Gormley slams Bord Pleanala over crucial Poolbeg planning case
Green Party Chairman and TD for Dublin South East John Gormley has criticised An Bord Pleanála for refusing requests for an oral hearing into a massive proposed development on the Poolbeg peninsula, next to Sean Moore Park in Ringsend. Deputy Gormley joined with a large number of local residents in appealing the decision of Dublin City Council to grant permission for 16 blocks of 783 apartments, as well as office and retail space.
“The local community is totally opposed to the proposed development in its present form,” said Deputy Gormley. “We have serious concerns about transport, flooding and the protection of wildlife, not to mention the poor quality of design in the proposed scheme. The outcome of the planning process in this case will have serious implications for the overall development of the Poolbeg peninsula. For this reason Bord Pleanála should have granted the community’s request to be heard.
“Dublin City Council granted permission to Fabrizia Developments on the basis that the application was consistent with the ‘Poolbeg Framework Plan’, but this draft plan has never been adopted by the elected members of the Council. The Council’s planners have also ignored over 160 critical submissions from members of the public. If this development is permitted to proceed, the plan will become a reality without any democratic input.
“I can only hope that this decision means Bord Pleanála is gearing up to reject the proposed development out of hand. However, if its decision is to uphold Dublin City Council’s granting of planning permission, then the lack of an oral hearing will represent a major flaw in the decision-making process. The local community feel that they are being ignored in the planning process for this area, and the lack of an oral hearing will only reinforce this view,” concluded Deputy Gormley.