The proposed design of the €100 million redevelopment of St Stephen's Green Shopping Centre "has gone out of its way to erase the building's character which is much-loved by Dubliners", according to a fresh appeal.
The case, lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) by the Save Stephen's Green campaign, has been backed by 24,000 signatures in an online petition.
It is the second appeal lodged against the city council decision to grant planning permission to DTDL Ltd last month for the redevelopment scheme and follows Athlone man, Oliver Donoghue lodging a third party appeal last week.
In the Save Stephen's Green Campaign appeal, Yusuf Alraqi has told ACP that "the proposed design for the redevelopment of the site not only shows no interest in preserving this character, but it has gone out of its way to erase the building's character which is much-loved by Dubliners".
Pointing to the 24,000 signatures to the online petition opposing the application, Mr Alraqi has told ACP that "public opinion has been overwhelmingly negative in relation to the proposed plan for the shopping centre, which despite its detractors has become an iconic landmark building in Dublin".
The scheme involves the demolition of much of the existing St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre including its distinctive dome and Mr Alraqi states that the existing St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre "is a building which oozes character; it is instantly recognisable and incredibly unique, and it is extremely unlikely that Dublin City will see another building like it, especially one in such an important focal point of the city centre".
In the appeal, Mr Alraqi contends that the main driver "for this project is the proposal of six storeys of offices. This represents a gross overdevelopment, with a doubling of the gross internal floor area".
He contends that Stephen's Green Shopping Centre may be located in a mixed-use zone, "but this does not mean that the office use is automatically appropriate".
He said: "We remain in a housing crisis while several football fields' worth of office space lay vacant in Dublin, and it is the role of proper planning to ensure that Dublin does not repeat the mistake of allowing such projects which are based on short-sighted economic gains."
Mr Alraqi contends that the existing atrium, which incorporates 400 tonnes of steel and 2,750 sqm of plate glass, "is one of the most impressive structures to experience in Dublin".
He said: "It has become a popular tourist attraction and features on postcards of Dublin. The new design does not live up to this benchmark."
He said that the Save Stephen's Green Campaign "supports the principle to rejuvenate Stephen's Green Shopping Centre in a manner that can preserve a mix of businesses".
He said that the lack of innovative thinking with regards to this proposal "has been alarming from the beginning, as there are few buildings in Dublin that present so much design potential".
Mr Alraqi states that the use of the word "rejuvenation" in relation to the St Stephen’s Shopping Centre "is a misleading phrase because it suggests that the building will be recognisable afterwards".
On the proposed demolition of much of the existing St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, Mr Alraqi states that there is little justification for the demolition/removal of so much glass and steel and "this is driven primarily by economic gain without regard for the proper planning".
The closing date for appeals to ACP in 18 May.
