Deputy Burton today welcomed the news that the decision by Fingal County Council to refuse planning permission for the “Weavers Row Planning Application” by Aldi has been upheld by An Bord Pleanála. ALDI had applied for permission to build a 5/6 storey development with 100 apartments and a number of largescale retail units on Weavers Row, and been refused permission by Fingal County Council in July.

“Along with many local residents I was extremely concerned about the many negative effects that this development would have had for Clonsilla village” said Deputy Burton. “The height, scale and density of the development would have been entirely inappropriate for Clonsilla village.”

“In my objection to this development, I urged the Council to carry out an area study of Clonsilla village, and to draw up a proper plan for the development of Clonsilla village to ensure that proper guidelines are in place for assessing applications in the area. I particularly welcome the recognition of the Council (point 4 of notification – see attached) that further development on this scale cannot take place until the promised “Urban Centre Strategy for Clonsilla” is completed. This is the only way to ensure that local residents get the highest standards of planning that they deserve.”

“I hope that the Council will now proceed to produce a plan for Clonsilla village as previously promised by them in the course of the development plan.”

The reasons given by An Bord Pleanála for their decision to refuse planning permission for this development are as follows:

REASONS AND CONSIDERATIONS

1. It is the objective of the current Fingal County Development Plan to enhance and develop the urban fabric of the village centre and that retail development should minimise the impact of private car based traffic. These objectives are considered to be reasonable. The proposed development, by reason of the lack of appropriate street frontage, the mass of the proposed retail block, the extent of surface car parking and the segregation of uses within the site, would result in a disorderly form of development on this important site in the village, would set a precedent for similar non-integrated development in this centrally located site and would, therefore, fail to comply with the policies and objectives of the development plan. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
2. The proposed development would be detrimental to the residential amenities of future residents having regard to the significant deficiencies in the quality and extent of open spaces provision. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
3. The proposed development, by reason of the scale, height and mass of the residential block on a constricted site and the poor relationship with adjoining zoned lands, would constitute a visually obtrusive element and would create a precedent for further similar uncoordinated development within the village. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
4. The proposed development, having regard to the significant deficiencies in the level of residential parking provision, the lack of adequate provision for pedestrian and cycle movements within the site, the layout of the retail parking provision and the location on dwelling units to the rear of commercial uses giving rise to conflicting vehicle movements, would endanger public safety and create a serious traffic hazard. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

Deputy Burton has welcomed the news that Fingal County Council have initiated proceedings against the developer of the Collegewood housing estate in Castleknock for his refusal to make the underground car park available for residents and to complete the open car parking spaces.

Many residents purchased extra parking spaces in the underground car park, as there is no visitor parking in the development, and have been unable to access either of their parking spaces since they moved in.

The development has failed a number of planning inspections and warnings have been issued to the developer, however there has been no response.

Deputy Burton said, “I welcome this strong statement by Fingal County Council that developers will not be allowed to leave developments unfinished, while moving on to pursue other profitable developments. Residents are paying extremely high prices for their homes and it is not acceptable for estates to be left uncompleted in this way.”

Deputy Burton has welcomed the news that Iarnroid Eireann have now submitted planning applications for pedestrian bridges at Clonsilla and Coolmine railway stations.

Deputy Burton said, “the two stations are among the last crossings in Dublin without safe pedestrian access and are extremely dangerous. Having campaigned for so long with local residents for these two bridges, I hope to see them completed as quickly as possible”.

Residents can examine the planning application if they wish at Fingal County Council’s new offices at the Grove Road at the Town Centre.

There is a serious risk that the Tolka River could be permanently damaged as a fishing river if the proposed works by OPW, Fingal County Council and Meath County Council are not carried out in a sufficiently sensitive way.

Deputy Burton said that she welcomed the statement in a letter to her by the Chairman of the OPW, Sean Benton, that the OPW and the consultants representing the Council in this work are alert to the sensitivities of the environment of the Tolka River.

“I welcome the news that if the OPW decide to go ahead with one of the proposals currently under discussion, that it will be formally exhibited under the Planning and Development Regulations and should include an environmental appraisal of any proposed works” said Deputy Burton.

“I am asking all those who are interested in ensuring the future of the Tolka river to make a submission to the OPW, to the Director of Services Mr. P.J. Howell of Fingal County Council and to Meath County Council when the formal exhibition takes place.”

In the meantime Deputy Burton said she would continue to press the OPW and the Minister of State Tom Parlon to ensure that the long term future of the Tolka Rover as an amenity and a fishing river is protected. She hoped that all of the interested parties, the Council, angling groups, Public Representatives and the OPW would be able to meet on site shortly to discuss the matter in detail.

Youth services in Blanchardstown annually have programmes involving three to four hundred young people fishing the river. Insensitive flood work could completely destroy all of this very good community work.

Fingal County Council has turned down an application by Kimpton Vale for an increase in the height and density of its already permitted development at Diswellstown.

The original planning permission approved 131 dwelling units, but this was followed by an application to increase the development to a 4 – 8 storey apartment block of 210 apartments.

Deputy Burton said, “I welcome this decision by Fingal County Council. This application was opportunistic and would not have benefited either existing or future communities in the area. The surrounding residential dwellings are predominantly 2 storey with a small number of 3 storey apartments. A development of this size would have been completely inappropriate”.

“Local residents contacted me about this application to say that they were extremely concerned at the negative impact this increased development would have had on their neighbourhood. Residents are suffering from the lack of infrastructure in the area and traffic jams are already a daily feature of the area.”

“Should this application be appealed to An Bord Pleanala, I will be making further objections”

Last January, Bord Pleanala gave the go ahead for the development of a new town of 3,000 homes plus shops and services at Hansfield to the west of Clonsilla railway station and close to St Josephs Hospital.

The plan has now been completed and is being exhibited at Fingal County Council offices in the Blanchardstown Town Centre.

Viewing times are Monday to Thursday from 9.00am – 5.00pm and on Friday from 9.00am to 4.30pm.

Deputy Burton today welcomed the news that the “Weavers Row Planning Application” by Aldi has been refused planning permission by Fingal County Council.

“Local residents were extremely concerned about the many negative effects that this development would have had for Clonsilla village” said Deputy Burton. “I want to congratulate all the locals who took the time to attend my public meeting on this issue, and to submit their own objections to the plans. This episode shows that communities can take an active role in determining the future of the areas that they live in”.

“I also welcome the detailed response from Fingal County Council in refusing permission for this development. The Council recognised that the height, scale and density of the development would be entirely inappropriate for Clonsilla village.”

“In my objection to this development, I urged the Council to carry out an area study of Clonsilla village, and to draw up a proper plan for the development of Clonsilla village to ensure that proper guidelines are in place for assessing applications in the area. I particularly welcome the recognition of the Council (point 4 of notification – see attached) that further development on this scale cannot take place until the promised “Urban Centre Strategy for Clonsilla” is completed. This is the only way to ensure that local residents get the highest standards of planning that they deserve.”

It is now open to the developers, Aldi, to either submit a fresh application to meet the Council’s objections, or it is open to Aldi to appeal the Council’s decision directly to An Bord Pleanala. While the refusal by the Council and particularly the Council’s detailed planning details for the refusal are welcome, the reality is that this particular battle probably has a number of further rounds. I hope that the statement by the Council in it’s refusal is sufficiently strong to protect Clonsilla village from an inappropriate and completely overscale of shopping development and apartment blocks.

I hope that the Council will now proceed to produce a plan for Clonsilla village as previously promised by them in the course of the development plan.