marine, leisure and tourism destination of international calibre”, attracting up to one million visitors a year to the diaspora museum. But the company needs to reassure the public that all of the proposed uses can be safely accommodated within the granite enclosing arms of this great harbour, without conflicting with each other. Is it realistic, for example, to have greatly expanded facilities for sailing and at the same time provide berthing for very large “next generation” cruise liners? How realistic is the plan to develop 300 apartments within the harbour area in the current market?
Coincidentally, the Dublin Port Company is also proposing to cater for more cruise liners, with plans to provide two berths closer to the city centre, near East Link Bridge. Surely it would make more sense for the Minister for Tourism to decide which of the two ports in Dublin Bay should be designated as a destination for cruise liners instead of duplicating facilities at enormous expense? Dublin is hardly in the same rank as Venice when it comes to attracting this class of traffic.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label dun laoghaire harbour planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dun laoghaire harbour planning. Show all posts
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Monday, 9 May 2011
Dun Laoghaire harbour future is in leisure, say boat clubs
THE FUTURE of Dún Laoghaire harbour lies in its role as a marine tourism and leisure destination and not as a commercial port, according to six sailing and yacht clubs which use the harbour.
In a submission on a new master plan for the harbour drawn up in the light of a possible change of the year-round car ferry service to a seasonal service, the clubs said radical rethinking of the interaction between the town and harbour was now required.
The clubs include the Dublin Bay Sailing Club, Dún Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, National Yacht Club, Royal Alfred Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and the Royal St George Yacht Club.
Under the name Dún Laoghaire Combined Clubs, the six, some of which have operated in the harbour since the 1830s, said they were attempting to set aside the specific interests of any individual club in favour of a larger and longer-term vision for the harbour.
The submission said it viewed the harbour as a “key part of the city of Dublin and Dún Laoghaire’s water sports infrastructure”.
It also said the town and harbour needed to rethink public access to both the shore and water side of the harbour.
This included “the way in which the harbour has developed, [which] to date has served indirectly to restrict both shore and waterside access to existing and potential future users and particularly the public”.
The combined clubs said they believed the harbour was a world-class leisure resource and “properly developed with a marine tourism and leisure focus it can generate new and sustainable sources of income”.
They said, however, there were no quick fixes to replace revenue that would be lost if ferry services were reduced or withdrawn.
The group supports development of the Carlisle Pier as the focus of marine tourism and leisure activities and proposed a “diaspora project” housed in a low but iconic building.
The clubs made their submission in response to Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company’s draft master plan, which envisaged alternative uses for the harbour, as well as alternative sources of funding, if the ferry service is reduced or withdrawn.
These alternatives include marine, leisure and office uses, light industry and the use of part of the harbour to generate renewable energy.
The six clubs operating under the combined clubs banner include the four “waterfront” clubs which have premises in the harbour. These are the National, Royal Irish, Royal St George and Motor Yacht Club.
In all they claim to have about 5,000 members. These in turn own about 700 keelboats (boats moored in the water, typically) and about 1,000 dinghies, most of which are sailed by the junior and youth members of the clubs on the waterfront.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
In a submission on a new master plan for the harbour drawn up in the light of a possible change of the year-round car ferry service to a seasonal service, the clubs said radical rethinking of the interaction between the town and harbour was now required.
The clubs include the Dublin Bay Sailing Club, Dún Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club, National Yacht Club, Royal Alfred Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and the Royal St George Yacht Club.
Under the name Dún Laoghaire Combined Clubs, the six, some of which have operated in the harbour since the 1830s, said they were attempting to set aside the specific interests of any individual club in favour of a larger and longer-term vision for the harbour.
The submission said it viewed the harbour as a “key part of the city of Dublin and Dún Laoghaire’s water sports infrastructure”.
It also said the town and harbour needed to rethink public access to both the shore and water side of the harbour.
This included “the way in which the harbour has developed, [which] to date has served indirectly to restrict both shore and waterside access to existing and potential future users and particularly the public”.
The combined clubs said they believed the harbour was a world-class leisure resource and “properly developed with a marine tourism and leisure focus it can generate new and sustainable sources of income”.
They said, however, there were no quick fixes to replace revenue that would be lost if ferry services were reduced or withdrawn.
The group supports development of the Carlisle Pier as the focus of marine tourism and leisure activities and proposed a “diaspora project” housed in a low but iconic building.
The clubs made their submission in response to Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company’s draft master plan, which envisaged alternative uses for the harbour, as well as alternative sources of funding, if the ferry service is reduced or withdrawn.
These alternatives include marine, leisure and office uses, light industry and the use of part of the harbour to generate renewable energy.
The six clubs operating under the combined clubs banner include the four “waterfront” clubs which have premises in the harbour. These are the National, Royal Irish, Royal St George and Motor Yacht Club.
In all they claim to have about 5,000 members. These in turn own about 700 keelboats (boats moored in the water, typically) and about 1,000 dinghies, most of which are sailed by the junior and youth members of the clubs on the waterfront.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 7 February 2011
Dún Laoghaire developing plans to attract 'next generation' cruise liners
PLANS ARE being made to turn Dún Laoghaire harbour into a port-of-call for “next generation” cruise liners with a capacity for up to 5,000 passengers.
The plans are being supported by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council as well as the local chamber of commerce, retail and tourism interests and will be advanced by a new master plan being drawn up for the harbour.
Gerry Dunne, chief executive of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, said the east coast has no facility to cater for cruise ships of the size now being built for a market that is expected to double in the next 10 years.
“We propose to build that facility here and we’re looking seriously at the business case for this investment,” he said. He could not say, however, what it might cost or how the project would be funded.
It would involve excavating to a depth of 9.5 metres and building a berth to accommodate liners up to 330m in length, compared to 160m for current cruise ships with a capacity of up to 2,500 passengers.
Asked about the attitude of Dublin Port, which attracts some 80 cruise ship visits a year, to these plans, Mr Dunne said it was aware of them, adding: “A cruise ship coming into a beautiful harbour is preferable to going into an industrial zone”.
He said Dún Laoghaire needed to think about the future as it was likely that the Stena high-speed ferry services would be replaced by more conventional ferries on the Holyhead route. The harbour company’s “lucrative contract” with Stena expires in April.
Mr Dunne said the revenue from Stena accounted for 70 per cent of the harbour company’s income, but it would be “a lot less” under a new contract currently being negotiated, and other sources of revenue would have to be found.
The new master plan now being developed would include increasing public access to the harbour, providing for waterfront development and harbour-related uses and redeveloping the Carlisle Pier on the theme of Ireland’s diaspora.
He confirmed that the harbour company had just lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanála against the county council’s decision to refuse planning permission for the retention of its controversial demolition of the old railway terminal on the pier.
Mr Dunne emphasised that the decision to demolish the pier’s derelict ferry terminal was taken in the knowledge it was not classified as a protected structure – a point that had already been accepted by the council and the appeals board.
“We need a master plan to underpin the changing emphasis of Dún Laoghaire harbour from a commercial to a recreational harbour and to secure the harbour’s future by addressing the impact of the change in profile of ferry sailings on the Dún Laoghaire-Holyhead route.”
He also noted that the harbour would celebrate its bicentenary in 2016.
In tandem with the master plan, architects Shaffrey and Associates are preparing a heritage management plan, aimed at maintaining its fabric to a high standard.
Members of the public have been invited to contribute ideas for the master plan through its website, dlharbour.ie/masterplan or by post to Masterplan Team, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, Harbour Lodge, Crofton Road, Dún Laoghaire.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The plans are being supported by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council as well as the local chamber of commerce, retail and tourism interests and will be advanced by a new master plan being drawn up for the harbour.
Gerry Dunne, chief executive of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, said the east coast has no facility to cater for cruise ships of the size now being built for a market that is expected to double in the next 10 years.
“We propose to build that facility here and we’re looking seriously at the business case for this investment,” he said. He could not say, however, what it might cost or how the project would be funded.
It would involve excavating to a depth of 9.5 metres and building a berth to accommodate liners up to 330m in length, compared to 160m for current cruise ships with a capacity of up to 2,500 passengers.
Asked about the attitude of Dublin Port, which attracts some 80 cruise ship visits a year, to these plans, Mr Dunne said it was aware of them, adding: “A cruise ship coming into a beautiful harbour is preferable to going into an industrial zone”.
He said Dún Laoghaire needed to think about the future as it was likely that the Stena high-speed ferry services would be replaced by more conventional ferries on the Holyhead route. The harbour company’s “lucrative contract” with Stena expires in April.
Mr Dunne said the revenue from Stena accounted for 70 per cent of the harbour company’s income, but it would be “a lot less” under a new contract currently being negotiated, and other sources of revenue would have to be found.
The new master plan now being developed would include increasing public access to the harbour, providing for waterfront development and harbour-related uses and redeveloping the Carlisle Pier on the theme of Ireland’s diaspora.
He confirmed that the harbour company had just lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanála against the county council’s decision to refuse planning permission for the retention of its controversial demolition of the old railway terminal on the pier.
Mr Dunne emphasised that the decision to demolish the pier’s derelict ferry terminal was taken in the knowledge it was not classified as a protected structure – a point that had already been accepted by the council and the appeals board.
“We need a master plan to underpin the changing emphasis of Dún Laoghaire harbour from a commercial to a recreational harbour and to secure the harbour’s future by addressing the impact of the change in profile of ferry sailings on the Dún Laoghaire-Holyhead route.”
He also noted that the harbour would celebrate its bicentenary in 2016.
In tandem with the master plan, architects Shaffrey and Associates are preparing a heritage management plan, aimed at maintaining its fabric to a high standard.
Members of the public have been invited to contribute ideas for the master plan through its website, dlharbour.ie/masterplan or by post to Masterplan Team, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, Harbour Lodge, Crofton Road, Dún Laoghaire.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Pier's demolition ruled illegal
THE DÚN Laoghaire Harbour Company may have to reinstate a Victorian railway station on Carlisle Pier following a ruling by An Bord Pleanála that its demolition last autumn required planning permission.
Following the demolition, Ciarán Cuffe TD - now Minister of State with responsibilities for planning - referred it to the appeals board, seeking a formal decision on whether or not it was "exempted development".
The main basis of Mr Cuffe's complaint was that the 2008 Planning and Development Regulations reduced the size threshold under which structures could be demolished without permission to 100sq m.
This followed the failure of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to address complaints made in September 2009 by An Taisce and others that the demolition of the railway station (1859) was unauthorised.
Acting on the advice of its solicitors, Mason Hayes and Curran, and planning consultants MacCabe Durney Barnes that planning permission was not required, the harbour company proceeded with the demolition.
"The council by its inaction colluded in this unauthorised development", said Ian Lumley, An Taisce's heritage officer.
"When public bodies fail in their legal responsibility, resignations or dismissals should be the consequence.
"An Taisce is requesting the harbour company and the local authority to take action to reinstate the original part of the Carlisle Pier railway station as the focal point for public benefit and recreational activity in the harbour area."
He said the harbour company would have no option but to reconstruct the former station or to seek retrospective planning permission for its demolition.
A spokeswoman for the company said it was studying the board's decision before making any comment.
An Bord Pleanála said the demolition of the station building and the 1960s ferry terminal was not exempted development because of the fact that its floor area of 1,000sq m exceeded the threshold of 100sq m specified in the 2008 regulations.
Accordingly, it found that the demolition of the structures on Carlisle Pier - even though they were not specifically protected - "constitutes development within the meaning of sections 2 and 3 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended".
The board's decision was hailed as "fantastic news" by Dún Laoghaire architect Adam Hall, who documented the building and its demolition.
"Hopefully, we can now bring about reinstatement of the Victorian railway terminal," he said.
The station was built as a terminus to serve passengers travelling on the mailboat service to Holyhead.
It ceased being used in 1984, following the inauguration of the Dart line. Since then, ferry services have been relocated to a new pier.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Following the demolition, Ciarán Cuffe TD - now Minister of State with responsibilities for planning - referred it to the appeals board, seeking a formal decision on whether or not it was "exempted development".
The main basis of Mr Cuffe's complaint was that the 2008 Planning and Development Regulations reduced the size threshold under which structures could be demolished without permission to 100sq m.
This followed the failure of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to address complaints made in September 2009 by An Taisce and others that the demolition of the railway station (1859) was unauthorised.
Acting on the advice of its solicitors, Mason Hayes and Curran, and planning consultants MacCabe Durney Barnes that planning permission was not required, the harbour company proceeded with the demolition.
"The council by its inaction colluded in this unauthorised development", said Ian Lumley, An Taisce's heritage officer.
"When public bodies fail in their legal responsibility, resignations or dismissals should be the consequence.
"An Taisce is requesting the harbour company and the local authority to take action to reinstate the original part of the Carlisle Pier railway station as the focal point for public benefit and recreational activity in the harbour area."
He said the harbour company would have no option but to reconstruct the former station or to seek retrospective planning permission for its demolition.
A spokeswoman for the company said it was studying the board's decision before making any comment.
An Bord Pleanála said the demolition of the station building and the 1960s ferry terminal was not exempted development because of the fact that its floor area of 1,000sq m exceeded the threshold of 100sq m specified in the 2008 regulations.
Accordingly, it found that the demolition of the structures on Carlisle Pier - even though they were not specifically protected - "constitutes development within the meaning of sections 2 and 3 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended".
The board's decision was hailed as "fantastic news" by Dún Laoghaire architect Adam Hall, who documented the building and its demolition.
"Hopefully, we can now bring about reinstatement of the Victorian railway terminal," he said.
The station was built as a terminus to serve passengers travelling on the mailboat service to Holyhead.
It ceased being used in 1984, following the inauguration of the Dart line. Since then, ferry services have been relocated to a new pier.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Pier development permission refused
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has refused planning permission for a car park and “promenade” on Carlisle Pier, following An Bord Pleanála’s ruling the demolition of structures on the pier was illegal.
In a decision on an application by Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, it said the development would be “premature pending regularisation of the previous demolition” and a car park would have a “detrimental impact” on the area.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
In a decision on an application by Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, it said the development would be “premature pending regularisation of the previous demolition” and a car park would have a “detrimental impact” on the area.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Tenders sought for skating rink
A 1980s craze could be set for a revival in southeast Co Dublin with tenders sought by Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company for a roller skating rink by the sea.
Proposals for the rink are part of plans to introduce leisure facilities to the harbour following the recent restoration of the East Pier and an application to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to redevelop Carlisle Pier as a public and cultural amenity.
While the detailed plans for the rink are part of a tender process to design, build and operate the facility, it is likely that the rink would act as an ice skating rink in December and January and a roller skating rink at other times of the year.
The harbour company estimates that about one million people walk along the revamped East Pier each year, making it Ireland’s most popular walkway, while 650,000 passengers arrived into the harbour on ferry services from Britain last year.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Proposals for the rink are part of plans to introduce leisure facilities to the harbour following the recent restoration of the East Pier and an application to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to redevelop Carlisle Pier as a public and cultural amenity.
While the detailed plans for the rink are part of a tender process to design, build and operate the facility, it is likely that the rink would act as an ice skating rink in December and January and a roller skating rink at other times of the year.
The harbour company estimates that about one million people walk along the revamped East Pier each year, making it Ireland’s most popular walkway, while 650,000 passengers arrived into the harbour on ferry services from Britain last year.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 6 September 2009
'Grave' concerns over pier works
AN Bord Pleanála is to review a decision by a local authority to allow the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company demolish buildings containing potentially harmful asbestos without planning permission, following an intervention by heritage body An Taisce.
The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company (DLHC) began demolishing a group of derelict buildings on the Carlisle pier in Dún Laoghaire on Monday. It plans to construct 100 car-parking spaces on the site as well as a new promenade that can be used as an outdoor exhibition and concert space.
In a letter to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council last week, An Taisce expressed its "grave" concern that the local authority had permitted DLHC to demolish the buildings without planning permission. An Taisce maintains the harbour company needs planning permission to demolish the buildings because they are located within the area of the harbour itself, which is a protected structure.
In the letter, chairwoman of An Taisce in Dún Laoghaire Mairead Mehigan also said the fact that the council sanctioned the works without the preparation of an environmental impact statement was "irresponsible" because some of the structures on the pier contained asbestos.
"Asbestos kills and has a devastating effect on human health and the environment," she said. "On the basis of advice received, An Taisce is confident the work being undertaken on the Carlisle pier does not constitute exempt development and has formally requested a declaration from the council to that effect."
Mehigan's request for a declaration from the council will compel it to officially determine whether the demolition of the buildings requires planning permission.
This in turn means that An Bord Pleanála will have to carry out a review of the development to decide whether or not the works are subject to normal planning procedures.
Contractors working on behalf of the council demolished several of the buildings on the pier last week and specialists also removed asbestos from some of the walls in the buildings. Many of the buildings on the pier date from the 1950s, but contain elements dating back to the 19th century.
In a letter seen by the Sunday Tribune, Kathleen Holohan of the council's planning department wrote to all councillors this week saying the works did not require planning permission.
"The structures to be removed are not protected structures or national monuments and the planning authority, with the advice of the conservation division of the council, considers that the Carlisle pier falls outside the curtilage of those elements of the harbour, which are protected structures."
A spokesperson for DLHC said it had received external advice that the works did not require planning permission.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company (DLHC) began demolishing a group of derelict buildings on the Carlisle pier in Dún Laoghaire on Monday. It plans to construct 100 car-parking spaces on the site as well as a new promenade that can be used as an outdoor exhibition and concert space.
In a letter to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council last week, An Taisce expressed its "grave" concern that the local authority had permitted DLHC to demolish the buildings without planning permission. An Taisce maintains the harbour company needs planning permission to demolish the buildings because they are located within the area of the harbour itself, which is a protected structure.
In the letter, chairwoman of An Taisce in Dún Laoghaire Mairead Mehigan also said the fact that the council sanctioned the works without the preparation of an environmental impact statement was "irresponsible" because some of the structures on the pier contained asbestos.
"Asbestos kills and has a devastating effect on human health and the environment," she said. "On the basis of advice received, An Taisce is confident the work being undertaken on the Carlisle pier does not constitute exempt development and has formally requested a declaration from the council to that effect."
Mehigan's request for a declaration from the council will compel it to officially determine whether the demolition of the buildings requires planning permission.
This in turn means that An Bord Pleanála will have to carry out a review of the development to decide whether or not the works are subject to normal planning procedures.
Contractors working on behalf of the council demolished several of the buildings on the pier last week and specialists also removed asbestos from some of the walls in the buildings. Many of the buildings on the pier date from the 1950s, but contain elements dating back to the 19th century.
In a letter seen by the Sunday Tribune, Kathleen Holohan of the council's planning department wrote to all councillors this week saying the works did not require planning permission.
"The structures to be removed are not protected structures or national monuments and the planning authority, with the advice of the conservation division of the council, considers that the Carlisle pier falls outside the curtilage of those elements of the harbour, which are protected structures."
A spokesperson for DLHC said it had received external advice that the works did not require planning permission.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Carlisle Pier pressure
NOTHING HAPPENS quickly in stately Dún Laoghaire, so it came as a surprise when this week the Harbour Board did what it said it would do in July, and started pulling down the 1960s sheds on Carlisle Pier, where millions of emigrants said goodbye to Ireland as they passed through the old mailboat terminal.
Yesterday, the board lodged an application with the council for temporary permission to open up Carlisle Pier “as a viewing, general exhibition and promenade area . . . in sympathy with the surrounding environment”. Original cast-iron columns and anything else that can be kept from the original 1850s railway shed will be preserved, says a spokesperson for Dún Laoghaire Harbour. And it seems from reports by conservation architects Shaffrey (advisers to the board) that these are more or less all that’s left from the 1850s building.
So while Green Party TD Ciarán Cuffe – who said in his own press release “I don’t think anyone would miss the newer 1960s building surrounding the old Victorian structure” – was demanding that the demolition be stopped, other local politicians were delighted.
Local Labour councillor Jane Dillon Byrne described the sheds as “a hideous construction” and said pulling them down was an excellent idea. “I hope the new plans will make the pier accessible to the public.”
Plans for building a landmark on the pier – Daniel Libeskind had drawn up plans, but Irish architects Heneghan Peng won a competition for the structure – died about a year ago when the preferred bidder chosen to develop it pulled out. Can locals now look forward to taking the air there next summer?
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Yesterday, the board lodged an application with the council for temporary permission to open up Carlisle Pier “as a viewing, general exhibition and promenade area . . . in sympathy with the surrounding environment”. Original cast-iron columns and anything else that can be kept from the original 1850s railway shed will be preserved, says a spokesperson for Dún Laoghaire Harbour. And it seems from reports by conservation architects Shaffrey (advisers to the board) that these are more or less all that’s left from the 1850s building.
So while Green Party TD Ciarán Cuffe – who said in his own press release “I don’t think anyone would miss the newer 1960s building surrounding the old Victorian structure” – was demanding that the demolition be stopped, other local politicians were delighted.
Local Labour councillor Jane Dillon Byrne described the sheds as “a hideous construction” and said pulling them down was an excellent idea. “I hope the new plans will make the pier accessible to the public.”
Plans for building a landmark on the pier – Daniel Libeskind had drawn up plans, but Irish architects Heneghan Peng won a competition for the structure – died about a year ago when the preferred bidder chosen to develop it pulled out. Can locals now look forward to taking the air there next summer?
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Planning row erupts over pier's demolition
A row has erupted after a harbour company started demolishing historic buildings as part of plans to redevelop a pier that dates from Victorian times.
The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company (DLHC) began knocking buildings on the 150-year-old Carlisle Pier, which will be redeveloped as a public promenade and outdoor exhibition and concert space.
But local politicians have criticised a lack of consultation about the plans, and claimed planning permission for the demolition should have been secured before work began.
Plans to carry out the demolition, which is expected to cost between €150,000 and €300,000 and take around 10 weeks to complete, were signalled in July and there is no record of any objections being voiced at that time. Demolition crews began knocking the "derelict and unsafe" buildings, which contain asbestos, on Monday morning. The company said anything of architectural merit would be retained and stored. A DLHC spokeswoman said the company would lodge an application to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council this week for permission to open up the Carlisle Pier as a viewing, general exhibition and promenade area.
"The work, which commenced on August 31, is to remove the unsightly and dangerous structures within the Carlisle Pier," she said, adding that legal advice was that planning permission was not required.
Unsightly
However, local Green Party TD Ciaran Cuffe said planning permission was required and that demolition works should be stopped.
"Carlisle Pier falls within the curtilage of the East and West Pier, both protected structures. I don't think anyone would miss the newer 1960s buildings surrounding the old Victorian structure, but to carry out what amounts to a scorched-earth policy on the pier is inexcusable. These buildings are part of Dun Laoghaire's heritage," he said.
Councillor Richard Boyd Barrett of the People Before Profit Alliance said he was "gravely concerned" about the lack of a public consultation about removing large amounts of asbestos from the buildings.
A planning application will be lodged today with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council for the public promenade. Previous plans to develop Carlisle Pier have failed to materialise. Most notably, an ambitious €100m project from the Urban Capital consortium, backed by construction group Sisk and publican Hugh O'Regan, was granted preferred bidder status from DLHC in March 2004. But the complex drew stiff opposition from residents and was shelved.
The Carlisle Pier, which was built in 1859, was named after the Earl of Carlisle, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and became known as the Mailboat Pier, the setting off point for hundreds of thousands of emigrants.
Paul Melia and Grainne Cunningham
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company (DLHC) began knocking buildings on the 150-year-old Carlisle Pier, which will be redeveloped as a public promenade and outdoor exhibition and concert space.
But local politicians have criticised a lack of consultation about the plans, and claimed planning permission for the demolition should have been secured before work began.
Plans to carry out the demolition, which is expected to cost between €150,000 and €300,000 and take around 10 weeks to complete, were signalled in July and there is no record of any objections being voiced at that time. Demolition crews began knocking the "derelict and unsafe" buildings, which contain asbestos, on Monday morning. The company said anything of architectural merit would be retained and stored. A DLHC spokeswoman said the company would lodge an application to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council this week for permission to open up the Carlisle Pier as a viewing, general exhibition and promenade area.
"The work, which commenced on August 31, is to remove the unsightly and dangerous structures within the Carlisle Pier," she said, adding that legal advice was that planning permission was not required.
Unsightly
However, local Green Party TD Ciaran Cuffe said planning permission was required and that demolition works should be stopped.
"Carlisle Pier falls within the curtilage of the East and West Pier, both protected structures. I don't think anyone would miss the newer 1960s buildings surrounding the old Victorian structure, but to carry out what amounts to a scorched-earth policy on the pier is inexcusable. These buildings are part of Dun Laoghaire's heritage," he said.
Councillor Richard Boyd Barrett of the People Before Profit Alliance said he was "gravely concerned" about the lack of a public consultation about removing large amounts of asbestos from the buildings.
A planning application will be lodged today with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council for the public promenade. Previous plans to develop Carlisle Pier have failed to materialise. Most notably, an ambitious €100m project from the Urban Capital consortium, backed by construction group Sisk and publican Hugh O'Regan, was granted preferred bidder status from DLHC in March 2004. But the complex drew stiff opposition from residents and was shelved.
The Carlisle Pier, which was built in 1859, was named after the Earl of Carlisle, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and became known as the Mailboat Pier, the setting off point for hundreds of thousands of emigrants.
Paul Melia and Grainne Cunningham
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 23 July 2009
No intention to pull down pier, says harbour company
THE DÚN Laoghaire Harbour Company has denied claims that it intends to pull down the historic Carlisle Pier and sell off the harbour to private developers.
The claims were made yesterday by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown county councillor Richard Boyd Barrett.
Cllr Boyd Barrett of the People Before Profit Alliance said the company intended to demolish the buildings on the pier without any public consultation.
“It is clearly no coincidence that moves to demolish the pier have commenced during the holiday period when the harbour company knows it will be harder for concerned members of the public to mount opposition,” he said.
However the company said that it was not demolishing the pier but had to remove certain derelict buildings because they were unsafe and included asbestos materials. None of the buildings being demolished was a protected structure, the company said.
The company also denied Cllr Boyd Barrett’s claims that it intended to sell the harbour to ferry company Stena Line.
Cllr Boyd Barrett said yesterday the company was involved in discussions with Stena Line where the sale or handover of the whole harbour was one of a number of options being discussed for the harbour’s future.
“It is totally unacceptable that profit-driven interests should seek to interfere with the public’s harbour or any part of it without public agreement or even worse try to privatise it.
“The public should express their outrage at this disgraceful conniving behind their backs and demand that the harbour remains fully in public ownership and is developed only in the public interest,” he said.
The company said it was not involved in any discussions on the sale of the pier other harbour.
“There is no foundation in the claim that Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company plans the sale or handover of the harbour to any third party. There are no plans for the privatisation of the harbour,” said the company.
Carlisle Pier, site of the old mailboat terminal, has been the subject of several redevelopment schemes over a number of years, all of which have fallen through. The most recent redevelopment scheme collapsed in May 2008 when the preferred bidders pulled out of the project.
A spokeswoman for the harbour company said it would now wait to see the county council’s new development plan, which is being drafted, before making any new redevelopment proposals for the pier.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The claims were made yesterday by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown county councillor Richard Boyd Barrett.
Cllr Boyd Barrett of the People Before Profit Alliance said the company intended to demolish the buildings on the pier without any public consultation.
“It is clearly no coincidence that moves to demolish the pier have commenced during the holiday period when the harbour company knows it will be harder for concerned members of the public to mount opposition,” he said.
However the company said that it was not demolishing the pier but had to remove certain derelict buildings because they were unsafe and included asbestos materials. None of the buildings being demolished was a protected structure, the company said.
The company also denied Cllr Boyd Barrett’s claims that it intended to sell the harbour to ferry company Stena Line.
Cllr Boyd Barrett said yesterday the company was involved in discussions with Stena Line where the sale or handover of the whole harbour was one of a number of options being discussed for the harbour’s future.
“It is totally unacceptable that profit-driven interests should seek to interfere with the public’s harbour or any part of it without public agreement or even worse try to privatise it.
“The public should express their outrage at this disgraceful conniving behind their backs and demand that the harbour remains fully in public ownership and is developed only in the public interest,” he said.
The company said it was not involved in any discussions on the sale of the pier other harbour.
“There is no foundation in the claim that Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company plans the sale or handover of the harbour to any third party. There are no plans for the privatisation of the harbour,” said the company.
Carlisle Pier, site of the old mailboat terminal, has been the subject of several redevelopment schemes over a number of years, all of which have fallen through. The most recent redevelopment scheme collapsed in May 2008 when the preferred bidders pulled out of the project.
A spokeswoman for the harbour company said it would now wait to see the county council’s new development plan, which is being drafted, before making any new redevelopment proposals for the pier.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
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