Blackhorse pub apartment plans refused permission
By Maurice Garvey
PLANS for apartments at the former site of Inchicore pub the Blackhorse Inn, have been refused permission by Dublin City Council, who determined the applicant failed to adequately demonstrate the proposal would not pose a risk to the Camac River.
Applicant Tom Kelly is seeking permission to demolish the Blackhorse Inn and build an apartment block containing up to 56 one and two-bed apartments in a block of three to seven storeys.
The Blackhorse Inn pub
According to plans lodged with the city council last November, the proposal consists of the demolition of the former public house and detached houses at numbers 229 and 231 Tyrconnell Road.
Plans include a proposed car lift to the underground car park, from Tyrconnell Road, accommodating six car parking spaces, 40 bicycle parking spaces, while at surface level, there is provision for four car spaces and 16 bicycle parking spaces.
Proposals also include a ground floor cafe with associated outdoor terrace.
A number of objections were lodged with DCC during the planning phase, including local TD Joan Collins, who said 10 car parking spaces is “far too little for a development of that scale.”
While Deputy Collins welcomes development at the site, she raised concerns over traffic at the busy Luas/Naas Road junction, and the height of the proposed development.
She noted the Camac river and the Grand Canal were subject to flooding and vandalism in recent times.
Deputy Collins feels the demolition of two habitable buildings is a “retrograde step” and feels the developer needs to develop a plan more in keeping with the area.
Delphi Architects and Planners, on behalf of Mr Kelly submitted an extensive planning report.
Included in the report, it says the location of the site adjacent to public transport links, allows for reduced car parking provision under the city development plan.
Careful consideration has been paid to the height and scale of the building, and they are mindful of draft guidelines issued in response to Project Ireland 2040 stating an opportunity for cities to developed differently and urban centres “could have much better use of land facilitating taller buildings.”
The applicants also carried out flood risk assessments. City planners said the applicant failed to adequately demonstrate the proposal would not pose a risk to the Camac River – contrary to the city development plan.
The Blackhorse Inn closed its doors in 2018, but the name is still synonymous as a local landmark – Blackhorse cited as a stop on the Luas Red Line.
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