Gormley raises concerns about development on Jury’s Hotel site
Following a meeting with the developer, Sean Dunne, this evening in the Berkeley Court to discuss his proposals for the development of this key site in the heart of Ballsbridge, Green Party Chairman and TD for Dublin South East John Gormley has raised a number of concerns. Mr Dunne is proposing a major mixed-use scheme incorporating residential, retail and office uses for the site of the Jury’s and Berkeley Court hotels.
“This proposal is a massive and interesting high-density development, which would create a new streetscape in Ballsbridge,” said Deputy Gormley. “The local residents are not opposed to development, however there are a number of valid concerns which have to be raised:
“Dublin City Council is currently in the process of drafting a Local Area Plan for Ballsbridge. It would be premature to grant permission for any major development on the Jury’s site before this process is concluded, and a plan is in place which has the support of local residents, with whom I have liaised on this matter. I have made a pre-draft submission to this process, and I will make further submissions when draft plans are available.
“If the planning application is lodged before the Local Area Plan process is complete, it must be clear that any draft plan does not have any status until it has been fully adopted. There must be no repeat of the disgraceful situation at Poolbeg, where Dublin City Council granted permission to a major development on the basis of a draft which had been rejected by residents, and which the City Councillors had refused to adopt.
“I also have to question whether this area can cope right now with the construction traffic and associated nuisance caused by so many major developments underway or proposed for the next few years. Between development on this site and the proposed redevelopment of Lansdowne Road, the pressure on local roads will be severe.
“We would welcome sustainable housing close to the City Centre, but this development must not be an enclave for the super-rich. It must provide services of benefit to the local population as housing types suitable for a mixed population. The 20% minimum social and affordable housing must be provided on-site. In fact, the Green party would like to go further than that. Why can’t we emulate the success of Ken Livingstone in London and have 35% social and affordable housing. We must also ensure that the necessary public transport infrastructure is in place to deal with a development of this size.”
Related link: Proposed Local Area Plan for Ballsbridge: pre-draft submission