Dublin City Council has granted planning permission to Hammerson plc's fourth major planning application for its €500 million regeneration plan for the capital.
The Council has given the green light to 'Site 2' of the scheme which comprises a mixed-use scheme of 38,479 square metres of gross floor area ranging in height from two to eight storeys including a new street between O’Connell Street Upper and Moore Lane.
The council granted planning permission despite strong opposition from the likes of the Moore Street traders, groups commemorating the 1916 Rising along with Clare Daly MEP and Sinn Fein TD, Aonghus O Snodaigh.
Planning applications for the other three major phases of the regeneration are currently before An Bord Pleanala.
The Council has granted planning permission to the fourth major phase after a 154 page Council planner’s report concluded that the amended Site 2 scheme as part of the wider masterplan area "will significantly regenerate a major underutilised, brownfield city centre site and its potential to contribute to the positive transformation of O’Connell Street and its immediate area is of strategic importance to Dublin City".
The report stated that the Council welcomes the comprehensive mixed use development across Site 2 as part of the wider Dublin Central Masterplan.
The council report states that in the further information received, the applicant’s architect introduced a number of design improvements to the scheme.
In an objection against the scheme, planning consultant for six Moore Street traders, William Doran stated that a ‘significant compensation package’ is required from Hammerson plc for the Moore Street traders impacted by the property giant’s regeneration plan.
In the objection, Mr Doran has stated that if granted planning permission the proposed development "will put my clients out of business for a generation and very likely beyond".
"Consequently a significant compensation package is required from the developer reflecting the true impact on the livelihoods of my clients," he added.
Planning consultants for Hammerson firm, Dublin Central GP Ltd, Stephen Little & Associates told the Council that the project area "is in critical need of regeneration".
Mr Little states that the scheme represents an exceptional opportunity to provide a mixed use scheme that will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of O'Connell Street.
The consultant claims that the proposal will result in a radical, empathetic and positive impact on the social and economic framework of the north inner city.
The construction phase is planned to continue for 11 years and Mr Doran said that it will be impossible for the Moore Street traders to call out their prices or the best choice of the day due to the noise caused by Hammerson's construction phase of its regeneration plan for the area.
"The reality here is that O’Connell Street Upper will become a no-go area for citizens and shoppers for a very long time. It will be a dirty, dusty, noisy, dangerous and intimidating space for many years," he said.
Mr Doran said that the sensible solution is "to close the impacted parts of O’Connell Street Upper and all of Moore Street for the duration of the development and pay compensation to all business impacted".
Mr Doran said that what he proposes may sound drastic but is "a practical and elegant solution".
MEP Clare Daly called on the Council to refuse planning permission stating that the scheme constitutes over-development
Ms Daly stated that the proposed eight storey height of the development contributes strongly to this over-density.
Deputy Aonghus O Snodaigh has also lodged an objection against the scheme.
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
