Bartra Capital's plans for Bulloch Harbour near Dalkey in Dublin have been informed by the objectives of removing "an eye sore" and creating "a landmark" mixed use scheme.
That is according to extensive planning documents lodged by Richard Barrett’s Bartra Property (Dublin) Ltd in connection with the firm’s controversial plans to redevelop the harbour site.
The lodging of the plans looks set to re-ignite one of the most contentious planning rows in south Dublin in recent years.
Local resident and broadcaster Pat Kenny was one of the most vocal opponents of Bartra’s previous planned mixed use scheme for Bulloch Harbour which attracted more than 250 local objections.
A new report submitted by Bartra with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council argues that the scheme "is a suitably positioned and well-designed coastal scheme."
The new scheme for the former Western Marine Building, Bulloch Harbour seeks the demolition and clearance of the existing industrial single storey warehouses and sheds.
The scheme includes the construction of a three storey building incorporating a café and one four bedroom apartment.
The scheme also includes a single storey seafood sales outlet, four fisherman's huts, a new public square and three three storey detached houses.
Now, advancing the Bartra case for the new scheme to the Council, a planning report lodged by DK Planning & Architecture with the application contends that the proposal "represents a considerable investment which will greatly enhance the public realm at Bulloch".
The report by Karl Kent states that "there is an opportunity now to improve the character and setting of the harbour by removing the industrial warehouses, redeveloping this brownfield site for bespoke commercial and leisure marine based activity, together with an appropriate quantum of residential development".
In the the report, Mr Kent states that the mixed use development of marine and residential building "is an appropriate design response to the constraints of this sensitive, infill coastal location".
Mr Kent contends that the scheme "will also enhance and animate the quayside".
He also states that a high-density development was ruled out after it was found that it would "result in an unacceptably negative impact on this historic small harbour".
Mr Kent points out that "there has been very little investment in Bulloch Harbour for many years and the immediate public realm has a run-down appearance".
The planning consultant contends that the design of the scheme "promotes a high quality architectural response to this scenic location at Bulloch harbour".
The Kent report claims that the redevelopment of the site "provides an opportunity to remove visual clutter and to construct buildings of architectural quality, which will resonate with the historic context set by the tower and castle".
An Bord Pleanála previously granted planning permission for a Bartra Bulloch Harbour scheme in June 2019 but the permission was quashed by the High Court on consent in September 2020 after the appeals board stated that it wouldn't be defending the High Court judicial review action brought against it by the Bulloch Harbour Preservation Association (BHPA).
The High Court also ordered by consent that the appeals board would pay the BHPA’s legal costs and the application was remitted back to the appeals board for further consideration.
Pat Kenny was one of scores of locals to contribute financially to a fund organised by BHPA to bring the High Court judicial review of the An Bord Pleanála green light for the scheme.
Commenting previously on the An Bord Pleanála grant of permission for the Bulloch Harbour scheme, Mr Kenny said that the decision "was crazy and beggared belief".
He said: "It was wrong from the very outset and defied common sense."
He pointed out at the time: "The Council had rejected the development, the Board’s own inspector rejected the development. And yet, the Board saw fit to disregard the advice of their own "boots-on-the-ground", the An Bord Pleanala inspector, and give the go-ahead for a development."
The ex- Late Late Show presenter commented at the time: "The stress and aggravation caused to communities by decisions which overrule the advice of the Board’s own inspectors, cannot be overstated."
A decision is due on the scheme in early March.
