Bluebell area is set for ‘gold standard’ model of regeneration

FOR an area often overlooked in terms of past developments, Bluebell is set to see the commencement of major regeneration, which residents hope will mark the beginning of big improvements implemented in the years ahead.

In September, first stage plans for 140 new residential units in Bluebell at the Waterworks on the canal are to be brought before the Bluebell Community Council, prior to a consultation with the community.

It forms part of the “gold standard” model of regeneration, Dublin City Council Asst Chief Executive Brendan Kenny has spoken about.

Tentative plans started back in October 2017, when Mr Kenny met with local groups to kickstart plans for the area.

“Bluebell Community Development Project took on the task of getting groups together, and over the next 12 months formed Bluebell Community Council,” said Tommy Coombes, Manager BCDP and a coordinator with BCC.

Coombes is one of the most recognisable names in Bluebell community work circles, and lists off a mountain of various different groups, who are working together in the BCC.

“I have to say this has been a model of consistency and partnership between all off the council staff involved and all the local organisations,” he said.

“It is unusual to have such a large group working together. Sure, different groups will have their own agenda, but we are all under the umbrella of BCC. Brendan Kenny wants to create a gold standard model in processes and outcomes.”

With a population of approximately 2k, Bluebell may seem small, but that figure is set to rise dramatically with plans for massive developments in the Local Area plan.

Coombes says the idea is for the population to “double, maybe triple in the next 10 to 15 years, but the infrastructure has to come with that”.

He said: “The demographics of Bluebell have a high number of elderly people, 800 different buildings, but no doctor, dentist, bank, secondary school, no major supermarket. It is an area prime for development.

“Existing problems also need to be addressed now before the influx of new residents.

“Concerns, like any community, we have struggled with anti-social and drug dealing, huge dampness in flats and the consistency of maintenance.

“When you are looking at making a safe sustainable community in Bluebell, you have to equate all that in. To be fair to gardai, we have been working with them and they have been very successful in their operations.”

Looking at other facets, Coombes says the community will be looking to bring the Luas into the area, building another school, a potential precinct at the shops, safeguarding the historical Bluebell Cemetery and opening the Camac for fishing.

The BCC plan to speak with developers for the Royal Liver Park and the Mercedes site about their plans for multiple new units and it’s aesthetic impact on local environs.

“It is a massive plan but we are in the game now. At the moment, there is light at the end of the tunnel for this community. It has been much neglected over the years, but now we have a structure in place to make positive change,” concluded Coombes.