THREE-QUARTERS of respondents to a Dublin City Council study on the future of Dublin Bay have said that they want Dublin Port moved out of the city to an alternative location on the east coast, while just over 6 per cent said that the port should stay.
Some 400 submissions were made to the council on its plan, which proposed relocation of the port and development of a new "city quarter" on port lands.
The plan, which also considers the environmental issues surrounding the future of the bay, was released to public consultation last year. The report on the submissions received has now been published by the council.
The report, by consultants CDM, found that the "overwhelming majority" of respondents favoured relocating the port. The following were suggested as possible locations: Drogheda, Co Louth; Bremore near Balbriggan in north Co Dublin; Greenore, Co Louth; and Arklow, Co Wicklow.
Just 26 respondents were against moving the port. Of these, 20 were members of the public or residents' associations, and two were yacht/boat clubs. The remaining objectors were Dublin Port Company (DPC), Ecocem (a tenant on port lands), Tommy Broughan, Labour's transport and marine spokesman, Labour TD Ruairí Quinn and Fianna Fáil senator Ivor Callely.
The report is critical of the port company's response to the study. It says that while the company commissioned several reports in response to it, "very few new facts were presented" and the potential benefits put forward were not addressed by the submission.
The report also notes that the port company claimed an identical-sized land bank to what it currently owns in Dublin Bay would need to be acquired before the port could be relocated.
In its submission, Dublin Port Company said that moving would increase travel times and costs and would damage Ireland's attractiveness as a business location. The Harbours Act 1946 stated that the DPC had the right to revoke property rights given to tenants only if the land was needed for port-related uses, it said. It claimed that the €750 million spent on the Dublin Port Tunnel would be largely wasted if it was not used by port traffic.
The council's study said that relocation of the port would be the best option for the future of the area in terms of housing and social needs, the local and national economy and the environment. Relocation would also be the best option for the efficiency of port operations and for the growth of its market in exports and imports.
Under the relocation proposal almost 260 hectares of port land would be redeveloped, providing 28,000 new housing units, 1.19 million sq m (12.8 million sq ft) of office space and 300,000 sq m (3.23 million sq ft) of retail space. The entire project would be completed in 25 years.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Saturday, 26 April 2008
€200m retail park for Tralee GAA site approved
TRALEE TOWN Council yesterday gave planning permission for a multimillion euro retail park in the historic GAA grounds of the Austin Stack Park.
Councillors in the Co Kerry town had rezoned the grounds last October to accommodate retail use. The planned €200 million development is being spearheaded by local businessmen Seamus O'Halloran and John Casey.
The project will see the GAA transfer to the Ballybeggan racecourse and coursing grounds outside the town in an area under the remit of Kerry County Council.
A 630-page planning application for housing in addition to playing pitches, a 15,000-seater stadium, offices and retail units in Ballybeggan has also been lodged.
However, there has been resistance to both applications.
In the case of the Austin Stack project, town centre traders have objected and it is likely yesterday's town council decision will be appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Residents, members of religious orders, environmental organisations, the National Roads Authority and a grandnephew of the patriot Austin Stack are among the objectors .
But the mayor of Tralee, Cllr Miriam McGillicuddy, said she was "absolutely thrilled" with yesterday's decision. "It is a tremendous project and will be very good for business locally. The fact that the office element will include financial services is also a major plus."
Sinn Féin town councillor Cathal Foley said: "Tralee has been in serious need of job creation and this development could provide up to . . . 1,000 jobs in the long term."
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Councillors in the Co Kerry town had rezoned the grounds last October to accommodate retail use. The planned €200 million development is being spearheaded by local businessmen Seamus O'Halloran and John Casey.
The project will see the GAA transfer to the Ballybeggan racecourse and coursing grounds outside the town in an area under the remit of Kerry County Council.
A 630-page planning application for housing in addition to playing pitches, a 15,000-seater stadium, offices and retail units in Ballybeggan has also been lodged.
However, there has been resistance to both applications.
In the case of the Austin Stack project, town centre traders have objected and it is likely yesterday's town council decision will be appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Residents, members of religious orders, environmental organisations, the National Roads Authority and a grandnephew of the patriot Austin Stack are among the objectors .
But the mayor of Tralee, Cllr Miriam McGillicuddy, said she was "absolutely thrilled" with yesterday's decision. "It is a tremendous project and will be very good for business locally. The fact that the office element will include financial services is also a major plus."
Sinn Féin town councillor Cathal Foley said: "Tralee has been in serious need of job creation and this development could provide up to . . . 1,000 jobs in the long term."
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
North Mayo residents propose deal on location of gas refinery
NORTH MAYO residents opposed to the Corrib gas pipeline have dropped their demand for a gas refinery to be built at sea and are backing a compromise solution to the long-running controversy.
A statement due to be issued tomorrow by seven community leaders in Erris says that all of the problems surrounding the Bellanaboy refinery site and its controversial onshore high-pressure pipeline would be "solved in one move", if the developers - Shell, Statoil and Marathon - agreed to relocate the refinery.
The seven - Mary and Willie Corduff, Philip and Vincent McGrath, PJ Moran, Pat O'Donnell and Caitlín Uí Seighin - have all been key supporters of the Mayo Shell to Sea campaign.
That campaign was formed after Mr Corduff, Philip and Vincent McGrath, Micheál Ó Seighin and Brendan Philbin were jailed for 94 days over opposition to the pipeline in 2005.
Earlier this month, the seven travelled to Norway with Labour Party president Michael D Higgins, Green Party councillor Niall Ó Brolcháin and Sinn Féin councillor Noel Campbell in a bid to break the current impasse.
The group met StatoilHydro, a partner in the Corrib gas project, and received support from the federation of oil and gas workers' unions, SAFE, representing 8,700 members.
StatoilHydro commented afterwards that the chances of moving the refinery were "close to zero".
However, in an implicit criticism of the role of Irish statutory authorities, Helge Hatlestad, StatoilHydro's vice-president (exploration and production) for western Europe, said he believed it was "very unfortunate" that the concerns voiced by the north Mayo community had not been listened to during the planning stages of the project in 2000/2001.
Speaking earlier this month, Mr Hatlestad said: "We've learned in Norway that there is a need for these sort of discussions, for consultation and communication, before a project is sanctioned . . . It becomes commercially unviable to do something different once a project has started."
The current refinery project at Bellanaboy, which involves a 9km linking onshore pipeline, is about 30 per cent complete. However, the developers are preparing to seek planning and other statutory approvals for a modified pipeline route, which was announced last week.
The community leaders say they support the compromise alternative location proposed by three priests in Kilcommon parish, Fr Michael Nallen, Fr Michael Gilroy and Fr Seán Noone, in letters last year to Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan.
This location at Glinsk, near Belderrig, was identified by Shell consultants, RPS, last summer as a potential landfall during initial work on modifying onshore pipeline routes.
However, the consultants were excluded from involvement in any aspect of the refinery, then under construction, and this option was dropped from subsequent shortlists.
Glinsk has no housing within several miles of the exposed area of bogland, but Shell consultants had noted in their assessment for the pipeline survey that the exposed landfall had steep cliffs of greater than 50 metres.
The statement, due to be issued tomorrow, calls for serious consideration of this compromise as the "first real attempt at finding a solution to the ongoing dispute that understands the many concerns surrounding the current location".
"Our stance has never been anti-gas, but our priority has always been health, safety and the environment, and this remains the case," the statement says.
"This proposal has come about after a series of events, culminating in our recent visit to Norway.
"This conflict has always been capable of being resolved by agreement and respect, and we call on all genuinely interested parties to respond positively to this move," it says.
"Failure to do so would inevitably see the situation revert to compulsory land acquisition, court orders, court cases, conflict, and more suffering and trauma for our families, neighbours and community.
"The current Corrib project has done untold damage to this community, the reputations of Shell, Statoil and successive governments, and the integrity of numerous State agencies.
"We sincerely hope that this chance for agreement is not lost, as it represents a clearly long-overdue opportunity for resolution, agreement and healing," the statement says.
The Irish Times
www.buckplaning.ie
A statement due to be issued tomorrow by seven community leaders in Erris says that all of the problems surrounding the Bellanaboy refinery site and its controversial onshore high-pressure pipeline would be "solved in one move", if the developers - Shell, Statoil and Marathon - agreed to relocate the refinery.
The seven - Mary and Willie Corduff, Philip and Vincent McGrath, PJ Moran, Pat O'Donnell and Caitlín Uí Seighin - have all been key supporters of the Mayo Shell to Sea campaign.
That campaign was formed after Mr Corduff, Philip and Vincent McGrath, Micheál Ó Seighin and Brendan Philbin were jailed for 94 days over opposition to the pipeline in 2005.
Earlier this month, the seven travelled to Norway with Labour Party president Michael D Higgins, Green Party councillor Niall Ó Brolcháin and Sinn Féin councillor Noel Campbell in a bid to break the current impasse.
The group met StatoilHydro, a partner in the Corrib gas project, and received support from the federation of oil and gas workers' unions, SAFE, representing 8,700 members.
StatoilHydro commented afterwards that the chances of moving the refinery were "close to zero".
However, in an implicit criticism of the role of Irish statutory authorities, Helge Hatlestad, StatoilHydro's vice-president (exploration and production) for western Europe, said he believed it was "very unfortunate" that the concerns voiced by the north Mayo community had not been listened to during the planning stages of the project in 2000/2001.
Speaking earlier this month, Mr Hatlestad said: "We've learned in Norway that there is a need for these sort of discussions, for consultation and communication, before a project is sanctioned . . . It becomes commercially unviable to do something different once a project has started."
The current refinery project at Bellanaboy, which involves a 9km linking onshore pipeline, is about 30 per cent complete. However, the developers are preparing to seek planning and other statutory approvals for a modified pipeline route, which was announced last week.
The community leaders say they support the compromise alternative location proposed by three priests in Kilcommon parish, Fr Michael Nallen, Fr Michael Gilroy and Fr Seán Noone, in letters last year to Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan.
This location at Glinsk, near Belderrig, was identified by Shell consultants, RPS, last summer as a potential landfall during initial work on modifying onshore pipeline routes.
However, the consultants were excluded from involvement in any aspect of the refinery, then under construction, and this option was dropped from subsequent shortlists.
Glinsk has no housing within several miles of the exposed area of bogland, but Shell consultants had noted in their assessment for the pipeline survey that the exposed landfall had steep cliffs of greater than 50 metres.
The statement, due to be issued tomorrow, calls for serious consideration of this compromise as the "first real attempt at finding a solution to the ongoing dispute that understands the many concerns surrounding the current location".
"Our stance has never been anti-gas, but our priority has always been health, safety and the environment, and this remains the case," the statement says.
"This proposal has come about after a series of events, culminating in our recent visit to Norway.
"This conflict has always been capable of being resolved by agreement and respect, and we call on all genuinely interested parties to respond positively to this move," it says.
"Failure to do so would inevitably see the situation revert to compulsory land acquisition, court orders, court cases, conflict, and more suffering and trauma for our families, neighbours and community.
"The current Corrib project has done untold damage to this community, the reputations of Shell, Statoil and successive governments, and the integrity of numerous State agencies.
"We sincerely hope that this chance for agreement is not lost, as it represents a clearly long-overdue opportunity for resolution, agreement and healing," the statement says.
The Irish Times
www.buckplaning.ie
Authority plans to build €4bn business 'city' at Dublin airport
THE DUBLIN Airport Authority (DAA) yesterday unveiled a €4 billion plan to build a new business district in the capital over the next 20 years that would employ up to 30,000 people. CIARÁN HANCOCK , Business Affairs Correspondent reports
Called Dublin Airport City, it is to be situated on 350 acres of land to the east of the existing airport complex that is not needed for airport activities. The ambitious scheme - designed by international architects HOK - envisages 600,000sq metres of office space and 40,000sq metres of retail, hotel and conference facilities.
This would make it roughly one-third the size of the London Docklands. The plan includes a 16-storey tower that could attract objections from locals and conservation groups. "It is reasonable to assume that there will be planning issues," the airport authority's chairman Gary McGann said after yesterday's launch.
Mr McGann said the plan is to cluster industries close to the airport, offering them ease of access to air travel, while only being six miles from the city centre.
No industries have been identified at this stage, although soundings had been taken with the IDA. The area was likely to prove attractive to multinationals, particularly those looking to establish head office functions in Europe, Mr McGann added.
The airport authority said the jobs in the area would be of "high quality".
IDA chief executive Barry O'Leary welcomed the plan. "This project is a vote of confidence in Dublin's future as a major centre for international commerce, increasing choice in the range and quality of property options available to companies considering locating in this region."
Speaking at the launch, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern described the plan as an "exciting new development" for the country. "It's important to plan ahead and put in train developments for the next stage of economic growth in this country," he said. The airport authority said the new "economic zone" would contribute in the region of €1 billion a year to the national economy and that the venture would be independently funded.
It is understood that the airport manager could seek investment from the National Pension Reserve Fund, which is managed for the State by the NTMA.
DAA chief executive Declan Collier stressed that the development would be "entirely ringfenced" from the DAA's €2 billion overhaul of its airport facilities, which includes a second terminal building.
Mr Collier said the new district would be built in five-year phases. The DAA will probably seek planning permission for the first phase later this year. Construction is likely to begin in 2010 with the first tenants moving in within two or three years.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Called Dublin Airport City, it is to be situated on 350 acres of land to the east of the existing airport complex that is not needed for airport activities. The ambitious scheme - designed by international architects HOK - envisages 600,000sq metres of office space and 40,000sq metres of retail, hotel and conference facilities.
This would make it roughly one-third the size of the London Docklands. The plan includes a 16-storey tower that could attract objections from locals and conservation groups. "It is reasonable to assume that there will be planning issues," the airport authority's chairman Gary McGann said after yesterday's launch.
Mr McGann said the plan is to cluster industries close to the airport, offering them ease of access to air travel, while only being six miles from the city centre.
No industries have been identified at this stage, although soundings had been taken with the IDA. The area was likely to prove attractive to multinationals, particularly those looking to establish head office functions in Europe, Mr McGann added.
The airport authority said the jobs in the area would be of "high quality".
IDA chief executive Barry O'Leary welcomed the plan. "This project is a vote of confidence in Dublin's future as a major centre for international commerce, increasing choice in the range and quality of property options available to companies considering locating in this region."
Speaking at the launch, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern described the plan as an "exciting new development" for the country. "It's important to plan ahead and put in train developments for the next stage of economic growth in this country," he said. The airport authority said the new "economic zone" would contribute in the region of €1 billion a year to the national economy and that the venture would be independently funded.
It is understood that the airport manager could seek investment from the National Pension Reserve Fund, which is managed for the State by the NTMA.
DAA chief executive Declan Collier stressed that the development would be "entirely ringfenced" from the DAA's €2 billion overhaul of its airport facilities, which includes a second terminal building.
Mr Collier said the new district would be built in five-year phases. The DAA will probably seek planning permission for the first phase later this year. Construction is likely to begin in 2010 with the first tenants moving in within two or three years.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 24 April 2008
Council rejects Bray apartments
A COMPANY made up of Irish developers Anthony Durkan, Christopher Bennett, Joan Pierce and Conor Kevany has been refused planning permission by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to build 78 apartments in two-storey blocks at the former Solus factory at Corke Abbey in Bray, Co Dublin.
Two years ago An Bord Pleanála refused permission for 88 apartments on the site. The site's former owner, Lidl, was refused permission in 2004 for a discount store on the site.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Two years ago An Bord Pleanála refused permission for 88 apartments on the site. The site's former owner, Lidl, was refused permission in 2004 for a discount store on the site.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Bord says yes to SCR scheme
AN BORD Pleanála has given the green light for a major development with over 700 new homes on Dublin's SCR. Players Square, a joint venture between Bee Bee Developments Ireland Ltd and the Walls Group, will be built on a 4.32-hectare site on the former John Player cigarette factory site and the Bailey Gibson industrial premises.
The scheme will comprise 16 buildings from two to 12 storeys and will include a 16-class school, two crèches, two community centres, medical centre, supermarket, offices, restaurants and cafés. A pool and leisure centre are also planned.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The scheme will comprise 16 buildings from two to 12 storeys and will include a 16-class school, two crèches, two community centres, medical centre, supermarket, offices, restaurants and cafés. A pool and leisure centre are also planned.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Liam Carroll's plan to demolish D8 apartment block appealed
A PROPOSAL by developer Liam Carroll of Zoe Developments to demolish a late-1990s apartment block and replace it with a six-storey office building on the corner of Island Street and Watling Street in Dublin 8 has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Carroll built the New Maltings block of 47 apartments in 1998 and retained ownership, renting them out.
The block was built in the same complex as another earlier apartment development called The Maltings, also built by Carroll.
Dublin City Council approved the demolition saying the apartments provide "a very poor residential amenity with small units" and said it has "a significant number of north-facing apartments and poor private open space and storage facilities".
A planner's report said residents are concerned about the loss of a residential amenity but said that the future development at the nearby Digital Hub should provide better residential amenity.
However, in an appeal to An Bord Pleanála, a resident of the Maltings said knocking an apartment block would effectively set a precedent for other Section 23 developments "to consider a more commercially attractive office or retail use, to the potential detriment of residential communities". Section 23 reliefs on the apartments are due to run out at the end of July this year.
The appellant points to the Dublin City development plan which says that it is council policy to discourage the demolition of habitable houses "unless the streetscape, environmental and amenity considerations are satisfied and there is a net increase in the number of dwellings provided".
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Carroll built the New Maltings block of 47 apartments in 1998 and retained ownership, renting them out.
The block was built in the same complex as another earlier apartment development called The Maltings, also built by Carroll.
Dublin City Council approved the demolition saying the apartments provide "a very poor residential amenity with small units" and said it has "a significant number of north-facing apartments and poor private open space and storage facilities".
A planner's report said residents are concerned about the loss of a residential amenity but said that the future development at the nearby Digital Hub should provide better residential amenity.
However, in an appeal to An Bord Pleanála, a resident of the Maltings said knocking an apartment block would effectively set a precedent for other Section 23 developments "to consider a more commercially attractive office or retail use, to the potential detriment of residential communities". Section 23 reliefs on the apartments are due to run out at the end of July this year.
The appellant points to the Dublin City development plan which says that it is council policy to discourage the demolition of habitable houses "unless the streetscape, environmental and amenity considerations are satisfied and there is a net increase in the number of dwellings provided".
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
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