Indoor ’sky-diving facility’ part of new Dublin neighbourhood centre

A major planning application for a “neighbourhood centre” adjacent to the M50 at Carrickmines in south County Dublin includes “an indoor sky-diving arena”. But local politicians have criticised plans by developer Iput to satisfy its Part V social housing obligations by offering the local authority 13 apartments for social housing at average cost of more than €500,000 each. The €75 million proposal, from one of the State’s largest property vehicles, covers land in an undeveloped area of Carrickmines retail park bordering Ballyogan Road, adjacent to Junction 15 on the M50.

Read the full article @ The Irish Times

Fingal County Council has prepared a Draft Urban Framework Plan for: Main Street, Rush, Co. Dublin.

The Draft Rush Urban Framework Plan, including SEA Statement and Screening Report for Appropriate Assessment will be open to public inspection from Tuesday 3rd April 2018 to Tuesday 1st May 2018 (inclusive of both dates) at the following locations during this period:

Fingal County Council Offices: County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Co. Dublin & Civic Offices, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 Mon – Thurs 9.00am – 5.00pm & Fri 9.00am to 4.30pm

Other Locations: Rush Library, Chapel Green, Rush (during opening hours) Rush Community Centre, Upper Main Street, Rush (during opening hours)

Website: https://consult.fingal.ie/en/browse

Public Information Evening: A Public Information Drop-In Session will be held on Thursday 19th April from 4pm – 8pm in Rush Community Centre, Upper Main Street, Rush.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): In complying with SEA Directive (2001/42/EC) and the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 to 2011, Fingal County Council has carried out Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening and determined that an SEA is not required for the Draft Rush Urban Framework Plan.

Appropriate Assessment: A Screening for Appropriate Assessment has been carried out  for the Draft Rush Urban Framework Plan in accordance with the requirements of Article 6 of the EU Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC. Fingal County Council has determined that a full Appropriate Assessment is not required in this case.

Submissions or observations, with respect to the Draft Urban Framework Plan, including SEA Statement and Screening Report for Appropriate Assessment made in writing to Fingal County Council from Tuesday 3rd April 2018 to Tuesday 1st May 2018 or made online https://consult.fingal.ie/en/browse, (one medium only), will be taken into consideration by the Council before the making of the Urban Framework Plan.

Ahead of a €5 million overhaul, a food hall planned is for St Andrew's church has got a vital licence

RESTAURATEUR MICHAEL WRIGHT has told a judge his company will pour €5 million into a complete re-fit of the historic St Andrew’s Church as a licensed food court, banqueting hall and culture centre in Dublin city centre. Circuit Court president Justice Raymond Groarke promised Wright a pre-Christmas seven-day drinks licence providing the redevelopment of the Suffolk Street building is carried out in accordance with Dublin City Council planning permission. Wright is a member of the Howth family which run restaurants, a seafood business, the Marquette food hall at Dublin Airport and The Wright Venue in Swords.

Read the full story @ www.thejournal.ie

Transport authority board did not review Government Metro announcement

The board of the National Transport Authority (NTA) did not review the announcement by the Government of the new MetroLink project before it was published last month. The €3 billion MetroLink is a central element of the Government’s new infrastructure programme. Minutes just published of a recent NTA board meeting also appear to show support at the board for the Dart Underground project, funding for which was not included in the recent 10-year Government programme. The NTA said that details announced by the Government last month as part of its investment programme were reviewed by NTA management but not the board. In response to queries it said that the board would review the final selected route and project after a public consultation programme now under way. A spokesman also said the board had been updated regularly on progress on the Metro plan, including details of the emerging preferred route, announced on March 22nd.

Read the full article @ The Irish Times

Ian O'Riordan: Nowhere to play and the price which comes with it

They’re building hundreds of apartments on the grass hockey field that once upon a time belonged to Notre Dame secondary school in Churchtown, Dublin. It was the only properly level playing field between the old Dundrum shopping centre and Milltown Golf Club, and one of the side entrances was always left open. We would cut through from Weston Park and the new houses built at the back of us at Finsbury Park, and, depending on the time of the year, that field could be staging the World Cup finals or the Olympics. Sometimes twice in the one summer. There was no closing time, and the nuns didn’t seem to mind once we left before dark and kept the noise down. When I was 16 and getting bored my dad took me and my older brother for a run down to that hockey field, waiting until after dusk so my mates didn’t slag me off. He told us to keep our backs straight and lift our knees a little higher and that we might be okay at it, then one night we told him to run on home and we’d follow him after a few more laps.

Read the full article @ Irish Times

Taxpayers' return on LIHAF investments far from clear-cut

Paul Melia: On the face of it, the LIHAF (Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund) deals struck between local authorities and developers are a good deal for the taxpayer and those hoping to buy a home.  More than half (55pc) of the 19,979 units to be provided will be social or affordable, with cost reductions of up to €20,000 available on some homes. In many cases, more than the required legal minimum 10pc will be social housing. Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy also insists that the €195m invested in roads and other essential services will help to deliver much-needed housing to tackle the crisis and reduce the record numbers in homelessness. 

Read the full article @ Irish Independent

'Over budget, over time, over and over again' - the curse of thinking too big

Last Thursday saw the release by the National Transport Authority (NTA) of the preferred routing for the next addition to the Dublin tram system, formerly called Metro North and re-christened MetroLink. This will be an expansion of capacity on the existing Green line from Sandyford in the south of the city and a new line, much of it underground, through the city centre and on northwards to the airport and Swords. The trams will be bigger than those originally ordered for the Red and Green lines but will operate on the same gauge of track, narrower than mainline or suburban rail. They will squeeze in 500 passengers, mainly standing, when fully loaded, versus around 300 for the shorter first-generation Luas trams. Suburban trains are bigger and can take 1,000 passengers or even more. Total cost for MetroLink is estimated at €3,000m, which would make it easily the most expensive single project ever undertaken in Ireland.

Read the full article @ Irish Independent