ABP grant permission for Our Lady’s contentious air-support sports dome
By Aideen O'Flaherty
PLANS for the development of a contentious air-supported sports dome in Our Lady’s Secondary School in Terenure reached a conclusion in late May, with An Bord Pleanala (ABP) overturning South Dublin County Council’s decision to refuse permission for the sports dome last September.
The Síol Schools Trust lodged a first party appeal with ABP in October, after failing to secure planning permission from the council for their plans for an air-supported sports dome with associated fan units, internal lighting, a drainage scheme, paths, electrical infrastructure and associated site works.
Our Lady's in Terenure
The application attracted 21 objections from local residents, who cited concerns about a number of potential issues as the reason for their objections.
These issues included a lack of available car-parking to facilitate an increase in visitors to the area, traffic concerns, the potential for light and noise pollution and the impact on the visual amenity of the area.
In the applicant’s appeal to ABP, they outlined some changes to the proposed dome and requested that the development be granted planning permission as a result of these alterations.
These amendments included provision for planting a belt of tall, fast-growing semi-evergreen trees along boundaries, and also allowing the growth of vegetation which was previously cut back to “provide the full screening previously enjoyed by local residents in this area.”
It was also proposed that no horizontal light would be emitted through the dome’s material, so that light spill from the dome would not be experienced by adjacent residents.
In its decision to grant permission for the dome, ABP stated that they believed that the structure “would not seriously injure the visual and residential amenities” in the area, and it would not have a negative noise, light or visual impact on the Dodder Amenity Area.
They further added that the proposed development would be “acceptable” in terms of traffic and convenience.
