Press Release 17 December 2004 Controversial new building plans for Iceland site in Dun Laoghaire face strong opposition Dún

Press Release 17 December 2004

Controversial new building plans for Iceland site in Dun Laoghaire face strong opposition

Dún Laoghaire Green Party Councillor Kealin Ireland said today that she is disappointed at the decision of An Bord Pleanála to grant permission for a ‘landmark’ building at the Iceland site in lower Dún Laoghaire. The controversial mixed-use building has been the subject of disagreement among locals and planners for some time.

“The Iceland development will be nine storeys high,” said Cllr. Ireland. “But the Development Plan states that any new development should ‘strive to be contextual’. The context for this building is small, two-storied Edwardian and Victorian residences. Local shops and pubs are also on a small scale. With relatively few exceptions, such as the Anchorage, this area is residential and has a thriving local community. Why then have planners ignored all local objection and granted permission for a building that no one wants? This building is supposed to be a ‘landmark’ building – although no one is quite sure what this means and what it will contribute to the local community. To most people, this is just another nine-storey building.”

“There are plans underway for other ‘landmark’ buildings in Dún Laoghaire; for example, at Eblana Avenue and Carlisle Pier. There are also other major developments planned for the former Council Yard at George’s Place, the Working Men’s Club and a six-storey development at the Harbourmaster’s Yard. Dún Laoghaire will soon become a high-rise haven, dwarfing existing buildings and forcing out families and older people. We welcome development in this area but it must be sustainable - with a mixture of offices, shops and residential units that encourage families to come back here and set down roots.”

Local residents are said to be “shocked and dismayed” with the decision and are at a loss to understand why lower Dún Laoghaire been chosen for this type of development. According to Adrian Barry, Chairman of West Dún Laoghaire Residents’ Association, “what is the rationale – and who did the planners consult about this change of use from mixed and residential to high rise? Local residents weren’t consulted or engaged with in any way about this. The building fails to provide any architectural design rationale that has a meaningful historical, maritime or social relationship with Dún Laoghaire’. Residents claim that the mass and scale of the building contrive to dominate and dwarf its surroundings.”

Dún Laoghaire Green Party TD, Ciarán Cuffe, also expressed his concern at the granting of planning permission. “It is a victory for mediocrity. The real danger is that any future developments in the area will be of similar design. Planners need to be innovative but also respect the existing environment and context. The County’s own development plan states that ‘new development should seek to reestablish streetscapes, to be appropriately scaled and to be rich in materials and details consistent with the existing typology of the town center. Buildings such as the one intended for the Iceland site do not conform to these guidelines and set a dangerous precedent for other developments.”

Information
Cllr. Kealin Irleand 086 3881535
Elaine Walsh Press Office 618 3852 / 087 223 2946

Ciarán Cuffe is a TD for the Dún Laoghaire Dáil Constituency. Ciarán can be contacted at Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 or 96 Patrick Street, Dún Laoghaire Tel. 284 6060 or 618 3082, Fax 618 4341, Email Ciaran CiaranCuffe.com, or Text Ciaran on 087 265 2075.