|
Massive
new town Gets green light
THE
controversial Adamstown development which will see up
to 10,000 new homes built in West Dublin has been given
the green light by An Bord Pleanala.
The plan for a new town for 30,000 people was adopted
15-2 last May by members of South Dublin County Council
(SDCC) following six hours of deliberation by councillors.
The decision was then appealed to An Bord and an oral
hearing carried out last July.
Opponents to the plan had hoped An Bord would insist
that an environmental impact statement (EIS) be carried
out on the proposed development.
However, despite over 20 conditions being attached to
the plan the development can go ahead without an EIS.
Local groups along with various political representatives
have long campaigned for the provision of an EIS within
the Adamstown plan.
Members of groups such as Lucan Together for Quality
of Life, Finnstown Input and Deliver It Right have repeatedly
made recommendations to the council for such a report,
claiming that the effect of the development on the surrounding
area needs to be further explored.
The decision by An Bord was welcomed by South Dublin
County Council officials who described the development
as one of the most detailed masterplans ever prepared
in Ireland.
“The
approved scheme represents a new and innovative approach
to the comprehensive planning and phased development
of an area, with infrastructure and facilities to be
provided in tandem with housing,” a council spokesman
said.
“The
decision of An Bord Pleanala to approve the scheme supports
our work and in particular the approach taken to the
nature, extent, design and phasing of development.
“The
modifications required by An Bord Pleanala relate primarily
to matters of clarification and detail with regard to
phasing.”
Significant matters addressed by An Bord in the 26 conditions
attached to the plan include the upgrade of a section
of the R120 Newcastle Road and completion of the Outer
Ring Road.
“South
Dublin County Council fully supports these measures
and is happy to comply with the decision of An Bord
Pleanala,” the spokesman added.
Local independent councillor, Derek Keating, expressed
major disappointment that provision had not been made
for the upgrading of the N4 and M50 road networks as
well as the lack of provision for an EIS on the development.
“I
await the inspector’s report to examine his views
on these issues,” he said.
“In
the circumstances my decision to appeal Adamstown to
An Bord Pleanala and at the recent oral hearing has
been vindicated.”
Cllr Keating welcomed some of the conditions attached
to the development.
“I
note particularly the decision to ensure that all schools
will be permanent structures as I proposed and not temporary
buildings as previously recommended by the council,”
he said.
“I
am also pleased that provision has been made for the
upgrading of the Newcastle Road including the provision
of footpaths on both sides on safety grounds.
“The
inclusion of a completed Outer Ring Road from the N7
to the N4 is also of critical importance.
“With
regard to the Dublin-Kildare suburban railway line,
An Bord Pleanala has agreed that the operational capacity
I so often referred to is conditioned in the Adamstown
scheme by providing for a minimum of 3,000 peak hour
direction trips serving Adamstown.”
Labour Party representative for the area, Joanna Tuffy,
said she welcomed the decision to allow the development.
“It
is a strategic approach to ensure that the bad, developer-driven
planning mistakes of the past such as urban sprawl and
absence of vital infrastructure are not repeated,”
she said.
“As
a Lucan native I have been convinced that the scheme
offers the best prospect for the future as developers
are required to ensure phased delivery of housing and
infrastructure including school buildings, public transport
and community facilities.”
|
.gif){kind=small}
.gif){kind=small}
