Ashleaf Redevelopment Decision - Council Set to Approve Plans?

It was with no little disappointment that I read South Dublin County Council's 'manager's orders' on the proposed redevelopment of the Ashleaf Shopping Centre - pictured here, by no means accurately. You may have noted my press release on this application which garnered a small bit of local press attention.

There were, in total, 50 objections made to the application from a variety of local residents, businesses, historical and residential groups and public representatives. My own substantial objection, available in full here, was based on a variety of factors around the height and scale of the development, the pressure on utilities, traffic and parking, and the lack of appropriate mix in the residential units promised.

In particular, the utter cynicism with which the developer tried to tie in families of sick children in Our Lady's Hospital - soon, according to government policy, to close - to the use of his proposed 'apart-hotel' showed up this development as callous from the start.

In making their decision on the application this week, the Council have chosen neither to reject nor approve it - the official decision is to "request additional information." This is, in effect, an approval of the plans provided a couple of conditions are met and the information the Council seeks on particular aspects of the development is provided. The decision is here - see pages 10-14 for the assessment of the application and 15-16 for the conditions attached and additional information requested.

It is common for Councils to make an "additional information" decision but given the fairly timid conditions and information requests attached, it seems that they are happy to go ahead with approving this application in the near future. Many will tell you an "additional information" decision points directly to an approval, but this is by no means the case in all circumstances - see my press release on the St Mel's/Glendoo development for an example of a rejection following an additional information request.

Talking to many local residents over the past few weeks, I have become more aware of the serious discomfort caused to local people during the initial building of the Ashleaf Centre and of the ongoing problems many continue to experience. I know how deeply disappointed many will be with an approval and I sincerely hope the project is not permitted to go ahead. I will be keeping in touch with local residents in the coming weeks and will keep all with an interest informed of the Council's decisions.

Press Release - Labour candidate Looney slams “cynical” Ashleaf redevelopment

Dermot Looney, Labour’s local area representative in Dublin 12 and a candidate in next year’s local elections, has slammed proposals to redevelop the Ashleaf Shopping Centre at Crumlin Cross. An application made to increase retail space in the centre, along with providing 40 residential units and 80 ‘apart-hotel’ spaces, is currently in front of South Dublin County Planners.

Local-based Looney has joined with Labour representatives Councillor Eamonn Walsh and Mary Upton TD in opposing the proposed 5-storey development, which would put massive strain on local public utilities, traffic and parking in an area already under considerable strain. As well as noting concerns with an level of development and height unsuitable for the area, and an inappropriate mix of residential units, Looney has also criticised the developers for citing sick children as part of the rationale for the project.

Page 4, Section 1.6 of the Planning Report included with the application states, in terms of a rationale for these proposals, that the “apart-hotel…aims to serve, in part, the visitors of the patients of Our Lady’s Children Hospital, Crumlin, particularly for the parents/guardians of children who are receiving short, medium and long-term care.”

“Notwithstanding the current government policy to move the children’s hospital to the Mater,” Looney noted in his submission to South Dublin County Council, “this is a laughably cynical attempt to provide a humanitarian platform for what is, solely and exclusively, a profit motive.”

“This is a shameful attempt to pull on heart strings by the developer and rings very hollow with local people who face the threat of totally unsuitable development at the Ashleaf.”

“I am glad to join with local residents in standing firmly against these proposals and am confident that the planners will take on board our concerns as to the height of the new centre, traffic, parking, utilities, the environment and the family-unfriendly mix of residential units in rejecting these proposals outright,” Looney said.

ENDS

Dermot Looney’s submission to the Council is available on request. The application in full is available at http://www.sdublincoco.ie/index.aspx?pageid=144&regref=SD08A/0430