Press Release: Dún Laoghaire 05 March 2008

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05 March 2008
 

Greens seek Greater Planning Controls

- as Bord Pleanála grants permission for Eleven Story Development at Shell Station on Rock Road in Booterstown
 

The Green Party has vowed to seek the adoption of a Building Height Strategy in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown as An Bord Pleanála grants permission for an eleven story high building on the former Shell station at the Rock Road in Booterstown.

Permission was upheld on appeal to Bord Pleanála to O’Mahoney Finnerty New Homes for grant of permission obtained from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. An Appeal had been taken by Dornden Park Residents Association. Deputy Cuffe had supported the Appeal by way of Observation

Local Green Party TD, Ciarán Cuffe said, “I am surprised and upset that Bord Pleanála granted permission for such a tall building in the heart of a low-rise residential area. Residents are concerned that permission has been granted by the Board. Although the building was reduced in scale from thirteen to eleven stories, it will still be almost twice the height of the Tara Towers.

The site is not designated as being suitable for such a tall building in Dublin City Council’s Managing Intensification and Change – A Strategy for Dublin Building Height or in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown’s own Building Height Study.

“Together with my colleagues on Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council we shall try and ensure that common-sense planning guidelines are put in place to protect residential neighbourhoods.

“The proposed apartment block is in very close proximity to two storey semi-detached houses in Trimleston and is completely out of character with surrounding communities. The old Shell Garage site on the Rock Road / Merrion Road is completely inappropriate location for a very tall apartment block.

“The County does require higher density housing in some areas but skyscrapers lumped in among two storey residential communities is simply not good planning.”

Local Green Party Councillor Nessa Childers stated:
“We intend ensuring that the next County Development Plan (currently being formulated) incorporates the Building Height Study that was produced by Urban Initiatives last year. Although it was published after this planning application was lodged, we believe that it can be used to put in place a proper planning framework to control high-rise development in the County.

“We shall work to strengthen planning controls so that high rise proposals are not considered in such close proximity to established residential areas.