Deputy Joan Burton TD and Fingal Mayor, Cllr. Michael O’Donovan, have welcomed the decision of An Bord Pleanala to refuse permission to Aldi for a stand alone development of mixed Commercial Units and Apartments in Clonsilla. The proposed development, in the centre of Clonsilla Village, consisted of five retail units along with sixty apartments in six three and four storey blocks.

Deputy Burton commented: “The height and scale of the proposed development was excessive and was trying to cram far too much into an important section of land in the centre of the village”, Burton said.

“Many local residents have told me that they would like to see the lands concerned form part of a new development which would incorporate a Town Square and Urban Park along with much needed community facilities which will enhance the Village of Clonsilla. This would be in line with Fingal’s recently published Clonsilla Urban Village Strategy.”

“We need to have well-thought-out planning where development is sympathetic to its surrounding environment. Putting an Aldi super-store into the heart of Clonsilla village does not fall into that category. Long-time residents of Clonsilla deserve better.

The developers, say An Bord Pleanala, failed to take into account the objective of the current Fingal County Development Plan “to enhance and develop the village centre of Clonsilla”.

An Bord Pleanala also stated that the proposed development lacked integration with any of the adjoining areas in Clonsilla Village and that this would result in an uncoordinated form of development on this important site in Clonsilla Village and would set a precedent for similar non-integrated development.