Retail giant, Dunnes Stores, has succeeded in having its financial planning contributions relating to its planned expansion of a south Dublin shopping centre almost halved to €230,703.
This follows An Bord Pleanála upholding an appeal by Dunnes Stores against a condition imposed by South Dublin City Council demanding that the retailer pay €448,074 in planning contributions concerning plans to expand the Kilnamanagh Shopping Centre in Kilnamanagh, Dublin 24.
The Council included the €448,074 demand as part of a permission giving the green light for the expansion of the shopping centre in November 2022.
The €448,074 was required towards expenditure in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development within the area.
The application by Dunnes Stores firm, Better Value Unlimited sought an upgrade that would include a two-storey extension at the shopping centres eastern elevation and the southern lobby to Dunnes Stores would be demolished and replaced with a new glazed lobby entrance.
In the appeal, planning consultants for Dunnes Stores, Tony Bamford Planning, stated that the Council had double counted a first floor extension in calculating the financial contributions.
The planning consultants pointed out that Dunnes Stores had previously paid financial planning contributions concerning a portion of the extension and this wasn't taken into account by the Council.
Tony Bamford Planning stated that the total amount due in financial contributions was €230,703 - and not the €448,074.
The planning consultants did state that when lodging the application "unfortunately, we did not have the necessary information to hand to address previous payments made on the centre. We are now in receipt of the relevant information."
As far back as April of last year, the Council conceded that the lower financial planning contribution of €230,703 was correct.
A letter from the Council stated that "the fee as stated in the appeal letter submitted by the applicant would be correct".
The submission stated that "proof of payment relating to previous development contributions had not been received by South Dublin County Council at the time of assessment of the planning application".
In her second report on the case signed off on March 4th, Senior Planning Inspector with An Bord Pleanála, Elaine Power, found that the planning authority incorrectly applied the terms of the South Dublin County Council Development Contributions Scheme 2021-2025 in the calculation of the amount payable.
In its decision, the appeals board has directed the Council to reduce the financial contribution to €230,703.
The €203,703 is based upon a €98.76 per square by 2,336 square metres.
