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Council slammed over Crumlin decision

Thursday, 06 November 2008

Dublin City Council has been criticised for granting permission for the development of an old bingo hall in South Dublin after they overruled the recommendation of one of their own planners. Residents in Crumlin strongly objected to a planning application to demolish the Star Bingo Hall at the junction of Crumlin Road, Kildare Road and St Mary’s Road which will be replaced with a mix of retail and residential units if An Bord Pleanála gives it the green light. Despite the strong concerns of one of their own planners – who said the development would lead to a “substandard residential environment” - the city council has now granted developers Nimbin Ltd permission to demolish the hall and replace it with three blocks of buildings of up to five storeys in height. Refusal Some 49 apartments with individual balconies will be developed on the site. There will also be an underground car park with 90 car parking spaces and 80 bicycle spaces. In his report, a Dublin City South Central area planner recommended refusal for the application. He said: “The proposed development by reason of the form and layout, which fails to adequately define or create separate public and private spaces, results in the provision of insufficient or inadequate private open space and the creation of a substandard residential environment. “The proposed development sited adjacent to two storey terraced dwelling houses and by reason of scale, massing, design and the use of materials fails to complement the established pattern of development in the area.” However, the city council’s senior planner subsequently overruled the area planner by saying that the proposed development “would not seriously injure the property in the vicinity or the amenities in the area”. In their submission residents in Ferndale Park objected to the access to the new development from a public right of way laneway on St Mary’s Road. “This laneway is a public right of way to the park and it would appear that the developer intends utilising this laneway to facilitate the development of the Star Bingo Hall site,” the submission reads. The residents also objected to the height of the proposed scheme at five storeys and argued that their properties would be “significantly overlooked”. In addition, they believe the 90 car parking spaces proposed for the development is insufficient and maintan that this contravenes the Dublin City Development plan, which specifies 1.5 spaces per residential unit. Deputy Mary Upton (Lab) criticised Dublin City Council for overruling the area planner’s recommendation. “This is not the first time that the recommendation of the local area planner, who inspects the site, has been overruled by a more senior official of the city council,” she said. Costly “The reasons given, in recommending refusal are clear - this development will have a negative effect on the local community, but this has been overruled yet again.” “The only remaining recourse for locals is a costly appeal to An Bord Pleanála,” she added. In a statement, Dublin City Council said: “The senior planner, having fully considered the layout, form and design of the development, considered that the proposal was in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. “The concerns outlined in the report were addressed by conditions attached to the decision to grant permission.”