A LANDMARK cathedral, ruined by fire on Christmas Day 2009, is to rise from the ashes over the next five years as part of a multi-million euro project.
The Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, Colm O'Reilly, yesterday announced that a contract had been signed with a design team of top-level architects to restore St Mel's Cathedral in Longford town.
A packed congregation of 700 worshippers attending Sunday Mass in a temporary chapel in the gym of the nearby St Mel's College applauded as Dr O'Reilly named Dr Richard Hurley, a distinguished church architect, as the lead designer in alliance with Colm Redmond, of FitzGerald, Kavanagh and Partners.
The historic cathedral, which was founded by Bishop William O'Higgins in 1840, was rated as a gem of Irish building, with critics acclaiming its interior to be "one of the most beautifully conceived classical spaces" in the country.
Today is the feast day of St Mel, the diocesan patron saint, and Dr O'Reilly said that each year on the Sunday closest to February 7, he would give updates on the progress of the restoration.
The 76-year-old bishop said that an annual restoration collection would be held on the Sunday closest to St Mel's feast day, as it was "the people's cathedral and it would be restored by the people".
He added: "We believe we are taking an important step towards a new day when we will be able to reverse the disaster of Christmas 2009.
"I am convinced that the two architects can deliver a restored cathedral which will not just be faithful to its original architectural splendour, but also a place of worship which will be inspirational for a new time in the life of the church in Ireland."
Costs
No figure is yet available for the final cost of the project, but Dr O'Reilly, has promised transparency by publishing details annually.
Dr Hurley vowed to recast St Mel's cathedral as "a religious space of powerful resonance, respecting the past, living in the present and pointing towards the future".
"If this can be achieved the cathedral will live again."
Dr Hurley, whose portfolio includes churches in Ireland, Britain, Africa and Australia, recalled how the man who began work on the cathedral, Bishop William O'Higgins, was inspired by classical buildings such as the Madeleine in Paris, the Pantheon in Athens and the Great Basilicas of Rome.
Referring to the many-times-destroyed Chartres Cathedral, Dr Hurley said his team was approaching the restoration "with the same ardour and belief that St Mel's will rise again and live again at the centre of Catholic life in the diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise".
Up to €2m has been spent so far on essential maintenance to preserve the cathedral, explained project manager Niall Meagher while showing journalists the extensive damage to the walls, plaster work, columns, statues and marble decorations.
Mr Meagher pointed to the temporary roof put on the cathedral last August, which he said "has prevented the building from further disrepair from inclement weather".
The diocese has agreed with the design team to provide an apprenticeship scheme to train workers in specialist conservation skills, according to Seamus Butler, chairman of St Mel's Cathedral Project Committee
"It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for skilled workers," he added.
While insurance will cover replacing the building, further costs will be incurred by the installation of toilets, a creche, wheelchair facilities, and meeting health and safety standards.
John Cooney Religion Correspondent
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 7 February 2011
Councillors to decide future of planned retirement home
A CONTROVERSIAL retirement village proposed for the foot of the Dublin mountains near Sandyford may be closer to development after a local authority meeting next week.
Councillors in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council are to consider a motion to amend the council’s county development plan specifically to allow for a nursing home on lands in a scenic location at Ticknock near Sandyford.
The Grange Retirement Village, on 16 acres of land zoned for agricultural development on the mountain side of the M50, would include residential accommodation, a nursing home, a stroke rehabilitation clinic and community and recreational facilities.
When the development, proposed by the landowner Rod McGovern, was initially discussed at council, on November 19th, 2009, it was rejected outright by councillors following a recommendation by county manager Owen Keegan.
However, a week later, on November 23rd, councillor Tom Joyce (FG) and councillor Tom Murphy (FF) proposed a specific local objective for the site to allow for the development and councillors from both parties voted for it.
The objective was ratified as part of the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan 2010-2016 in March 2010.
It was believed planning permission for the retirement village could then be applied for.
However, planning consultants on behalf of the developer discovered a “technical hitch” in the zoning which meant that the objective alone was not enough to allow the development to be considered by the council’s planning department.
A variation to the development plan would be needed.
Councillor Neale Richmond (FG) and councillor Gearoid O’Keeffe (Ind) attempted to suspend standing orders at January’s council meeting to remedy the hitch. However, because they needed a two-thirds majority to suspend the meeting, their motion was rejected.
It is understood a variation to the county development plan will be proposed at the council meeting next week.
It will add a footnote to the definition of what development is allowed on land zoned agricultural so that the retirement village can be built at Ticknock.
It will be specific to the 16-acre site.
Cathaoirleach and councillor Lettie McCarthy (Lab) said the development was not suitable in “such an isolated area” and that there was enough zoned land elsewhere to support it.
“This is a prominent elevated site immediately adjoining a high amenity area,” she said.
The development would be visible from a wide area and would cause “serious injury to the rural character and visual amenity” of the area, she said.
But Mr O’Keeffe said the development would provide badly needed healthcare facilities for elderly people in the county, hundreds of building jobs at construction stage and long-term jobs when the facility was opened.
The variation will be debated at next week’s council meeting.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Councillors in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council are to consider a motion to amend the council’s county development plan specifically to allow for a nursing home on lands in a scenic location at Ticknock near Sandyford.
The Grange Retirement Village, on 16 acres of land zoned for agricultural development on the mountain side of the M50, would include residential accommodation, a nursing home, a stroke rehabilitation clinic and community and recreational facilities.
When the development, proposed by the landowner Rod McGovern, was initially discussed at council, on November 19th, 2009, it was rejected outright by councillors following a recommendation by county manager Owen Keegan.
However, a week later, on November 23rd, councillor Tom Joyce (FG) and councillor Tom Murphy (FF) proposed a specific local objective for the site to allow for the development and councillors from both parties voted for it.
The objective was ratified as part of the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan 2010-2016 in March 2010.
It was believed planning permission for the retirement village could then be applied for.
However, planning consultants on behalf of the developer discovered a “technical hitch” in the zoning which meant that the objective alone was not enough to allow the development to be considered by the council’s planning department.
A variation to the development plan would be needed.
Councillor Neale Richmond (FG) and councillor Gearoid O’Keeffe (Ind) attempted to suspend standing orders at January’s council meeting to remedy the hitch. However, because they needed a two-thirds majority to suspend the meeting, their motion was rejected.
It is understood a variation to the county development plan will be proposed at the council meeting next week.
It will add a footnote to the definition of what development is allowed on land zoned agricultural so that the retirement village can be built at Ticknock.
It will be specific to the 16-acre site.
Cathaoirleach and councillor Lettie McCarthy (Lab) said the development was not suitable in “such an isolated area” and that there was enough zoned land elsewhere to support it.
“This is a prominent elevated site immediately adjoining a high amenity area,” she said.
The development would be visible from a wide area and would cause “serious injury to the rural character and visual amenity” of the area, she said.
But Mr O’Keeffe said the development would provide badly needed healthcare facilities for elderly people in the county, hundreds of building jobs at construction stage and long-term jobs when the facility was opened.
The variation will be debated at next week’s council meeting.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sisters of Charity claim land 'targeted'
The Sisters of Charity have claimed a decision by Dublin City Council to impose more restrictive conditions on development of certain lands in the new development plan for Dublin appears to be “targeted” at lands owned by religious institutions.
The order wants to see where that decision originated, its lawyer said.
It claims the lands being zoned Z15, a designation it claims treats privately owned land as resource land to be used for the benefit of the community, are “almost exclusively owned by religious institutions”. There are numerous examples of lands owned by other institutions which are not subject to Z15 zoning, the order claims.
It claims the council, in sanctioning the zoning under the new Dublin city develoment plan 2011-2017, is effectively diverting private property into public ownership and effectively “sterilising” its lands without compensation.
The Z15 zoning requires a greater proportion of open space and social affordable housing than applies in any other zoming under the development plan, they also claim.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly today granted an application by Brian Murray SC, for the order, to fast-track its action against the council over the Z15 zoning of its lands.
All of the order’s 108 acres of lands in 18 separate parcels have been zoned Z15 in the new plan, imposing more restrictions on development than included in the previous plan. A similar challenge to the Z15 zoning was initiated last month by RTÉ in relation to lands at its Montrose complex at Donnybrook.
The Sisters of Charity claims the decision breaches the nuns' property rights and has serious implications for their ability to fund their religious mission and their work. The nuns said they sometimes borrow money from financial institutions to support their work and that their capacity to do this is directly affected by the value of their properties.
Mr Murray said it appeared the more restrictive zoning was applied disproportionately as it was not applied to other lands privately owned and his side wanted to see where the decision came from.
James Connolly SC, for the council, had sought an adjournment of the application to transfer the case and said he was awaiting instructions in the context of a meeting yesterday evening.
Mr Justice Kelly refused the adjournment and agreed to transfer the judicial review to the court, which fast-tracks the hearing of commercial disputes.
The High Court had last month granted leave to the order and RTÉ to bring their separate judicial review proceedings against the council arising from the zoning changes.
The Z15 designation means future uses such as housing development are not open for planning consideration which has implications for the ability of the Sisters of Charity and RTÉ to sell off land to fund their activities.
The order claims the development plan is substantively illegal on grounds it applies a restrictive zoning to an arbitrary selection of lands including St Vincent’s Private Hospital; St Mary’s day care centre, Donnybrook; the hospice at Harold’s Cross and a number of school sites in the north and south city.
It wants orders quashing the adoption of the zoning on their lands and a stay on the operation of the section of the plan affecting its property. The order is also claiming damages for alleged breaches of their private property and religious freedom rights under the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The order wants to see where that decision originated, its lawyer said.
It claims the lands being zoned Z15, a designation it claims treats privately owned land as resource land to be used for the benefit of the community, are “almost exclusively owned by religious institutions”. There are numerous examples of lands owned by other institutions which are not subject to Z15 zoning, the order claims.
It claims the council, in sanctioning the zoning under the new Dublin city develoment plan 2011-2017, is effectively diverting private property into public ownership and effectively “sterilising” its lands without compensation.
The Z15 zoning requires a greater proportion of open space and social affordable housing than applies in any other zoming under the development plan, they also claim.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly today granted an application by Brian Murray SC, for the order, to fast-track its action against the council over the Z15 zoning of its lands.
All of the order’s 108 acres of lands in 18 separate parcels have been zoned Z15 in the new plan, imposing more restrictions on development than included in the previous plan. A similar challenge to the Z15 zoning was initiated last month by RTÉ in relation to lands at its Montrose complex at Donnybrook.
The Sisters of Charity claims the decision breaches the nuns' property rights and has serious implications for their ability to fund their religious mission and their work. The nuns said they sometimes borrow money from financial institutions to support their work and that their capacity to do this is directly affected by the value of their properties.
Mr Murray said it appeared the more restrictive zoning was applied disproportionately as it was not applied to other lands privately owned and his side wanted to see where the decision came from.
James Connolly SC, for the council, had sought an adjournment of the application to transfer the case and said he was awaiting instructions in the context of a meeting yesterday evening.
Mr Justice Kelly refused the adjournment and agreed to transfer the judicial review to the court, which fast-tracks the hearing of commercial disputes.
The High Court had last month granted leave to the order and RTÉ to bring their separate judicial review proceedings against the council arising from the zoning changes.
The Z15 designation means future uses such as housing development are not open for planning consideration which has implications for the ability of the Sisters of Charity and RTÉ to sell off land to fund their activities.
The order claims the development plan is substantively illegal on grounds it applies a restrictive zoning to an arbitrary selection of lands including St Vincent’s Private Hospital; St Mary’s day care centre, Donnybrook; the hospice at Harold’s Cross and a number of school sites in the north and south city.
It wants orders quashing the adoption of the zoning on their lands and a stay on the operation of the section of the plan affecting its property. The order is also claiming damages for alleged breaches of their private property and religious freedom rights under the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Council says incinerator penalty costs 'will not arise'
AN ESTIMATE that taxpayers could be exposed to penalties as high as €350 million over 25 years for the proposed Poolbeg incinerator has been described as “hypothetical” by Dublin City Council.
“The four Dublin local authorities are satisfied that, even after maximum recycling, there will be sufficient waste for the Poolbeg incinerator and therefore the scenario envisaged [in a report by John Hennessy SC] will not arise,” it said.
But the Irish Waste Management Association, which opposes Poolbeg, said the report commissioned by former minister for the environment John Gormley “highlights the huge financial risk that this project poses to taxpayers”.
Association spokesman Brendan Keane said the potential waste of money “now mirrors the types of losses more commonly associated with Nama” and the full report should be made public.
Minister for the Environment Éamon Ó Cuív said he had sought advice from Attorney General Paul Gallagher on a number of legal issues and would be working with Cabinet colleagues to conclude this process.
“I am anxious to ensure that the matter of publication and related issues . . . are fully considered,” the Minister added.
Dublin City Council said there was nothing surprising about extracts from the report published yesterday because of the way in which Mr Hennessy’s terms of reference were drafted when Mr Gormley was minister.
It said the controversial “put or pay” clause in its contract with US waste management company Covanta would give the four Dublin local authorities “priority access to 320,000 tonnes of treatment capacity at the Poolbeg plant” over its 25-year term. The council said Covanta also had the option to source waste from the market and was in negotiations with waste collectors – although the company itself had no comment to make. Dublin’s waste is now being landfilled in counties Kildare and Cavan.
In 2008, even with a recycling rate of 40 per cent, more than 735,000 tonnes of waste from Dublin was landfilled. While the volume of waste was decreasing as a result of the recession, it “will increase in line with economic recovery”.
The council claimed the Hennessy report’s terms of reference did not take into account “the millions of euro that will accrue to the Dublin local authorities annually from the electricity and district heating”. The plant would generate sufficient electricity for 50,000 homes and district heating for a further 60,000 homes annually from the non-recyclable waste that would be treated there. “This is valued at some €10 million annually, at today’s prices.”
Fine Gael environment spokesman Phil Hogan TD has said his party ‘‘would not rely in any way’’ on the Hennessy report.
Instead, it would commission another senior counsel to examine what exposure would arise for taxpayers if the project was cancelled.
Mr Hogan called on Mr Gormley to retract an “outrageous slur” on his political integrity by suggesting on Newstalk radio that an official complaint he had made about the former minister’s actions had been done in conjunction with Covanta’s lawyers.
Ruairí Quinn, Labour TD for Dublin South East, is on record as describing the Poolbeg incinerator as a “foolish proposal”. He was joined by Labour councillors in objecting to the plan when it came before An Bord Pleanála in 2006. The board approved it, however.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
“The four Dublin local authorities are satisfied that, even after maximum recycling, there will be sufficient waste for the Poolbeg incinerator and therefore the scenario envisaged [in a report by John Hennessy SC] will not arise,” it said.
But the Irish Waste Management Association, which opposes Poolbeg, said the report commissioned by former minister for the environment John Gormley “highlights the huge financial risk that this project poses to taxpayers”.
Association spokesman Brendan Keane said the potential waste of money “now mirrors the types of losses more commonly associated with Nama” and the full report should be made public.
Minister for the Environment Éamon Ó Cuív said he had sought advice from Attorney General Paul Gallagher on a number of legal issues and would be working with Cabinet colleagues to conclude this process.
“I am anxious to ensure that the matter of publication and related issues . . . are fully considered,” the Minister added.
Dublin City Council said there was nothing surprising about extracts from the report published yesterday because of the way in which Mr Hennessy’s terms of reference were drafted when Mr Gormley was minister.
It said the controversial “put or pay” clause in its contract with US waste management company Covanta would give the four Dublin local authorities “priority access to 320,000 tonnes of treatment capacity at the Poolbeg plant” over its 25-year term. The council said Covanta also had the option to source waste from the market and was in negotiations with waste collectors – although the company itself had no comment to make. Dublin’s waste is now being landfilled in counties Kildare and Cavan.
In 2008, even with a recycling rate of 40 per cent, more than 735,000 tonnes of waste from Dublin was landfilled. While the volume of waste was decreasing as a result of the recession, it “will increase in line with economic recovery”.
The council claimed the Hennessy report’s terms of reference did not take into account “the millions of euro that will accrue to the Dublin local authorities annually from the electricity and district heating”. The plant would generate sufficient electricity for 50,000 homes and district heating for a further 60,000 homes annually from the non-recyclable waste that would be treated there. “This is valued at some €10 million annually, at today’s prices.”
Fine Gael environment spokesman Phil Hogan TD has said his party ‘‘would not rely in any way’’ on the Hennessy report.
Instead, it would commission another senior counsel to examine what exposure would arise for taxpayers if the project was cancelled.
Mr Hogan called on Mr Gormley to retract an “outrageous slur” on his political integrity by suggesting on Newstalk radio that an official complaint he had made about the former minister’s actions had been done in conjunction with Covanta’s lawyers.
Ruairí Quinn, Labour TD for Dublin South East, is on record as describing the Poolbeg incinerator as a “foolish proposal”. He was joined by Labour councillors in objecting to the plan when it came before An Bord Pleanála in 2006. The board approved it, however.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Kerry An Taisce agm told of ghost estates
OVERDEVELOPMENT IN Kerry has resulted in dozens of so-called “ghost estates” half-finished and abandoned, and well outside town and village boundaries.
Some of the most “striking” of these leftover developments are in the county’s most scenic tourist parts, the annual general meeting of the Kerry association of An Taisce has heard.
An Taisce was severely criticised by developers and their promoters during the Celtic Tiger period, but was probably now being thanked for saving some from going under, the meeting in Killarney also heard. There were 35 ghost estates in Kerry and this and other overdevelopment were a result of overgenerous zoning in local area plans.
“The problem was exacerbated by councillors adding in even more land at the behest of other landowners and there was massive over- zoning,” Dr Catherine McMullin, honorary planning officer with An Taisce told the meeting. The most striking of the ghost estates was outside Castlemaine, on the Dingle road, a major tourist route, she said. In 2000, permission was granted for 50 houses and four years later for a further 14 houses, as well as three apartments and a hotel.
However, the development was never included within the boundary of the village in the local area plan.
Most of the 50 houses are built to wall plate level, but some were only at foundation stage. Four blocks of two-storey houses had been built adjoining the main road but were not yet habitable.
“The whole development has been abandoned for the past few years and there is very little hope of it being completed,” she said.
Dr McMullin said she had heard of one developer toasting planners because they had refused him permission for a large development which, had they not refused him, would have gone ahead and landed him in Nama.
“During the boom period, An Taisce was often criticised for opposing development, but it is quite likely we also saved a few developers from landing in the same trouble,” she added.
The meeting heard how a large extension and holiday-home development granted by Kerry County Council at the Great Southern Hotel in Parknasilla owned by developer Bernard McNamara was “under-utilised”.
A further development of 104 holiday homes at the hotel was successfully appealed by An Taisce.
“It is quite likely the 104 holiday apartments, appealed to An Bord Pleanála by the Kerry Association of An Taisce, would also have been built and now be a liability for their owners,” Dr McMullin said.
She also outlined a number of large developments which the organisation had appealed, including a large commercial development in the grounds of the former Great Southern Hotel in Killarney, now the Malton. This was granted but had not gone ahead, she noted.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Some of the most “striking” of these leftover developments are in the county’s most scenic tourist parts, the annual general meeting of the Kerry association of An Taisce has heard.
An Taisce was severely criticised by developers and their promoters during the Celtic Tiger period, but was probably now being thanked for saving some from going under, the meeting in Killarney also heard. There were 35 ghost estates in Kerry and this and other overdevelopment were a result of overgenerous zoning in local area plans.
“The problem was exacerbated by councillors adding in even more land at the behest of other landowners and there was massive over- zoning,” Dr Catherine McMullin, honorary planning officer with An Taisce told the meeting. The most striking of the ghost estates was outside Castlemaine, on the Dingle road, a major tourist route, she said. In 2000, permission was granted for 50 houses and four years later for a further 14 houses, as well as three apartments and a hotel.
However, the development was never included within the boundary of the village in the local area plan.
Most of the 50 houses are built to wall plate level, but some were only at foundation stage. Four blocks of two-storey houses had been built adjoining the main road but were not yet habitable.
“The whole development has been abandoned for the past few years and there is very little hope of it being completed,” she said.
Dr McMullin said she had heard of one developer toasting planners because they had refused him permission for a large development which, had they not refused him, would have gone ahead and landed him in Nama.
“During the boom period, An Taisce was often criticised for opposing development, but it is quite likely we also saved a few developers from landing in the same trouble,” she added.
The meeting heard how a large extension and holiday-home development granted by Kerry County Council at the Great Southern Hotel in Parknasilla owned by developer Bernard McNamara was “under-utilised”.
A further development of 104 holiday homes at the hotel was successfully appealed by An Taisce.
“It is quite likely the 104 holiday apartments, appealed to An Bord Pleanála by the Kerry Association of An Taisce, would also have been built and now be a liability for their owners,” Dr McMullin said.
She also outlined a number of large developments which the organisation had appealed, including a large commercial development in the grounds of the former Great Southern Hotel in Killarney, now the Malton. This was granted but had not gone ahead, she noted.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
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
An Bord Pleanála turns down plan for McDonald's in Sandymount
A PLAN to locate a McDonald’s “drive-thru” restaurant backing on to a primary school in a residential area of Sandymount, Dublin 4, has been turned down by An Bord Pleanála.
The fast food giant had intended to locate what it described as a “flagship” store on the busy junction area at Beach Road, close to Sandymount Strand, and about halfway between the new Aviva Stadium at Lansdowne Road and the 02 arena.
The site was formerly the Winfield Motors car showrooms and is now owned by Maxol Ltd, which operates an adjacent petrol station. Last July, Maxol had applied to Dublin City Council for planning permission to demolish the car showrooms and construct the drive-thru restaurant, which would then be operated as a McDonald’s outlet.
After more than 50 objections to the application from local residents and politicians, the council rejected the application last August on the grounds that the development was not permissible under the residential zoning of the area.
Maxol Ltd appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála, which has now upheld the council’s decision to refuse the restaurant. In its ruling the board said that a takeaway on the site would be contrary to proper planning and sustainable development of the area. It also said the drive thru would be a traffic hazard.
Local Labour councillor and general election candidate Kevin Humpreys said the issue of the traffic which the development would generate had been of great concern locally.
“Refusing this development was just common sense. A flagship McDonald’s at such a busy junction in a residential area would be a clear breach of the zoning.”
Several local residents had also objected to the application due to concerns over the health of local children. The site backs on to St Mathew’s primary school and is also close to the Star of the Sea primary school, both of which operate healthy eating policies.
The applicants had said the “drive-thru” element would account for about 29 per cent of the restaurant’s sales and thus would be ancillary to the restaurant element. They had also estimated the restaurant would create 60 full-time and 40 part-time jobs.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The fast food giant had intended to locate what it described as a “flagship” store on the busy junction area at Beach Road, close to Sandymount Strand, and about halfway between the new Aviva Stadium at Lansdowne Road and the 02 arena.
The site was formerly the Winfield Motors car showrooms and is now owned by Maxol Ltd, which operates an adjacent petrol station. Last July, Maxol had applied to Dublin City Council for planning permission to demolish the car showrooms and construct the drive-thru restaurant, which would then be operated as a McDonald’s outlet.
After more than 50 objections to the application from local residents and politicians, the council rejected the application last August on the grounds that the development was not permissible under the residential zoning of the area.
Maxol Ltd appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála, which has now upheld the council’s decision to refuse the restaurant. In its ruling the board said that a takeaway on the site would be contrary to proper planning and sustainable development of the area. It also said the drive thru would be a traffic hazard.
Local Labour councillor and general election candidate Kevin Humpreys said the issue of the traffic which the development would generate had been of great concern locally.
“Refusing this development was just common sense. A flagship McDonald’s at such a busy junction in a residential area would be a clear breach of the zoning.”
Several local residents had also objected to the application due to concerns over the health of local children. The site backs on to St Mathew’s primary school and is also close to the Star of the Sea primary school, both of which operate healthy eating policies.
The applicants had said the “drive-thru” element would account for about 29 per cent of the restaurant’s sales and thus would be ancillary to the restaurant element. They had also estimated the restaurant would create 60 full-time and 40 part-time jobs.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
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