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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. |
