Combined Whitehall Residents Association

Obviously the planners and Dublin City Council don’t consider 5 storeys high rise.  Maybe if they stood in the back garden of a house onYellow Road and witnessed the imposing presence of the current two storey structure that is The Old Cinema in Whitehall, they’d think again about blocking the light with the APPROVED 5 storey structure.

Regretfully this planning application has been approved and there is a last ditch attempt to submit further reasons for not buidling the monstrosity.  In case it provides any solace to you, one of the storeys is an underground car park.  It will be interesting to see 2-way traffic up those back lanes.

High Rise is back on the Agenda in Whitehall.  If you think the ghost estates around the country and empty apartment blocks in our own area will put a stop to stupid planning, think again.

We’re back to 8 storeys for the ‘Nun’s Field’ over the Tunnel from the Regency up to Collins Avenue with a vehicular entrance in the North West corner, we’re thinking across from the Viscount, surely it couldn’t be at the corner!!

The proposed development  (ref: 3269/10) is described as follows;

• 402 apartment dwellings comprised of 1,2 & 3 bed apartments
• There will be seven 5 to 8 storey blocks (including penthouse level setbacks),
• One 2 storey self-contained creche building (465m2)
• Three retail/commercial units (344m2) all on a site area of 2.73 ha.
• Ninety Three 3 bed units
• Two Hundred and Forty Eight 2 bed units
• Six One 1 bed units
• Block A is a 6-8 storey block containing 49 units and  retail/commercial units at ground floor level
• Block B is a 6 storey block containing 63 units
• Block C is a 5-6 storey block containing 52 units
• Block D is a 7-8 storey block containing 62 units.
• Block E is a 5-8 storey block containing 58 units
• Block F is a 6 storey block containing 60 units
• Block G is a 5-6 storey block containing 58 units

Last day for observations is 26th August.  Send your observations/appeals for sense to

Registry and Decisions Section,
Planning Department,
Dublin City Council,
Block 4, Civic Offices,
Wood Quay, Dublin 8.

It costs Euro20 and full instructions can be seen at http://www.dublincity.ie/Planning/PlanningObjections/Documents/COMMENTING%20ON%20A%20PLANNING%20APPLICATION.pdf

The key objections when the application was planned last time were

• Safety Building over the Dublin Port Tunnel
• The increased traffic to a raod that is on AA Roadwatch every morning due to traffic jams
• The development of high rise in a mainly 2 storey area
• No mention of community gain

If you like walking and are interested in local history and have time during the day, the Let’s Walk and Talk tours with Dublin Historian, Pat Liddy may be just up your street.

On Thursday, August 26th at 2pm, there’s a tour of one of our nearest neighbours, Drumcondra.  Put the date in your diary, meet up at 2pm outside the Cat and Cage, the theme is Legacies of Service which delves into the institutions in the area, formed over the centuries to provide religious and community services.

By the way there’s a great book on the history of Drumcondra (out of print) but can be browsed in Munchies beside Tesco in Drumcondra, with a good cup of coffee.  The books covers many of the neighbourhoods in Whitehall, including the history of our local farms which are still there and the institutes on both side of the Swords Road.  Other walks in the series include:

• Merrion Square – Saturday August 28th
• Phibsborough – Sunday September 12th
• Mansion House – Tuesday September 14th

See the website for full details.

RTE reports this morning indicate that new building heights have been approved for different areas of the city.  http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1202/dublin.html

Despite all our work putting forward our recommendations for our local area, so far no mention of Whitehall is in the press release, so we need word from our councillors as to how they represented us and what the impact is likely to be.

So far Dublin City Council have posted no press releases for December, and funnily enough Whitehall is not mentioned on the City Councillors web page at http://www.dublincity.ie/YourCouncil/Councillors/YourLocalCouncillors/Pages/FindYourLocalCouncillorsHome.aspx

We need clarity on this and look forward to an update.

Positive Ageing week is in full swing.  An 8 week Dance Term with Coisceim Dance Theatre Company kicks off today in partnership with the Donnycarny/Beaumont Local Care Centre.   Call Liz Coman at 01 222 7841 for further details or email liz.comanATdublincity.ie (replace AT with @).

If you are aged fifty-five or older, Dublin City Council wants to help you love a richer, more active and exciting life.  The Passport for Leisure Scheme costs Euro10 and provides vouchers and discounts worth hundreds of Euros.

Full details can be seen at http://www.passportforleisure.ie/ and application forms will be left into the Whitehall Parish Centre.

Ireland’s first wholly sustainable park, Fr. Collins Park in Donaghmede, opened on Wednesday 27th May 2009.  This weekend, Saturday 3rd October 2009, a family day will run from 12-3pm in the park.  The Cafe Orchestra will kick off at 12 midday. 

For further information on the park http://www.dublincity.ie/Press/dccPressPacks/FrCollinsPark/Pages/FrCollinsPark.aspx

Dublin City Council is urging all communities to report dumping outside houses and business premises, which is left for the purpose of getting rid of the material on bonfires over the Halloween period.  The resources from the council, police and fire brigade are scarce and DCC stresses that the expenditure on dealing with illegal bonfires would be better channelled into improving our communities.  A letter from the area manager can be downloaded here.

Call the Council at 01 816 6710 to report the stockpiling or illegal dumping of materials for use on bonfires.

On the 17th of September 2009 An Bord Pleanála decided to refuse the appeal of Barina Construction Limited for its plan to develop a mixed use development of 460 dwellings, creche, retail/commercial and associated works at Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9. This is a great result for the residents of the area and the Combined Whitehall Residents Associations which have worked tirelessly for almost two years.

The order cited three grounds for refusal. These included the belief that: the scale, design, height and mix of the appartments was excessive for the area, the open space provision in terms of its form, function and layout failed to accord with the zoning for the area and the Board were not satisfied that the proposed development would not impact negatively on the Dublin Port Tunnel.

The full inspector’s report and the Board direction on the appeal will be available shortly at www.pleanala.ie

Resident Associations have received word from An Bord Pleanála that a submission by the National Roads Authority (NRA) in relation to the mixed use development on the Swords Road, expresses concern about the effect the development may have on The Dublin Port Tunnel.  Copies of the NRA letter and submissions can be viewed here.

The letter to An Bord Pleanala states ” The Authority is greatly concerned at the potential for the proposed development the subject of the appeal to reduce the structural integrity, safety and durability of The Dublin Port Tunnel, which forms part of the national roads motorway network.  The Authority’s observations on the original planning application are enclosed as NRA Appendix A – Port Tunnel Safety.  Our observations on the Additonal Information are enclosed as NRA-Appendix B – Port Tunnel”

Letter from An Bord Pleanala plus attachments regarding NRA position Barina – Port Tunnel-Safety

Area    Area 5 – North Central
Application Number    1547/08
Application Type    Permission
Decision    REFUSE PERMISSION 
Decision Date    21-Oct-2008
Applicant    Barina Construction Ltd
Location    Swords Road Whitehall, Bounded To West By Swords Road, South By Highfield Hospital, North By Dublin City Council Lands And Collins Avenue, East By Residential Development, At High Park, Dublin 9
Proposal    The proposed development includes for 460 no. dwellings comprised of 1,2,3 and 4 bed apartments and duplex units all located in 8 no 4 to 11 storey blocks (including penthouse level setbacks), 1 no crèche (614m2) and 3 no retail/commercial units (372m2) all on a site area of 2.76 ha. The site is bounded to the west by Swords Road, to the south by Highfield Hospital, to the north by Dublin City Council lands and Collins Avenue and to the east by existing residential development at High Park. The total proposed development consists of 4no. 4 bed duplex units, 139 no. 3 bed units, 299 no. 2 bed units and 18 no. 1 bed units all in 8 no. blocks. Block A is a 6 storey block containing 28 no. units and crèche at ground and first floor level. Block B is a 6 storey block containing 36 no. units. Blocks C,D and F are 8 storey blocks plus penthouse level setbacks catering for 92, 48 and 89 no. units respectively. Block E, located in the centre of the site is an 8 to 10 storey block, plus penthouse level setback, catering for 108 no. units. Block G, fronting onto Swords Road, is a 4-5 storey block catering for a total of 25 no. units and 3 no. retail/commercial units at ground floor level. Block H which abuts both Blocks C and D in the southern section of the site is 8 storeys plus penthouse level catering for 34 no. units. This application also includes for all associated site development and infrastructural works, hard and soft landscaping, public and private open spaces, underground car park (554 no. spaces), surface car parking (6 no. spaces), bicycle parking (491 stands), 2 no. ESB substations adjacent to Blocks F and G and private and refuse bin storage areas in basement car park. Private open spaces are provided as terraces at ground floor level of each block, balconies at all upper levels and roof terraces and gardens setback at sixth floor and upwards in Blocks C, D,E and F. Vehicular access to the site is off Swords Road in the north-west corner of the site with fire tender access also provided for off Swords Road through Block G.